Fruit for Roof Terrace Pots?

[DGoulston]

I am loving all my growing and things taste much better when they are freshly grown so I was starting to think about what else I can grow.

This year I am growing:
Chilli: Cayenne, Scotch Bonnet, Orange Harbenaro, Twilight & Gusto Purple
Sweet n Neat F1 Tomato, Rocket, Maris Piper Potatoes, Small Carrots, Shallots, Purple Beans.

But was wondering what a good Fruit would be to grow on a South Facing (50M²) Roof terrace (so in pots) which is a sun trap.

I like really nice and fruity fruits eg: Straw's, Ras, BlackB, Orange, etc...


Thanks
Darren.

[northepaul]

Yep...strawberries very easy to grow and love the sunshine. Also dont mind pots, and the bonus is that as they're small plants (relatively) you get to decide how much space to give them....
Is it very windy on your terrace?

If not, how about a small fruit tree?

[DGoulston]

Yep...strawberries very easy to grow and love the sunshine. Also dont mind pots, and the bonus is that as they're small plants (relatively) you get to decide how much space to give them....
Is it very windy on your terrace?

If not, how about a small fruit tree?

It can get windy in places but not everywhere.
I was wondering if Strawberries would benefit from one of these?
Grow Rack Green House - 4 Tier As I already have one of them set up that I purchased recently.

Not really interested in trees, unless it was small (eg: 1m or so)

Thanks

[veggiechicken]

You could grow strawberries in hanging baskets and save your floor space for other crops.

[northepaul]

They wouldnt need the covering as they are hardy plants.

Hanging baskets is a good idea too.

[Nicos]

'Blow-aways' do exactly what they say on the tin!...but as northepaul says- strawberries are hardy, so they'd be OK without protection.

Go upwards if you can to make use of that south facing aspect. Climbing french beans would be yummy -and pretty up against a wall...esp if you had a few sweet peas growing amongst them. The flowers will encourage bees and insects to pollinate the fruit etc you want to grow.

Have you looked into the amount of weight the roof can support?You may be limited by this as pots filled with damp soil can weigh quite a lot!

[DGoulston]

No where to hang baskets, so it will be pots. (not allowed to put things up on walls/fence

As for the "weight the roof can support"
I have a 10ft Swimming pool I had set up on it last year hehe. and It did not fall through into the estate agents below. so a few plants should be fine!





Darren.

[Nicos]

ooooo....nice big space!!!!!

[chris]

I'd go for some miniature trees, they'd need putting in reasonable sized pots, with some weight in them to stop them blowing over).. they'll look nice anyway, despite smaller yields and less disease resistance.

Blueberries? They'll be fine in pots, ideally 3 would help with pollination (different types?)

Dwarf Apricot? (by a wall, easy to cover to help prevent leaf curl)

[chris]

You can get baskets that go over railings, and also fix onto railings.. might be working looking for a couple of those?

[VirginVegGrower]

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How about a pergola with grapes set in pots at corners, going up and over. Table and chairs underneath. Cordon fruit trees in pots. I would be getting me a hot tub up there too. Are you allowed raised beds?

Ooh I forgot about Brown Turkey figs. They would love that open aspect. Would need fleece protection in cold weather months though.

[DGoulston]

The Railings are not an option, as they are the most wind hit part of the balcony. so nothing would last long there.

Most of my plants will be going along the Wall to the right of the door, and that area there (where the 2nd pic was taken from) which is about 8m x 2m

Do not really like apricots, or blueberry's that much, and want to grow fruit I really enjoy.

Think I might give it a go with the Strawberries and see how they do along the wall. (as there is hardly any wind and direct sun for most of the day).

I always have to think about the wind though on the main section of the balcony, my glass table has to live upside down when not in use, as it has flown across the balcony a few times! lucky it has never gone over the top, and I am amazed it is not smashed the amount of times it has flipped!

Thanks for all the advise as always

Just going back to a point I mentioned earlier, would the strawberries like to be in this?

or do they prefer to be outside?

Darren.

[DGoulston]

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I would be getting me a hot tub up there too. Are you allowed raised beds?

My 10ft pool has a heater for it... did not have much chance to use it last year.

Only renting this place, so could not do raised beds.
Can not wait to buy my own place in the next year or so and have a little patch (well I tell the wife it will be a small patch hehe) for me veg.

[veggiechicken]

You can grow raspberries in pots - give it a go since you like them. They're cheap to buy. I wouldn't put strawbs in the blowaway - little point IMO!

[chris]

Indeed, strawberries are hardy.. plus the fruit may go mouldy if it gets too much condensation in there.