Ideas for 'pretty' vegetables that would grow in a balcony box

[Nickerly]

I'm not really into flowers, much prefer growing things that I can eat but my bf really wants some flowers growing in the balcony box I bought and put up.

I've bought some nasturtiums (sp?) and marigolds because you can still eat them and am planning on getting some tubling toms, but is there anything else that would look pretty, be edible and grow in a window box?

Should add that I don't really want it to be too heavy because I am a bit scared that my construction could fall off and kill someone*. So no melons or pumpkins for me

*have added an extra 10 strong cable ties to the boxes to keep them in place, so there's not really that much of them falling off. Would just rather be safe than sorry.

[Hilary B]

Runner beans? They were originally cultivated for the flowers, and there is a variety (painted lady?) with red-and-white flowers. One or 2 plants at each end of the window box, then you could put up a sort of 'arch' for them to climb to the top of the window.

[scarey55]

I have just had a quick look through the T&M catalogue and they have a section for mini/patio vegetables. One that looks pretty is dwarf runner bean - Hestia. The flowers are red and white. If you have room, you might try mini peppers or chillies, they will be green and bushy for some of the time but they will add colour once they have produced fruit. The only other thing is herbs, some can be quite colourful - I'm thinking here of thyme, basil, chives, chamomile and some of the veriegated mints.
Who knows, once OH has tasted some of the produce, he might change his mind

EDIT: Oops, Hilary beat me to it on the beans

[smallblueplanet]

Lots of different salad lettuces/leaves are quite pretty, especially the red-edged or red-dotted ones. Oops sorry they're not flowers...maybe some of the chinese leaf stuff that you can also eat the flower stalks of?

[womble]

Rocket? Mine always goes to flower while I am looking the other way

[jemma_charlie]

chives they have pretty flowers

[DeanRIowa]

I am trying out dwarf okra this year in flower pots.

Dean

[Eyren]

I would second the runner beans and chillies - smaller varieties of the latter, such as Bolivian Rainbow and Numex Twilight, are often sold as houseplants (they have fruits that change through a range of colours as they mature - just as pretty as flowers). The purple-podded varieties of French beans look pretty too, both in flower and when setting pods. "Blauhilde" is a good climbing variety, or there's a dwarf one called "Purple Queen".

Nasturtiums and marigolds are a great idea, but if you decide to grow runner or broad beans, how about adding some sweet peas to attract pollinating insects? They don't take up much space, being climbers, and both look and smell gorgeous! Lavender is equally good, and quite hardy, so will mean you have something growing on your balcony even in winter.

[Snadger]

Carrots feathery foliage and beetroots red foliage go well together. Crimson flowered broad beans are beautiful, have a lovely scent and only grow about 18 inches high.

[Rossa]

How about some Rainbow Chard? The multi coloured stalks would look good.

[miffy]

Herbs always look lovely, lavender is not a veggie i know but would attract polinators to your box. Borage has a lovely blue flower and you can use it in your pimms! I'd second the runner beans they are really pretty plants with the added bonus of yummy beans to follow.

[bluemoon]

I particularly like yellow Tumbling Tom tomatoes. It has to be admitted that they aren't the tastiest toms you'll ever grow, but they're quite edible and look lovely when mixed in a pot with a purple flower.

[Nickerly]

Thank you every one for your replies - I can't believe how many people replied and went to the effort to have a think and even look through catalouges

Was really helpful. Will let you know what we go for - am leaning towards beans, lavender and tumbling toms because I already have a few bean plants growing (touch wood) and I love tomatos to death. They will never be wasted in this house!

I've actually got most of the other things growing in paper pots already so will probably add another two boxes and have a real mix of everything suggested. Means I'll have extra floor space, so there's a good chance that we'll be able to actually fit on our balcony now

Eyren - funnily enough we've already got some sweet peas up and growing near by. They are about the only flowers I like (apart from honeysuckle) because they earn their keep by smelling so lovely and by filling the house with gorgeous blooms.

[Iamhanuman]

How about some Rainbow Chard? The multi coloured stalks would look good.

i'd definitely second this - the rainbow chard i've seen (haven't grown the stuff) looks delightful

[Nickerly]

I've just googled it - so pretty! Has anyone tried growing it before? I have 'black thumbs of death' as opposed to green fingers so need things which are fairly hardy...