Growing vegetables on a terrace
Grow more on your terrace.
The most productive terrace vegetables are those with a high yield-to-container-size ratio. Cherry tomatoes consistently top this list: a single plant in a 20-litre container yields 2 to 4 kg of fruit across a season in good sun. Sweet peppers, chillies, aubergines and courgettes follow close behind. All are heat-loving, which means they benefit from the elevated temperatures most terraces provide.
Leafy crops are productive at a smaller scale. Cut-and-come-again lettuce, spinach, rocket, and kale can be harvested continuously from window boxes and small containers. They are also faster-maturing and can be started earlier in spring than fruiting crops, extending the productive season.
The techniques that separate disappointing terrace vegetable gardens from productive ones are consistent watering, adequate container volume, and regular feeding. Container mix loses nutrients faster than garden soil because of the watering frequency required. Feed fruiting crops every one to two weeks with a high-potash liquid feed once they begin to flower.