Often the biggest barrier to growing veg is knowing where to start. It was certainly a hurdle Patrick Vernuccio had to jump when he decided to turn his balcony into a productive space. There’s plenty of information out there but it can be confusing. Tomatoes & Basil on the 5th Floor is a summary of all he’s learned and a guide to those starting out.
(I was given a copy of the book in return for a fair review.)
He admits that his gardening knowledge was non existent: “I used to think courgettes grew under the ground . . . ” Faced with seed packets, he didn’t know how many to sow or how to look after the plants. These are the sort of questions he tackles in the book.
Tomatoes & Basil on the 5th Floor opens with the basics: how to use the space, including vertical; how to water; what containers to use; which seeds to grow. Timing is everything and he includes instructions on how to find out the first and last frost dates for your area.
There’s also advice that’s particular for growing high up – avoiding dripping excess water on passers-by or neighbours below for example.
The book then follows the seasons with advice on jobs to do, things to buy and what to sow. The information is laid out clearly and broken up into small sections with plenty of photographs.
Subjects covered include an explanation of different types of fertiliser, how to save seed, and even how to plant – this is definitely a book for beginners.
Flowers are covered for their use in attracting pollinators and, as in the case of nasturtiums, as decoys for pests.
While this is a great introduction to growing for the novice – and not just for high rise gardeners as much of the advice is applicable for any growing space – it is just one approach. Experienced gardeners know that there’s often not just one way of doing things and after a while you will find out what works for you. He says, for example, that “zinnias are sown directly into the ground” whereas they can be sown in modules and many gardeners prefer that method.
That said, it’s an easy to understand starting point and ideal for anyone wanting to make productive use of a balcony.
Tomatoes and Basil on the 5th Floor by Patrick Vernuccio is published by Dorling Kindersley with an RRP of £14.99. You can buy it here for £12.13. (If you buy via this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.) Alternatively, you may wish to buy from an independent bookseller here. All prices correct at time of publication of this post.
Top image by Sabine Gudath.
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Very inspiring.
It’s amazing where you can grow if you’re determined.