Securing containers and training plants for growing vegetables
Due to the weight of the compost, root and vegetable boxes and tubs become very heavy. There is thus a great need to fix the containers to walls and on the ceiling.
Securing balcony boxes
You can attach the boxes to a secure railing. Strong hooks must be used at all times if they are going to endure the heavy weight of the combined container, compost (plus water in it) and the vegetable. Alter the balance and tipping point of the box as the plant grows.
The fixtures of the balcony railings can be obtained from garden centers and are adjustable to fit various sizes of boxes and railings. Do not attach containers to the outside of railings on higher floors as these will prove lethal.
Mixtures for balcony surrounds are also available and are used to stand containers on top of a safety wall. The fixtures need to be very secure. Individual containers can be easily secured using battens fixed to the outside. Place large containers on the ground at all times.
Fixing hanging containers
Because of there trailing roots, vegetables such as pepino melon, spinach beet and hanging tomatoes do well in hanging containers. The hanging containers need to be secured firmly onto the ceiling or wall (will also need support from below)
Ensure that there is enough room between the container and the wall to prevent the container from banging against the wall in windy periods.
Training plants
Upward growing vegetables plants need suitable climbing support and material. Sticks and strings can be used to help these climbers climb. Peppers or aubergines and tall growing tomatoes must be trained upwards. They should be tied to bamboo canes or trained along simple strings.
To do this fix hooks at the preferred height in the wall or ceiling and tie the string to them. Wined a string loosely around the stem of the plant and tie it to the neck of the root or to a wire loop driven into the compost.
Climbing frames can be used as support for cucumbers, peas and runner beans. They can be fixed to a wall or railing to create wind resistance. The cucumber shoots can be tied to the espalier using string or plant rings made of plastic.
It is best to tie up the plant once a week especially for cucumbers and tomatoes. Do not change the direction of training once the vegetable has started growing climbing. Runner beans should be trained anticlockwise because they naturally wind to the left. Training should be done in sunny weather to prevent breakage of the roots.