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Hey /hgm/
So I'm a North Idaho anon, planning on getting a balcony garden going this spring. I'm zone 6 for reference last frost 1 May first frost October 15.
I've got a decent bit of space as my balcony is 20'8" x 9' so I'm wondering what tips you guys have. I've not garden since I had to take care of the family's market garden when I was a kid so looking for any input you guys can offer on my setup.
The goal is to do 3 potted trees that handle cold well, I'm thinking a Sweet 16 Apple, a Frost Peach, and then a cherry/plum/pear/nectarine (haven't made up my mind on the last one yet).
From there there's a local coop in town that sells heirloom plants and seeds. I want to stagger harvests so my thought is after last frost May 1 I'll get a started plant of each type I want from them and then also get seeds to start at the same time so everything gives me a staggered harvest.
My thought for the rest are
>tomatoes
>tomatillos
>bell peppers
>banana peppers
>jalapeno peppers
>dwarf cabbage
>onions
>carrots
>garlic
>herbs
>strawberries
>blueberries
I'm not trying to get crazy big harvests or break the bank or anything, I'm just one guy. I'm thinking do a single tomato/pepper and then another from seed to give you a sense of scale. My main goal is to start developing basic skills and experiment while I have a relatively controlled pest free environment and give myself a bit of food security.
I'll probably end up pickling or freezing much of it, maybe buy a pressure canner if it makes sense.
Any advice, input, or recommended reading for me? Is there anything you would recommend I add or remove? Will I have enough space to make onions and carrots worth it?
Lastly I've considered doing potatoes, I've seen the yield you can get from a 2'x2' plot but I just don't know that I want to bother with the mess for something I don't eat that often. I've already got 2 months of frozen/canned/dried food, plus 4 months of 25 year storable food so starvation isn't a concern.