Rooftop vegetable gardening

[mobeensiddiqi]

Hi, I am Mobeen Siddiqi, I am an IT professional and recently my interest has been developed in Urban agriculture. I live in Rawalpindi and have a small house. We dont have open space therefore I am planning it on my roof top.
I got 2 roofs, one on 2nd floor (18*45 feet) and the other on 3rd floor (14*45feet). Currently I am working on 2nd floor.
So far I have manged 10 rectangular pots of size (4*1*1 feet) .
Currently I have no idea regarding which dates are right for which plants therefore after consulting with a local nursery I have planted 30 sugar beet plants (paneeree size 2-3 inches) in 3 pots, 12 Tomato plants in 2 pots and 4 strawberries in 2 pots. (all this was done on 17 Dec 2013).
Still I have few large and lots of small pots available but have no idea on what to grow.
I am more interested in bitter gourd, spong gourd, brinjal, cucumber, ginger or pumpkins
Kindly advice my what to grow at this time?
Kindly also advice on do I have to cover those plants as it is very cold.

Regards

[Mustansir Billah]

Welcome to the forum Mobeen sb. Members from your region will give you appropriate answer regarding planting.

[marif]

Welcome Mobeen to the world of Gardening and growing vegetables at home is one of the best hobby to spend weekends;-)) I wish you good luck for happy growing at home.
You need to cover your tomato plants from the frost and cold these days where as beet roots and strawberies can survive the cold weather. At this time of the year you can grow onions in your empty pots, these days onions sets "Paneerie" would be available from nurseries or sunday market. Other things of your interest which you have mentioned are summer vegetables and right time of their transplant in pots is March. Seeds of these vegetables can be sown late Jan or early Feb and March is the right time to bring the seedlings in pots. Bitter Gourd, Spong Gourd and Pumpkins are vines and they need lot of place, you can try your luck with bitter and spong gourd in pots but pumpkins needs lot of effort and care for pot growing as its fruit is heavy.
Happy Growing
Regards
Arif

[farah fayyaz]

I tried in this summer bitter gourd and spong gourd in old ghee kanastar, but did not get success.

[marif]

Mobeen.. I think empty ghee kanaster was not the right choice for summer plants.. as the metal itself get very hot in sun, and it can dry the roots very quickly also it could not retain moisture in it, any way. You should try this summer clay pot 12 inch radius and 18 inch deep atleast or try some empty wooden boxes from vegitable or fruit shops... wood and clay can retain water and air in them bit longer.. Good Luck...

[farah fayyaz]

I never understand that how wooden boxes can be used as there are two to three spaces in them, so when it is watered, doesn' t soil fall down out of it.

[Izhar]

No, take a look at my petunias in fruit crate:

BEFORE:



AFTER:




Another crate:

[new gardener]

woww very beautiful.. nice DIYS and arrangements

[sulzar]

Hi Guys,
I am from Karachi and wanted to know . how to grow Flower palnts on roof top ?
What to grow and whne to grow ? I can start right away ...

I will be neeidng youe advises. I will be needing seeds as well.

I am sure I will be welcome here.

Regards.

[farah fayyaz]

commendable. Now it's clear to mr. Thnks.