As summer comes to a close, many Wembley Park residents may be wondering how to keep their outdoor spaces looking lively through the colder months. Quintain Living, the company managing over 3,00 rental apartments in the area, is here to help.
They are offering expert advice on what can be sown and grown during autumn to create vibrant and productive balconies through winter.
“From bright flowers to cut-and-come-again crops, balconies present a huge opportunity when it comes to the winter months. Planning and planting in autumn will reap big rewards as the weather turns colder, as well as when the spring sunshine returns,” says Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer at Quintain Living.
For those keen on growing their own food, winter lettuce can be sown as late as November, with harvests expected in just four to six weeks. Spring onions and winter radishes planted in September should be ready by December. Potato tubers planted in pots can also provide homegrown potatoes just in time for Christmas.
Looking further ahead, spinach can be sown this month for a spring harvest, and garlic and onion bulbs planted in autumn will deliver a yield by July. In areas with milder winters, some varieties of peas and broad beans can also be planted now to provide a harvest next year.
For a pop of colour throughout the winter, Quintain Living suggests planting winter-blooming flowers like pansies, violas, and hellebores. Additionally, autumn is the perfect time to prepare for spring by planting bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and crocuses.
Planning ahead for 2025? Hardy annual seeds, such as Ammi majus, cornflowers, and poppies, can be sown now to brighten your balcony next spring and summer. These flowers also attract pollinators, bringing bees and butterflies to Wembley Park.
Balcony gardeners should be mindful of common challenges. Pigeons can be a nuisance for leafy winter vegetables, so netting may be required. Meanwhile, slugs and snails, while not as common on balconies as in gardens, can still make an appearance.
If you’re growing seedlings indoors on sunny windowsills, be sure to harden them off before planting them outdoors. According to Quintain Living, seedlings are generally ready for planting once they have two to four pairs of true leaves.
For those with a sunny spot indoors, windowsills can be used to grow herbs like chives, parsley, dill, and basil, as well as chilli plants and salad leaves, all of which can be enjoyed throughout the winter.
Balcony gardening can also helps encourage a sense of community among residents. Sharing extra produce with neighbours is a great way to reduce waste while encouraging social connections. Wembley Park’s Canada Gardens even offers community allotments, along with a greenhouse and potting shed, providing space for residents to grow their own plants and vegetables.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
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