Starting a balcony vegetable garden in October: crops by balcony direction, how to start lettuce, spinach and scallions, container depth and potting soil, and keeping greens going through winter at 10°C, based on Rural Development Administration guidance.
When a bag of lettuce starts to feel expensive, the balcony looks different. A few containers by a sunny window can keep salad greens coming all winter. October feels late, but leafy greens can start now.
Bottom line: start lettuce from seedlings and spinach from seed. Leafy greens need containers only 10–15 cm deep. Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) says that if an indoor space stays around 10°C at its coldest, cold-tolerant greens planted in September–October can be harvested into January and February. Scallion bulbs are past their prime planting window (late August to early September), so grow them for cut leaves.
1. Start with the direction of your balcony.
Light decides everything, and it drops sharply a short distance from the window. RDA’s suggestions by light level:
| Light (balcony faces) | Crops |
|---|---|
| Plenty (south) | Lettuce, kale, red chard, mustard greens, spinach |
| Moderate (east/west) | Crown daisy, bok choy, leaf broccoli, celery |
| Little (north) | Endive, chicory, water dropwort, chives, scallions |
2. What to plant in October.
Lettuce and spinach both prefer 15–20°C, and spinach dislikes heat above 25°C, so an autumn balcony suits them.
- Lettuce: plant seedlings; pick outer leaves from three to four weeks on. RDA recommends buying plug seedlings grown about 30 days (three to five true leaves), because home-sown seedlings tend to be weak in low light.
- Spinach: sow directly in rows; it does not like transplanting.
- Baby greens: scatter seed; harvest in three to four weeks, even in 2–5 cm of soil.
- Scallions: late planting reduces yield; grow for cut leaves. Disinfecting bulbs before planting reduces mites.
3. Containers and soil.
Leafy greens need 10–15 cm depth (RDA). Choose containers with drainage holes and saucers, prefer long rectangular planters for window space, and use light, free-draining potting mix instead of garden soil, which is heavy and brings pests.
4. Getting through winter.
- Keep the coldest temperature around 10°C; move pots a hand’s width from the glass on very cold nights.
- Water in the morning, only when the surface is dry.
- Ventilate briefly on sunny days to avoid mould.
- If plants stretch, they lack light; a plant grow light 20–30 cm above the leaves for a few hours a day helps.
RDA notes indoor autumn gardens have fewer pests than spring ones.
5. Checklist.
- Pick crops for your balcony’s light.
- Lettuce from seedlings, spinach from seed.
- 10–15 cm deep containers with drainage, potting mix.
- About 10°C minimum, morning watering, ventilation, grow light if needed.
For growing spinach outdoors through winter, see overwintering spinach. Market prices: lettuce, spinach.
References
- Rural Development Administration, balcony lettuce growing press release, April 8, 2016.
- Rural Development Administration, autumn kitchen garden press release, August 26, 2016.
- RDA Nongsaro, balcony kitchen garden guide (container depth).
- RDA Nongsaro crop information: lettuce and spinach (15–20°C).
- Results vary with balcony direction, window size, insulation, indoor temperature and variety.