Whether it s fruit shrubs vegetables or herbs most edible plants can be grown in a container on a roof.
Garden wooden roof for plants to grow on.
If your roof is painted black it will be significantly hotter than a white or silver roof black roofs in new york city can reach 170 f on a very hot day and you ll need plants that can survive such.
It goes without saying that in order to grow a roof garden you must have a roof.
This is where a living roof crosses over to become an herb garden.
A mix of species helps to make the community that emerges more resilient and more interesting.
Many of the most common culinary herbs happen to grow in dry rocky places making them ideal candidates for a green roof.
Taking cuttings or sowing seed to grow on and transplant will of course be cheaper still.
Avoid using just one species of plant across the entire roof.
In general better to choose large containers when growing plants for terrace garden because in large containers plants grow more easily.
For extra shade consider adding screening in the form of curtains or a canvas cover on top.
The main difference with a sloped roof is the addition of cross pieces perpendicular.
Ensure plants establish properly by watering for the first year after planting.
To stop plant roots and water penetrating the roof cover it with either a 300micron thick damp proof membrane from diy shops or a butyl pond liner from a garden centre.
These need 10 20cm 4 8in depth of growing medium enough to support perennials but not shrubs and trees.
They can be created for example on a gently sloping shed roof by building a grid of wooden cells on top of the roof and filling the cells with compost.
Edible plants adapted to container growing.
Mops will grow up to 1m in height when planted in a large container of soil based compost.
To grow even more plants up pergolas trellis panels can be attached giving additional support for climbing plants.
Selection of terrace garden plants completely depends up on the factors listed above.
The vegetable plants that are the best adapted to container growing are the vegetables and herbs that are grown for their leaves like chards spinach and kale.
Suitable waterproofing root barrier drainage and filter layers are necessary.
You ll be better off growing shade loving plants.
Better moisture conservation and nutrient supply room for ample root development.