Oh, DUH! There I go again looking at the world through Southern California glasses. Large windows and exterior glass doors are not a problem here, as the temperatures tend not to get too hot or cold (although that's changing with global warming). Heat loss or gain didn't even cross my mind when I was writing this up. And it wasn't mentioned in any of the publications I read researching this Substack post.
I imagine that in some cases the heat loss or gain to an apartment or condo in places like Toronto or Miami could be huge. Thanks for bringing this up, Lloyd!
The research on recessed vs hanging balconies is a detail most people miss when they start balcony gardening. I've seen folks get frustrated after a season because their recessed balcony just doesn't get enough light, and they end up blaming their technique rather than the architecture. The Cyprus study is interesting but what stood out to me was the small greenhouse suggestion for extending seasons. That feels like a game-changer for northern climates where the growing window is tight. Also, the connection to Z-farming as a broader urban food production movement adds context that most balcony gardening guides skip. It's not just about growing tomatoes, it'sabout rethinking how cities can produce food in spaces that were never designed for it.
One problem with most North American balconies is that they are like giant radiator fins, causing huge heat loss in winter and gain in summer. In Europe there are requirements for thermal breaks that separate the balcony from the structure, but it costs money that developers don’t want to spend. https://www.treehugger.com/gimme-thermal-break-its-schocking-these-are-not-required-all-buildings-4854918
Oh, DUH! There I go again looking at the world through Southern California glasses. Large windows and exterior glass doors are not a problem here, as the temperatures tend not to get too hot or cold (although that's changing with global warming). Heat loss or gain didn't even cross my mind when I was writing this up. And it wasn't mentioned in any of the publications I read researching this Substack post.
I imagine that in some cases the heat loss or gain to an apartment or condo in places like Toronto or Miami could be huge. Thanks for bringing this up, Lloyd!
The research on recessed vs hanging balconies is a detail most people miss when they start balcony gardening. I've seen folks get frustrated after a season because their recessed balcony just doesn't get enough light, and they end up blaming their technique rather than the architecture. The Cyprus study is interesting but what stood out to me was the small greenhouse suggestion for extending seasons. That feels like a game-changer for northern climates where the growing window is tight. Also, the connection to Z-farming as a broader urban food production movement adds context that most balcony gardening guides skip. It's not just about growing tomatoes, it'sabout rethinking how cities can produce food in spaces that were never designed for it.
Yes, the recessed balconies can get little sunshine. Although they probably mitigate one of the problems of balcony gardening, high winds.
Great article. The US seems so backward in innovation for small spaces.
Yes, but we have Idaho, one of the reddest states of the Union leading on balcony solar. Maybe there is hope for us.