Anyone got advice on what might be able to grow in a space like this?
We are sandwiched between tall buildings, so it only gets direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead near noon
We are in Sydney, Aus, so pretty temperate weather, but in the shade these pots never seem to dry out
Yeah, about three hours.
The aim is to make it look like less ugly mostly. So herbs and ornamentsls
I have previously tried basil and mint before, but I don't think the basil ever got as much light as it wanted. (Or it could be beginners skill-issue)
The big I'll be on the right I often grow spring onions and chives in since they seem to be happy there year round
Three hours is rough for anything edible except maybe some lettuces...maybe, I've never tried to grow anything in that short of a window. I've grown it with 3 hours and dappled light, so it might work?
If you don't get super hot in there being in dead space between buildings, you might look into stuff that does okay indoors, since that's basically what you're working with.
As far as your stuff that doesn't drain, I would repot and make sure you've got a good draining soil, or put a layer of gravel at the bottom if you've enough room.
Agreed. With that little sun, you'll only be growing shade and shade tolerant plants at best. Most common houseplants fit into this category.
And yeah, the soil is probably partly due to the makeup, and partly due to not being warmed by the sun.
Could probably get some cucumber and squash to work there. Probably not tomatoes.
Indeterminate greenhouse tomatoes or parthenocarpic cucumbers (Lebanese types) can succeed during the late spring, to early fall. This is when the light levels are strong enough that even indirect light is enough. Squash not so much. If you could get some of the winter varieties grown in the greenhouses in southern Spain, maybe.
All of the leafy greens are possible year round - lettuce, spinach, kale, etc.
For some permanent greenery houseplants are an excellent choice. Ferns, african violets, mosteras, philodendrons, kalanchoe, etc would all do well in that spot. Sydney very rarely frosts so you have a wide choice to choose from. Pretty much everything will work. For watering make sure you good drainage on the pots on only water they are dry.