Trees can be over the garden to at least some extent. I would definitely plant one somewhere. And if you want the benefit of it soon, one can buy big specimens - but they should be planted in spring, not early summer, and will cost a bit. There are also fast growing trees that will provide shade within 3 years, though you won't want them for long. But if you plant a slower growing nicer specimen beside it, then you have shade from the junk tree while your good one grows in. But OK, back to the shorter term. Immediate relief = awning, giant umbrella, etc, no two ways about it. Short-term - Your wires may not be that bad an idea, but even the most rampant vines (and really not sure you want those) will take two or three years to get up them (even clematis that regrow from the ground each year don't put on much overhead mass in their first year or two; perhaps you have a mature one you could move from elsewhere?). And then you have to consider that vines do put on a fair bit of weight over time, and just as they provide enough shade, they could rip your anchors out of your soffits. You can build all manner of free-standing trellises and pergolas, and a good old clematis or two would do your work for you within three years. But how much height do you need? You can only get posts that are so long. I built one that looks like a giant badminton net, used 12 foot posts and once they were sunk in far enough for stability it is only 9 feet high. If your structure is 3-dimensional you may be able to use 15-foot posts, sunk in less. Which vines to choose depends on what's hardy for you - not my forte, sorry. It's usually a good start to check your local nursery. KarinL

The top purplish one could be yam, I'm not sure. (edit: could be malabar spinach as mentioned below). Second one is bokchoy, edible. Third one is arugula, edible. The last one are tomato seedlings with septoria leaf spot fungus (I would get rid of them). Also the crawling plants growing all around are creeping charlie, it's an herbal plant. I don't see mesclun lettuce anywhere. Lettuce seedlings can be fragile, I think it's better if you grow them in seed trays and transplant them. I think the ground in the photos look a little rough or clay-like for lettuces to grow. You want to have a good soft topsoil for them and/or add good compost to your soil. On top of that I would mulch to prevent weeds from coming up.

It depends some on just what size balcony, how high up, how windy, how much sun does it get in the summer? Is is on the precipitation side of the building, or are you going to have to water it a lot? If you have the space for it, perhaps one of those mini-greenhouses? Footprint is 2x3 I think, and about 6 feet tall when assembled. Has 4 shelves, comes with a clear plastic cover, some come with shade cloth covers too. If you go this route, invest in a chunk of styrofoam insulation to sit as the base of the greenhouse to help with drafts from below. You can ask about scrap at the local big box store. Otherwise, at least lay down a mat of some sort to help block out under breezes. This isn't going to give you a lot of protection, but it will help some. If you want to go whole hog and enclose your balcony... If you can, get a whole sheet of Styrofoam insulation and do the whole floor and bottom foot or so of your balcony rail- however high up the bottom rail is on the vertical. Make sure you leave a niche cut out on the bottom vertical to leave you access off the porch if/when needed. Then put up a wind block of some sort from the top of the bottom rail to the bottom of the hand rail. I've used cheap quilters cotton in light colors when it's been on clearance to block the bottom that way. Colorful and useful as a wind block if needed. And can allow some extra privacy depending on how your balcony is situated. Then from the balcony roof- if you have one- hang clear plastic shower curtains that you can pull back as needed. This gives you more flexibility year round. What you use as fasteners to hold it closed depends on what your balcony is made of. If you can, use square pots. If you or someone you know has cats, you might be able to get free litter jugs or buckets, and those make great planters. If you get kitty jugs, spring lettuce and fall lettuce can be planted in with a summer tomato- and use a full sized cage, Or a small bean or cucumber pole. The kitty buckets are almost perfect square foot gardening for anything. If you need late spring into summer extension for tender greens from sun and wind, try using lightweight fabric curtain instead of plastic shower curtain.

thanks..and good tip on the airflow. I'm a stickler for aesthetics and currently use a really nice looking 'box' for storage....see link as an FYI...it was super easy to snap together..no tools needy...looks like it will stand up well to this, its first Winter on my balcony...and the top can double for a place to lay plants or as an extra balcony seat.... http://www.amazon.com/Suncast-SSW1200-Wicker-22-Gallon-Storage/dp/B0044V3UFS/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449090112&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=balcony+storage+suncast Anyway, I therefore already have a box that I use for balcony storage...however it occurred to me that ideally, maybe I can find a clear box such as yours, and of dimensions that are just a hair smaller than the footprint of my current balcony storage box. Then, during the warmer months when I no longer need my makeshift coldframe, I can simply insert it into the base of my pre-existing storage box so voila!...it's really not taking up any extra space! Yeah!! Necessity is the Mother of Invention as they say...one of my favorite expressions, as it is sooooo true!