I read an article somewhere, likely an antenna book, that you can get
away with short radials on a short loaded antenna as long as they
are at least as long and the antenna is high.

On my tiny 6ft by 10 ft by 10 ft high balcony I plan to deploy a
multiband antenna (by Superantennas) which is center loaded, with an
adjustable loading coil. The antenna when fully extended is
about 9 ft high. I am going to cut and attach about 8 or 10
radials, all about 10 feet long. They will have to be laid in
a relatively random pattern since the antenna will be located
in about the center of the balcony. I cannot have anything
extending or dangling off the balcony.

Once I have those short radials in place, I plan to cover them
with a piece of outdoor carpeting to hold them in place, and in
order that I can still step out on the balcony without disturbing
them or hopelessly entangling myself among them.

In the near future, I have a magnetic loop on order but it will
only cover the bands 20 thru 10M. With the vertical I hope to
operate on all bands, realizing that efficiency will be quite low.

Has anyone encountered the article, or the information supporting
this idea before?

Does anyone have any suggestions which might help with my
continued attempts to RADIATE OR DIE TRYING?

Thanks in advance for any input on this matter.

Irv VE6BP