🌇 Balcony
Garden Guide
A wealth of vegetables, herbs and fruit can be grown on even a small balcony. The right plant for your balcony depends primarily on its orientation — south, west, east or north.
Best starter plants for any balcony
For beginners: basil, chives, lettuce, radishes and (on a south-facing balcony) cherry tomatoes. These are forgiving, fast and rewarding — you'll be harvesting within weeks.
What to grow — by balcony orientation
6+ hours of direct sun. You can grow almost anything. Water daily in summer — south balconies dry out fast.
Vegetables
- 🍅 Tomatoes
- 🌶️ Peppers
- 🥒 Cucumbers
- 🫛 Courgettes
- 🫘 Climbing beans
- 🥗 Lettuce
- 🌱 Radishes
- 🥬 Spinach
Herbs
- 🌿 Basil
- 🌱 Chives
- 🌿 Thyme
- 🌿 Rosemary
- 🌿 Sage
- 🌿 Lavender
- 🌿 Parsley
Fruit
- 🍓 Strawberries
- 🫐 Blueberries
- 🌶️ Chillies
4–6 hours of direct sun. Most vegetables thrive. Cherry tomato varieties perform best.
Vegetables
- 🍅 Cherry tomatoes
- 🥗 Lettuce
- 🌱 Radishes
- 🫘 Beans
- 🫛 Peas
Herbs
- 🌿 Basil
- 🌿 Parsley
- 🍃 Mint
- 🌱 Chives
Fruit
- 🍓 Strawberries
2–4 hours of direct sun. Choose shade-tolerant varieties. Salads and herbs grow well; fruiting crops struggle.
Vegetables
- 🥗 Lettuce
- 🥬 Spinach
- 🥗 Rocket
- 🌱 Radishes
- 🫛 Peas
Herbs
- 🌿 Parsley
- 🌱 Chives
- 🍃 Mint
- 🌿 Chervil
Fruit
- 🍓 Strawberries (smaller)
Less than 2 hours direct sun. Only shade-loving crops will succeed. ❌ No tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers or basil.
Works on north balconies
- 🥗 Lettuce
- 🥬 Spinach
- 🍃 Mint
- 🌿 Parsley
- 🌱 Chives
- 🌿 Chervil
Does NOT work
- ❌ Tomatoes (need 6h sun)
- ❌ Peppers (need 6h sun)
- ❌ Cucumbers (need 6h sun)
- ❌ Basil (needs warmth + sun)
🥬 Vegetables for the balcony — quick overview
| Plant | Min. container | Sun | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥗 Lettuce | 5 litres | ☀️/🌥️ | Ready in 5–6 weeks |
| 🌱 Radishes | Window box | ☀️ | Ready in 4 weeks |
| 🥬 Spinach | 5 litres | 🌥️ | Spring and autumn; bolts in heat |
| 🥗 Rocket | Window box | ☀️/🌥️ | Fast-growing; successive sow |
| 🍅 Cherry tomatoes | 10–15 litres | ☀️☀️☀️ | After May 15; daily watering |
| 🌶️ Peppers | 10 litres | ☀️☀️☀️ | After May 20; south balcony |
| 🥒 Cucumbers | 15–20 litres | ☀️☀️ | Needs trellis; daily watering |
| 🫛 Peas | Window box | ☀️/🌥️ | Needs 1 m support |
| 🧅 Spring onions | Window box | ☀️ | Sow from March |
🌿 Herbs — ideal for balcony beginners
Herbs are the perfect starting point — low-maintenance, fast-growing, and you can use them straight from the pot in cooking.
2 l+ · ☀️☀️ · After May 15 · Frost-sensitive
Window box · ☀️/🌥️ · Perennial · Very easy
3 l+ · ☀️/🌥️ · Biennial · From April
Own container! · 🌥️ · Spreads aggressively
3 l · ☀️☀️ · Drought-tolerant · Perennial
5 l+ · ☀️☀️ · Drought-tolerant · Perennial
5 l · ☀️☀️ · Repels pests · Perennial
20 cm deep box · ☀️ · Direct sow only
🪴 Container sizes
- → Salads, radishes, herbs: 3–5 litres
- → Strawberries: 2–3 litres per plant
- → Cherry tomatoes: 10–15 litres
- → Peppers: 10 litres
- → Cucumbers: 15–20 litres
- → Blueberries: 20 litres
💧 Watering on a balcony
Watering is the most important aspect of balcony gardening. Containers dry out far faster than garden beds.
Summer watering frequency:
- 🍅 Tomatoes, cucumbers: every day
- 🌿 Basil, parsley: every other day
- 🌿 Rosemary, thyme, lavender: once a week
- 🥗 Lettuce, spinach: every other day
Frequently asked questions
What are the easiest plants for a balcony beginner? ▼
Recommended starters: basil, chives, lettuce, radishes and cherry tomatoes (on a south-facing balcony). These are forgiving, fast and very rewarding — you'll harvest within weeks of planting.
What can I grow on a north-facing balcony? ▼
On a north-facing balcony with little direct sun: lettuce, spinach, rocket, mint, parsley, chives and cress all do well. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and basil need a minimum of 6 hours of sun and won't perform without it.
When can I start growing on my balcony? ▼
Hardy crops (herbs, lettuce) can move out from April. Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) must wait until after May 15, when the Ice Saints frost risk has passed. The balcony advantage: containers can be moved indoors if late frost threatens, giving you a 5–7 day head start over garden beds.
Can I grow tomatoes on a small balcony? ▼
Yes. Bush and trailing varieties such as Tumbling Tom, Balcony Yellow and Mini Tom are bred specifically for containers and small balconies. A 10-litre pot and a south-facing balcony is all you need. They produce abundantly from July to September with daily watering.
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