Balcony gardening is a delightful and enriching way to bring a touch of nature to urban living. Whether you have a sprawling balcony or a modest ledge, cultivating a green space is not only possible but can also be immensely satisfying.
This guide will explore the best plants to grow on your balcony, from fragrant herbs that can elevate your cooking to colorful flowers that add beauty and vibrancy.
You’ll discover practical tips for maximizing your space and ensuring your plants thrive, even in the limited confines of a city balcony. Embrace the joy of gardening in small spaces and transform your balcony into a lush, personal oasis.
Best Plants to Grow on a Balcony
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a warm-season crop.Tomatoes need a lot of sun, so it is important to place the pot in a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is also important to water the plants regularly and keep the soil moist.
You can grow tomatoes in pots successfully just about anywhere you have a sunny spot, whether it’s on a deck, driveway, balcony, rooftop, fire escape, or somewhere else.Tomatoes offer several research-backed benefits, including protection for brain, heart, and gut health. The fruit, which some consider a vegetable, is also a source of nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
Plum and cherry tomatoes are well suited if you want them to ripen quickly, live in apartment and having small space in balcony. In nurseries tomatoes are sown in mid-November, transplanted in February and the crop is harvested in May-June.
Here are the nutrients in a small (100-gram) raw tomatoes:
- Calories: 18
- Water: 95%
- Protein: 0.9 grams
- Carbs: 3.9 grams
- Sugar: 2.6 grams
- Fiber: 1.2 grams
2. Catmint
Catmint is part of the mint family and has a light fragrance that wafts when the foliage is brushed or heated in the summer sun. Essential oil can be made from catmint for its pleasant scent. This is supposed to have a deterrent effect on insects.
Catmint not only does well as a houseplant, but also in a box on the balcony. It attracts bees with its many flowers and is a beautiful addition to your balcony garden.
Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers.
Although it prefers full sun, catmint will thrive with some afternoon shade. Keep new plants or transplants watered until they can fend for themselves. After that, established plantings are drought and heat tolerant. Don’t bother to fertilize it.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine has been used for liver disease (hepatitis), pain due to liver scarring (cirrhosis), and abdominal pain due to severe diarrhea (dysentery). It is also used to prevent stroke, to cause relaxation (as a sedative), to heighten sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and in cancer treatment.
If you envisage warm summer evenings spent sitting on your balcony, scented plants like jasmine are essential. Climbers can also be used to provide screening on balconies. Jasmines need fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.
4. Strawberries
It is easy to grow strawberries on a balcony and fun to watch them ripen. It is also sustainable because the plants bear fruit for several years. Strawberries are very rich in antioxidants and plant compounds, which may have benefits for heart health and blood sugar control .
Strawberries do well in direct sunshine, however they will also need a little bit shade from time to time. Even if you just have access to a balcony, you can still enjoy the great rewards of growing your own strawberries. With some basic supplies, you can harvest juicy strawberries in no time.
The nutrients in 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw strawberries are:
- Calories: 32
- Water: 91%
- Protein: 0.7 grams
- Carbs: 7.7 grams
- Sugar: 4.9 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Fat: 0.3 grams
5. Japanese maple
Red-leaf varieties are more prone to leaf scorch than green varieties, so in hot, dry climates, green-leaf varieties of Japanese maples are usually the better choice. Japanese Maple Wood has a rich history of use in traditional Japanese architecture.
Give these trees extra attention in the first few years while they’re getting established; after that, Japanese maple trees are easy-to-grow, low-maintenance, and hardy. You can grow any Japanese maple in a container, but for the best results choose a cultivar that grows to 10 feet or less.
Japanese maples are generally easy to grow if planted in shade, in a good soil, sheltered from strong winds.
6. Coleus
Simply plant your Coleus in a large pot, make it roomy as more space for the roots will encourage faster growth. Coleus do well in pots and planters, as long as they are planted in free-draining potting soil, fertilized regularly and given the right amount of sun. Avoid windy locations because coleus can be prone to breakage.
Coleus does best in partial to full shade. Coleus plants produce small, tubular flowers on tall spikes during their blooming season, which usually occurs from summer to early fall.
Coleus are used for high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), asthma, dry eye, and many other conditions.
7. Begonias
Begonias will happily grow in pots. They are often used as container plants on patios and porches, in hanging baskets, and as bedding plants.
Plant your begonia in fertile potting compost for the best abundant and long flowering plant. This really abundantly flowering plant likes a nice light spot in part shade or moderate sun.
A begonia will really thrive and flourish in nice warm weather. Don’t allow its soil to dry out – water the plant regularly.
8. Mandeville
Mandevilla plant likes to be in a spot that gets full sun, which is considered six or more hours of direct sunlight per day. The only exception is if you live in a very hot climate; in that case, it will benefit from a little afternoon shade.
They can also be grown in a hanging basket. An eight to ten inch pot makes a nice specimen.
There are a lot of reasons it’s beloved: Mandevilla is low maintenance, disease- and pest-resistant, fast-growing and a prolific bloomer. Plant one in a pot in April, and you’ll have a towering vine covered in fragrant flowers all summer.
9. Fuschia
The plants are most often grown outdoors in hanging baskets, and growing fuchsias as houseplants isn’t always successful because of the warm, dry indoor air.
Place the fuchsia in bright, indirect light, as fuchsias don’t do well in hot, intense sunlight. The room should be cool.To flower profusely they need a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
Based on traditional uses, the health benefits of fuchsia include: Stimulating urination. Hardy variety of Fuchsia makes a lovely, long-flowering, informal hedge on your balcony garden.
Conclusion
As spring rejuvenates the world with vibrant colors and fresh growth, embracing the art of balcony gardening can truly enhance your living space. By selecting the right plants that thrive in your climate and sunlight conditions, you can successfully create a lush, green oasis that not only beautifies your balcony garden but also provides a serene retreat to enjoy the warmer months.
Choosing the best plants for your balcony depends on factors like how much sun or shade your space receives. For shady balconies, consider herbs and other shade-tolerant plants. Flowering plants like geraniums and petunias thrive in full sun and are great for adding color to your small space.
Window boxes and pots are perfect for compact areas, like a fire escape or a small balcony. When selecting plants, also consider how much weight your balcony can hold. With the right care and sunlight, your balcony plants can be grown successfully, creating a beautiful green oasis. For more ideas, explore various herbs, flowers, and other plants that are well-suited for balcony gardening.
Remember to nurture your plants with regular watering, appropriate fertilization, shade and diligent pest control to ensure they remain healthy and vibrant. This spring, let your balcony bloom with potential, turning it into a celebration of new beginnings and natural beauty.
