5 Things to Consider when Planning a Balcony Garden

Growing an edible balcony garden can be a beneficial and worthwhile project, but it requires careful planning for the best chance at success. No matter what you choose to grow, the results may not be optimal if the growing conditions aren’t ideal. You may already have an idea of what crops you want to plant, but a bit of planning will help determine how best to grow them in the space you have available. Every balcony provides different growing conditions, so here are some things to consider when planning a balcony garden.

1. Planning your edible garden around sun and shade

One of the first things to consider is the amount of sun exposure on your balcony. There are several specific things you need to look for. You’ll need to know what time of day your balcony is getting direct sun. Is it in the morning when temperatures are likely to be cooler? Or maybe it's later in the day when temperatures will be higher.

Different plants have different needs when it comes to temperature, so make sure to plant accordingly by growing crops that match your climate. Many herbs prefer slightly cooler temperatures, so consider those if you expect temperatures to be lower. But if your balcony has full sun for much of the day, I would suggest sun-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers which can handle the heat a little better.

You should also observe how sunlight travels across your space over the course of a day. This will help you figure out the exact duration of sun exposure. You'll need to determine what sun exposure category you fall under:

• Full sun is over 6 hours of direct sun per day
• Full shade is less than 4 hours
• Partial sun/shade is between 4 and 6 hours

Don’t forget to look for shady spots that may pop up during the day such as those cast from a tree or a neighboring building. Even railings and other structural elements of the balcony itself can cast shade. I’m lucky to have two balconies in my apartment. I have both a north-facing balcony, which has partial sun in the morning, and a south-facing one that has full sun in the afternoon and evening. In the past, I only used the north-facing balcony for my gardening, but this year I plan to utilize both and bring some appropriate plants to my front balcony with full sun.

Whatever your situation, do your best to grow plants suitable for your sun exposure. Most seeds and seedlings list whether they prefer partial or full sun or shade on their packaging.

2. Choose the proper size containers for your garden

Another important thing to consider when planning your balcony garden is choosing the proper container. This is almost as important as sunlight and water. A plant may not produce enough crops if it's in a container that's too small. I remember trying to grow tomatoes one year, but the pot was at most one gallon in size. It produced only ten tomatoes all season and at the time I had no idea why! I now know that many plants need the appropriate space for their root systems to develop, especially tomatoes which should be planted in a container which holds at least 5 gallons. Here are some basic things to consider when choosing the proper container:

• The proper size container is very important to the health of your plant
• If a pot is too small, the roots will be restricted, leading to uneven growth
• Smaller containers mean less soil which means the plant will exhaust the nutrients in the soil more quickly

If you're gardening on a small urban balcony, space is at a premium. Luckily, many popular culinary herbs do not need large containers to thrive. A good rule to remember is to give enough room for the plant’s root system. Since roots grow downwards, the depth of the pot is more important than the overall size.

Let’s use cilantro as an example. For a 12-inch tall plant, which is a typical size for cilantro, the roots can be about 8 inches long. As the plant grows taller, the roots grow deeper, so I would recommend a pot at least 12 inches deep for it to grow properly (more if possible). Other herbs need much less room for their roots including popular varieties like thyme, rosemary, basil, and mint. A six inch deep pot may be sufficient, but I always like to give them a little extra space if it's available.

3. Try vertical gardening to maximize space

When planning your balcony garden, explore a variety of planter options beyond the typical pots. If you're looking to conserve space and maximize your growing area, try thinking vertically. There are many ways to utilize vertical space in your balcony. Framed structures and modular systems can create a plant wall and existing structures, such as balcony railings, can be used to stake tall plants.

I’m planning on using this vertical planter with four tiers, each with a rectangular box that can hold several plants. A vertical planter would be especially useful for herbs with shallow roots that don’t require deep containers. The same goes for similar planters that can be hung from your balcony railing. I’ve always had several of those and they are an easy way to increase your growing space.

4. Know the weight limitations of your balcony

Perhaps most important of all when planning your garden is determining if you can garden at all. Some building rules may not allow it. If yours does, then the weight of planters and containers will play a big role. For starters, ensure that your balcony can support the weight. Soil and pots, especially when saturated with water, can get quite heavy. The last thing anyone wants is for a balcony to get overloaded! One single five gallon container of watered soil can weigh 50 pounds, so the overall weight can add up fast. Look through your building's rules to see if you can find any guidelines on balcony gardening.

My apartment complex actually has very specific rules that offer guidelines on the weight limit of planters and soil. It also specifies the weight per square foot. Your house rules are likely to be different from mine so please consult your own rules if you can. If those are unavailable, your city’s rules and building codes might be helpful. You should be looking at total weight allowance, as well as weight per square foot. This means that too many containers shouldn't be concentrated in one section and should be distributed evenly. Do your best to keep the weight under your building’s limit and spaced evenly across your balcony.

5. Consider wind conditions on your balcony

Another important factor to consider is wind. If you have lived in your apartment for a while, you may already know which way and how hard wind tends to blow on your balcony. If you don’t, spend some time observing wind speed and direction in all kinds of weather.

My north-facing balcony overlooks an enclosed courtyard. That space can sometimes act as a wind tunnel even on a calm day and objects can get blown around or even knocked over. To help organize my balcony and secure objects from wind, I purchased a small waterproof bin to store tools, watering cans, and other gardening accessories. I only live on the third floor, but if you live on an even higher floor, wind is likely to be more of a factor.

If you think wind is a concern for your balcony garden, please take the following precautions. First, don’t use pots that are too small. Six and eight inch pots don’t weigh much and a medium gust might be able to knock them right over. Second, if any of your plants start to get tall, consider securing them with stakes or other supports.

If you’re putting in all the effort and investment to plant and grow your own herbs and vegetables on your balcony, don’t forget to do it safely!