Living in an apartment doesn't mean giving up on growing your own food. A balcony, terrace, or even a sunny windowsill can produce surprisingly large harvests.
The key is choosing the right plants for your space and light conditions - and setting up a system that doesn't require daily attention.
First: Check Your Light
Your balcony's orientation determines what you can grow:
South-Facing
6+ hours sun. Grow anything: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs.
East/West-Facing
4-6 hours sun. Leafy greens, herbs, beans, peas.
North-Facing
Less than 4 hours. Lettuce, spinach, some herbs.
Best Vegetables for Balconies
High Performers in Small Spaces
Cherry Tomatoes Medium Space
Compact varieties like 'Tiny Tim' or 'Tumbling Tom' were bred for containers. One plant can produce hundreds of tomatoes. Needs consistent watering and 6+ hours of sun.
Salad Greens Small Space
Lettuce, spinach, and rocket grow fast and don't need deep containers. Harvest outer leaves for continuous production. Tolerates partial shade.
Herbs Small Space
Basil, parsley, chives, and mint thrive in containers. Most productive with 6+ hours of sun, but parsley and chives tolerate less.
Peppers Medium Space
Both sweet and hot peppers grow well in pots. Compact varieties stay under 60cm. Need warmth and consistent moisture.
Radishes Small Space
Ready to harvest in 25-30 days. Grow in any container with 15cm depth. Perfect for filling gaps between larger plants.
Green Beans Small Space
Bush varieties don't need support and produce heavily. Plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
Strawberries Small Space
Perfect for hanging baskets or railing planters. Everbearing varieties produce fruit from spring to frost.
The Container Challenge
Balcony containers dry out much faster than garden beds. On hot summer days, you might need to water twice daily.
This is where most balcony gardens fail: people start enthusiastically, then the daily watering becomes a chore, then they miss a few days, then the plants die.
Container Size Guide
- 5-10 liters: Herbs, lettuce, radishes, small greens
- 10-20 liters: Peppers, bush beans, strawberries
- 20-40 liters: Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes
When in doubt, go bigger. Larger containers hold more water and give roots room to grow.
Vertical Growing
Short on floor space? Grow up:
- Railing planters - Attach to balcony railings for herbs and trailing plants
- Hanging baskets - Strawberries and cherry tomatoes cascade beautifully
- Stackable planters - Multiple growing levels in one footprint
- Wall-mounted systems - Use vertical wall space for herbs and greens
What NOT to Grow
Some vegetables need more space than balconies can provide:
- Corn - Needs multiple plants for pollination
- Potatoes - Require very deep containers
- Large squash/pumpkins - Plants spread too wide
- Asparagus - Takes years to establish
Getting Started
Don't try to grow everything at once. Start with:
- One or two herb pots (basil + parsley or mint + chives)
- A container of salad greens
- One larger pot for tomatoes or peppers if you have 6+ hours of sun
Succeed with these, then expand next season.
Maximise Your Balcony Space
Garden Stack's vertical design fits multiple growing levels in a small footprint. The self-watering reservoir means less daily maintenance - perfect for busy urban gardeners.
See Garden Stack