apartment balcony garden

Patio Growers Guide to Apartment Balcony Gardening

If you’re dreaming of growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs but feel like you can’t because your space is too small, we have great news for you! With our small balcony gardening ideas, you can ensure a thriving leafy sanctuary right outside your sliding door. Check out our basic guide to apartment balcony gardening to get started.

Ideal Plants for Balcony Gardening

potted herbs for balcony gardens

Finding the right plants for apartment balcony gardening typically depends on the conditions of your space, but we do have some beginner plants to get you started:

Mint

Lavender

Basil

Oregano

Tomatoes

Garlic

Beans

Peas

Blueberries

Figs

Peaches

Strawberries

There are tons of plants that are perfect for your balcony, so narrow down your selection using these variables:

  • Plants that won’t grow too big for your containers
  • Plants that have similar sunlight, soil, and watering requirements
  • Plants that are resistant to the pests in your area, like birds and bugs

Potting Options

Apartment balcony gardening requires using pots and containers to ensure your plants have access to nutrient-rich soil. Your setup should include pots that are large enough to allow plants to develop their root system without overcrowding, as well as drainage holes to prevent excess water from accumulating.

Our Grow Kits are perfect for all your small balcony gardening ideas, as they offer versatility and flexibility in how many pots you get and how you space out your watering setup. They also allow you to minimize maintenance and care with a self-watering system that monitors soil moisture constantly. In addition to our kits and accessories, you can enhance your garden with other options, including:

  • Trellises for vine plants, like tomatoes and strawberries
  • Pots that sit directly on your balcony railing
  • Stacked pot setups to maximize space
  • Wall-mounted pockets for shallow growing plants
  • Hanging pots to keep seating and lounging areas open

Ideal Conditions for Your Plants

Sunlight on balcony plant

Most edible plants require full sun, that’s six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day, to grow and thrive. Some plants only need partial sun, but that still means at least four hours of light a day! Find some examples of plants that fall into each category of sunlight.

Full Sun

Tomatoes

Strawberries

Squash

Cucumbers

Melons

Okra

Partial Sun

Beets

Cauliflower

Onions

Carrots

Chard

Peas 

Full Shade

Cilantro

Mint

Salad Greens

Garlic

Green Onions

Bok Choy

If there’s a plant you want to grow in your balcony gardening plan that doesn’t fit in with the current conditions of your balcony, you can buy LED grow lights to provide more sun or construct an awning to create more shade.

Jump Right In

With this beginner’s apartment balcony gardening guide, you can start exploring more options that apply to your specific situation. Once you decide on a few plants, consider visiting our plant guide for tips and tricks related to your current variety, and check out our other blogs for more educational overviews.