Growing vegetables on the balcony is anything but difficult, even if there is little space. We will show you which plant suits your balcony.
If you don't have a garden but still want to garden, you often choose the balcony. Fortunately, harvesting a lot of vegetables is not a problem here either. Most types of vegetables can also be cultivated in pots without any problems. However, beginners in particular sometimes find it difficult to get started with balcony gardening: the question of which plants can actually thrive on your balcony unsettles many. We will show you the factors on which successful vegetable cultivation depends and which plant goes with which balcony.
Even in the city it is possible to grow lots of delicious vegetables yourself. Of course, self-sufficient nutrition becomes difficult even on the largest balcony. With our tips for growing vegetables in a small space, you can make the most of your space.
Criteria for suitable plants for the self-catering balcony
Not every plant can be grown equally well on every balcony - but before you waste a lot of time and money trying to find out which plant is most suitable for your balcony, you can clearly narrow down the selection with two simple criteria. On the one hand, you should determine in which direction your balcony is facing, and on the other hand, you should ask yourself how much time you want to invest in gardening. Once these questions have been answered, the selection will be clearly narrowed
Suitable plants for balconies facing every direction
While the cardinal direction usually plays a subordinate role in the garden, it is elementary for gardening on the balcony. The reason: the direction in which the balcony faces almost always determines the amount of light that reaches the balcony. A north-facing balcony is almost always in the shade of the building, while it is almost always sunny on the south-facing balcony. East and west balconies, on the other hand, are in the middle and offer both sun and shade. Since different types of vegetables also differ fundamentally in terms of the amount of light they require, the choice of type of vegetable is directdepending on the amount of light and thus also on the orientation of the balcony. Since the east and west balconies have both sunny and shady spots, it is possible to grow many types of vegetables here: broccoli and kohlrabi, all kinds of salads, carrots and radishes, beans and a variety of herbs are just a selection of plants that feel very comfortable on the east and west balconies. Basically, all plants that appreciate sunny or semi-shady locations thrive here.
The south-facing balcony, on the other hand, is suitable for all sun worshipers: Varieties that can't get enough sun feel particularly at home here - including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, berries and aubergines. But the plants from the east or west balcony can also feel at home here if you give them some shade with an awning or something similar. The south-facing balcony is therefore perfect for most types of vegetables and ideal for gardening. Owners of a north-facing balcony have it the hardest: Growing plants is generally more difficult on their balcony because there is little light available. Vegetables that can also grow well in the shade are therefore particularly suitable for this balcony. This includes almost all types of cabbage, chard, lamb's lettuce, beetroot or leek.
Plant overview for the cardinal points
Not sure which plant is suitable for your balcony? Here we have put together a brief overview of the different types of balconies and the plants that go with them.
East or west balcony:
- All plants that like sun or partial shade
- Salads
- Herbs
- Radish
- Kohlrabi
- Broccoli
- Beans
South-facing balcony:
- All plants that like particularly warm, full sun
- Tomatoes
- Peppers and Chili
- Cucumber
- Mediterranean Herbs
- Berries, such as strawberries, currants or raspberries
- eggplant
- With sufficient shade from sun sails or similar, all types of vegetables that also thrive on the east or west balcony
North balcony:
- Only vegetables that are particularly hardy and can grow in the shade
- All types of cabbage
- Chard
- Herbs like dill, tarragon, chivesand cumin
- Salads such as lamb's lettuce, rocket or winter purslane
- Beetroot
- Leek
Tip: Because there is hardly any energy in the form of sun rays on the north side of the building, vegetables on the north balcony will always grow much more slowly and produce lower yields than comparable plants. It is all the more important to start growing in good time, to use cold frames and to support the plants with the right soil and an optimal supply of nutrients. In this way you can already bring large and strong plants onto the balcony as soon as it gets warm and make the most of the growing season.
Tip: Find out how to build your own cold frame in our special article.
Plants for the self-sufficient balcony with different time commitments
But it's not just the direction that determines the success of a self-sufficient balcony: the time it takes also plays a major role in the thriving of the plant. With daily care, some plants can thrive on a balcony that does not promise the ideal requirements, while other plants begin to wither despite a suitable balcony but without care. If you don't have the time (or don't feel like it) to take care of your garden every day, it is better to use more robust than demanding varieties - these also forgive a spontaneous weekend trip without any problems.
Most types of cabbage, French beans, Mediterranean herbs, lettuce, rocket and also spinach and radishes are considered robust vegetables. And you can also leave the beets, onions and Jerusalem artichokes to their own devices. But the individual varieties of a certain type of vegetable can also differ greatly from one another. There are often more robust breeds that bring a little less yield, but also forgive one or the other mistake. If you don't want to spend too much time in your garden, you should consider this when buying plants.