Growing Herbs on your Balcony

You can bring new life to your balcony by adding a few potted herb plants. Having your herb plants in containers makes it a cinch because you can move them around (as you figure out the amount of sun your balcony gets). Their portability also helps for bringing your herbs indoors at the end of the growing season—you don’t want to leave your herb plants on the balcony all winter.

The best bet for your balcony herb garden is any plant that does well with lots of sun, like a morning glory. Morning glories are great because they can handle the bright reflection from your windows and also all the heat that a metal balcony will generate. Observe the amount and type of sunlight, heat and intensity on your balcony during a regular day. You will also want to know which way your balcony is facing—will you get more morning or afternoon sun?

Use gray or silver-colored herbs as well as those with a velvety texture or thick leaves in your balcony garden. These will do well because they lose less water in evaporation.

Here are some herb plants that I recommend for your balcony:

• Aloe vera: Aloe vera is an easy plant to grow. It doesn’t need much water and it tolerates a lot of sun and heat. It is also very helpful for burns, just cut a little piece off and rub it on the burn. It will cool the location, but it can be sticky!

• Cayenne pepper: If you grill out on your balcony, imagine being able to break off a pieces of cayenne pepper to add to your next meal. With a bright pop of color, cayenne pepper will be wonderful on your balcony.

• Cucumber: A trailing vine, like the cucumber, will provide an added touch to your balcony. Cucumbers are awesome for facials, ladies. Being able to add some cucumber to your salad is a lovely touch too.

• Hens-and-chicks: These are among my most favorite plants. These don’t require a lot of watering—they are water-holding succulents—and will tolerate the hot temperature and bright natural light that you might have on your balcony. Not to mention that they are so adorable too!

• Lavender: Just one whiff of the soothing smell of this fragrant herb and you will be more at ease. The awesome purple buds will make a colorful balcony even better.

Select a collection of interesting pots for your balcony or use a hanging basket lined with a coconut husk for wonderful outcomes. I used chicken wire and moss to make my own herb balcony basket. It was my first try at a project like that. It wasn’t amazing, but it worked. It will work best if you carefully consider the drainage when you are buying your basket or pot.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.