Need help choosing veggies to grow on my south facing balcony!

Dena Roberts
by Dena Roberts
This will be my first summer in an apartment! I've always had my own veggie garden and would love to have one on my balcony. Any ideas for garden boxes and types of veggies? The balcony gets full sun and is about 15 feet long by 7 feet wide. We're on the 3rd floor, so I have to be mindful of the water runoff below! Thanks for your help!
  11 answers
  • Emmen Emmen on May 08, 2017

    Any vegetables will grow fantastic because you're south facing, you get the best sun for growing. Lee Valley Tools and Costco sell VegTrug planters, look them up there are various sizes and the one size comes with a top for cold weather. This is what I'm getting once my deck is complete for vegetables and herbs. Good luck!

  • Aaron Aaron on May 08, 2017

    You can try a vertical pallet herb garden! All you need is a large wood pallet, garden fabric, nails, hammer, some extra pieces of pallet planks, and a few more simple materials. Don't forget the potting soil and the herbs you want to grow. This is great for saving space on your balcony too.


    Here is the link for a step by step guide:

    http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/garden/vinca-pallet-starter-garden-4120366

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 08, 2017

    You can plant your vegetables in five gallon containers with drainage holes.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on May 08, 2017

    You can plant any veggie you want as long as you allow a large enough container for the plants mature size. Herbs grow well in any size pot or plant a couple window type planter with multiple herbs in each. You can grow climbers if you put up some kind of trellis to let them go up. You can probably use window boxes for things like lettuce and plant multiple types or the same type in each. Figure out what you want and where you want to put it and have fun! You can make working with the larger pots easier by investing in putting them on wheels so you can move them around without breaking your back. Just make sure you get the size needed for the pots. I went to that last year and automatically get them when I get a new large pot. You can find them at home improvement stores and even Walmart, they go from cheap to expensive and fancy. Make sure you have drainage holes drilled in them or they will hold a lot of water and cause problems. The same with the large pots, most of them don't come with the holes already in them, but have little circles where you can drill a hole.

  • Dena Roberts Dena Roberts on May 08, 2017

    Love the idea of wheels! Lots of great ideas! Thank you, everyone 🤗

  • Gma Kirk Gma Kirk on May 08, 2017

    Sweet potatoes are great! They make a beautiful vine you can drape around your railings. you can grow in a container like this: https://snapguide.com/guides/make-your-own-potato-pots-for-easy-harvesting/

  • Helena Helena on Mar 17, 2024

    Opt for sun-loving veggies like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and compact cucumber varieties for your south-facing balcony. Include herbs like basil and rosemary. Ensure pots have good drainage and soil is fertile. Regular watering is crucial, especially in full sun, to keep plants hydrated and healthy. You can also read this article to know more - https://gardeniaorganic.com/how-to-start-an-indoor-vegetable-garden/


  • Dee Dee on Mar 17, 2024

    You can use buckets and drill holes in the bottom for water escape and plant tomatoes, peppers. If you put up a trellis you can plant cucumbers.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Mar 19, 2024

    Plant tomatoes north to south. You could reach your local cooperative extension, they have master gardeners on staff and they could help you with what grows in your zone.

  • Betsy Betsy 7 days ago

    Hi Dena: If you want tomatoes, get the type that are determinate and not indeterminate. The determinate type grow short and bushy. Your local nursery can suggest veggies for you that can be grown in containers. Put the containers into decorative plastic containers (you will have 2 containers, 1 with the plant and 1 for the plant container). Put rocks in the bottom of the plastic container so that the plant container can sit on it and not have to sit in water and water won't drip on your neighbours.

  • Hi Dena! For south-facing balconies, choose plants that love sun! Jasmine, gardenia, geraniums, dianthus, herbs such as basil and parsley, and lots of vegetables will thrive in the sunny conditions of a south-facing balcony. Hope this helps!