If yours faces east or west, it’ll only get direct sun for part of the day, and if your balcony is north-facing it may not get any direct sunlight at all. If you live in a building without its own garden, establishing a roof or balcony garden is the ideal way to create your own mini horticultural haven, ensuring you don’t miss out on growing a wide range of plants.

If your balcony faces north or is shaded by other buildings for most of the day, look to low-light plants such as coleus, ferns, impatiens, hostas, and begonias. And now you can see for yourself the results of my green fingers, following a trip to Columbia Road flower market this weekend to pick up an old bucket, inspired by Isabelle’s projects, and some new tomato plants. Now’s the perfect time to sow vegetable seeds, and with just a few pots on a balcony, you can look forward to harvesting fresh, flavoursome vegetables and herbs. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

There are many disappointments and I’ll never understand how to navigate the precipice between too much and too little water. You should position your plants where they’re going to get the most sun, and if your balcony is high up, you should try and find sheltered areas to protect your plants from harsh winds. There is some basic information about potting soil, fertilizer, watering, and potential growing issues, and there are also some suggestions for varieties of plant to grow.A balcony garden is more compact by nature and should be maintained slightly differently to when growing plants and vegetables in regular garden beds. Complete with a journal section, a plant list, a glossary, and comprehensive resources list, The Balcony Gardener is a must-have book for any green-fingered city-dweller.