Adjusting to Balcony Vegetable Gardening
By Jeannette Adams, Master Gardener
Up until four years ago, I was fortunate to have a large, full-sun backyard where I grew a wide variety of food crops. Now I garden on a fourth floor condo balcony. I have been experimenting and adjusting to my new growing conditions.
When we bought our condo, I was happy that it faced mostly east so I thought, morning sun, great. Once we moved in, I discovered that the balcony was in shade by 1:00 p.m. because the sun was blocked by part of the building limiting the number of sunlight hours. I also discovered that being on the fourth floor resulted in the balcony becoming very hot, so plants preferring cooler temperatures didn’t do well. We are not bothered much by wind, but some of my neighbours have a real problem with wind that can be very damaging.
Adjusting to my new gardening limits has been a learning experience and I hope to share some things to consider if planning to grow vegetables on a condo or apartment balcony. First, you must check what rules apply in your building. Most buildings have restrictions on what can be placed on balconies. You also need to think about what else you may want to put in that space such as seating or a barbeque.
You can now decide on the number and type of container to use. You should choose ones that are all-season since you will probably be leaving them on the balcony year round. Weight is important because you may need to occasionally move them. Be sure that you have drip pans since you don’t want to rain down on your neighbour. It’s best to choose containers that are a minimum of 30 cm (12 in.) wide and 20 cm (8 in.) deep. Avoid a bunch of small containers since they will require frequent watering. Besides the common style of containers, there are now elevated, trough style planters available. Some of these have the “self-watering” feature and may include a protective cover allowing for early planting. If you are considering planting any root crops, you will definitely need planters that allow for deeper soil.
This brings another challenge. What type of soil do you use? Most commercial container soils are a soil less mix. This is fine for ornamentals, but vegetables require more nutrients, especially minerals. There are now some mixes labelled “vegetable and herb” which may provide more nutrients; however, a better solution would be to mix your own. Start with a good all-purpose potting soil and add some organic compost and a slow release fertilizer at time of planting. You want to have a loose, well draining mixture, but with some weight to it. Regular fertilizing will be required since your plants are in a confined space. Applying a layer of mulch, such as coir, will help hold moisture and reduce the amount of watering. Once the growing season is over, some or all of the soil will have to be replaced. If you have deep containers, remove about the top third. Arrange with a friend, community garden or composting depot to take your depleted soil. Do not dump it in a park or along the river.
Choosing what to grow will require experimenting until you find what works best. I found that tomatoes worked if I purchased a more mature plant and placed it in the sunniest corner. Also varieties with shorter days to maturity were more successful. Salad greens and herbs have worked well, although the salad greens don’t like the heat so they produce best in spring and early summer. I didn’t have much success with peas and carrots, but did have limited success with patio type green beans. I haven’t tried cucumbers, but some people have had good results with the patio varieties. Trying to grow root vegetables isn’t worth using precious space, since these are easily purchased at the local farmer’s market.
If dealing with heat or wind the best solution is to group your containers close together. This will provide support and also help to conserve moisture. Be sure to keep containers well watered. Taller plants need to be staked and, if it is allowed, some netting placed around them. During a really hot spell, you might pull the containers back into the shady part of the balcony. If your balcony has glass railings, watch for reflected light that could result in scorching of your plants. The size of your balcony and the conditions you have will determine how many vegetables you can grow successfully.
Just as with any garden, each season can present unique challenges that will effect the results. Gardening is an ever evolving experience that brings levels of frustration, but much joy as we learn to adjust and reap the rewards. One challenge I no longer have to deal with is rabbits or deer eating my vegetables. I can just watch them from my fourth floor balcony as I enjoy my morning coffee.
Published: May 2025