Balcony-Friendly Foods
It can be hard to live in a space that offers little to no room for plant growth, especially when the space you’re in isn’t even yours. Not all hope is lost, however, as many foods can thrive in smaller spaces. All you need to do is show them a little love. Growing at home is a great way to save on your grocery bill and to keep you a little more connected to the earth.
1. Basil
Basil is a super-easy plant that grows with little maintenance. It thrives in the sun, usually doing best with 6 to 8 hours of full light, and will happily grow in a pot just as much as in the ground. Keep your basil in well-drained potting soil and enjoy the fresh herb in your weekly dinners.
2. Mint
Mint is arguably one of the easiest herbs to grow, as it has a tendency to thrive in harsh conditions. It’s even recommended that you grow mint in a pot, as it's a bit of an invasive species. Keep your mind in a sunny or partially shady area, and you’ll be good to go.
3. Chives
This low-maintenance herb does well in gardens and containers and is naturally pest-resistant. It’s a great beginner herb for new plant parents, and it will thrive in a sunny area with some decent garden soil.
4. Lettuce
Loose-leaf lettuce varieties are among the easiest to grow, thriving in cool weather and in small spaces. They have a fast growth pattern, allowing you to have fresh salads any time of the year. They have pretty shallow roots, making it an excellent option for small pots.
5. Spinach
Spinach won’t take up too much space in your rental herb garden; all it really needs is consistently moist soil and a little bit of sun. In fact, the most amount of time you’ll spend worrying about your spinach plant is when it's time to harvest!
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6. Kale
This leafy green is a hardy plant that can tolerate cooler weather, making it a good choice for spring and fall planting. You can harvest the same kale plant for months if you use the “cut-and-come-again” method, which allows for new leaf growth from the same plant.
7. Radishes
These root veggies are a great beginner-friendly option, as they don’t take up too much space and can fully mature in under a month. All they really require is consistently moist soil, and you’ll be able to get a few harvests during the spring and fall seasons.
8. Green Onions
These hardy plants are excellent for beginners, so much so that you don’t even need to buy seeds to start growing them. If you buy green onions from the store, place your scraps in a container of water and leave them in a sunny spot.
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9. Cherry Tomatoes
These little guys truly pack a punch. They yield much faster than regular tomatoes, naturally fight against diseases, and can do quite well in larger pots. It’s recommended that you use a cage or a trellis to keep the plants upright and to ensure they’re getting 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.
10. Thyme
Thyme is a trooper of a plant, thriving in full sun and well-draining soil. The plant is quite tolerant of drought once its buds are established, and it can thrive from hanging baskets to pots to raised plant beds.
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11. Celery
Clery is a slightly more difficult plant to grow, as it needs a bit more water than some of the other plants on this list. However, you can grow new celery stalks from pieces at the grocery store, making the process a little bit easier than starting from scratch.
12. Arugula
This fast-growing plant does well in pots and gardens alike, and can be grown year-round. It does best in partial sun and requires consistent moisture, but you can yield multiple harvests from one plant if you time it correctly.
13. Strawberries
Strawberries require 6 to 10 hours of sunlight per day, and usually do best in well-drained soil. They do well in hanging baskets or pots, thanks to their shallow root system, making them a good choice for beginners.
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14. Peas
Peas are a cool-season plant that requires little to no effort. They can do well in small spaces, only requiring a trellis to support the plant. They also don’t require much fertilizer, and only need around 6 full hours of sun.
15. Potatoes
Our favorite starchy vegetable can do well as a ground, raised bed, or pot crop, as long as it's planted in the right soil. Fingerlings, Yukon Gold, Adirondack Blue, and Red Norland potatoes are among the best for smaller spaces, thanks to their rapid maturity rate and affinity for container growing.
16. Eggplants
These purple friends require a little more maintenance than some of the other foods on this list, as they require full sun, well-draining soil, and consistent moisture. However, they can easily thrive in containers, especially those of smaller varieties such as the patio baby or the Hansel.
17. Chard
This productive plant is an excellent option for beginners and thrives in nearly any environment. You can yield multiple harvests from chard thanks to its rapid growth rate, and it does well in cooler weather.
18. Carrots
Carrots can be quite easy to grow once they get past the germination stage, which requires constant moisture. Once that’s complete, though, you can harvest carrots at just about any point in their growth stage, so you can enjoy baby carrots or full-grown carrots, depending on what you’re looking for.
19. Lemon
Dwarf varieties of lemons can thrive on patios or balconies as a container plant, if you know what you’re doing. The smaller variety, known as the Meyer lemon, does best with 8 hours of full sunlight and consistent moisture.
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20. Beans
These low-maintenance veggies are excellent options for first-time growers and do quite well in smaller gardens or containers. They require consistent sunlight and water, but grow quickly, allowing for multiple yields within a season.
