Herbs are easy to grow. Fancy growing your own herbs and a few vegetables on your balcony? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds, and it quickly becomes a real pleasure. Harvesting your own plants, biting into a juicy homegrown tomato, dressing up a freshly picked salad: it's all possible, even in an apartment. Happiness can be found on the balcony too. Here's how.
How to Get Started
You can choose to buy seedlings or seeds: seedlings are usually the better option, as they tend to be hardier. Set up your planters on the balcony, place a few pebbles at the bottom, add a first layer of potting soil along with fertilizer granules, then top it off with more potting soil.
Pay attention to your balcony's orientation: a minimum of four hours of sunlight is recommended, ideally facing southeast or southwest (west-facing is best). During a heat wave, remember to bring the planters indoors and water generously.
The shape of the planter doesn't matter much, but depth does: a minimum of 20 cm, more for tomatoes. Width should be adapted to the plant: 15 to 22 cm for herbs, 30 to 35 cm for tomatoes. Terracotta pots let air and water through but are prone to frost damage; plastic pots are lightweight and easy to maintain, but heat up quickly in the sun and can burn the roots.
Potted plants need soil that's particularly rich in nutrients: it's best to use special vegetable potting soil, and add fertilizer if your soil doesn't already contain any.
Which Plant Combinations Work Best?
Be sure to pair plants with similar needs. You can combine chives, sorrel and parsley, or swap in basil with that same trio. Thyme, a drier plant, pairs well with rosemary or bay leaf. Mint should be kept separate, as its root system is highly invasive. Another good pairing: oregano and chervil.
What About Upkeep?
Water your plants in moderation, and use saucers to catch any water the soil doesn't retain. Watering should be regular in spring and daily in summer, preferably early in the morning or in the evening. Two prunings should be done: one in February, another after flowering.
Herbs are easy to grow: just a small corner is enough to house them. Discover the pleasure, when preparing a meal, of having fresh herbs on hand — what would tomato sauce be without basil, or a salad without parsley and chives? You don't need a green thumb: they practically grow themselves!
A minimum of four hours of sunlight, a planter 20 cm deep, and rich potting soil are all it takes to grow herbs on a balcony.
