Growing herbs on the balconyis a very good solution for people who live in cities and do not have their own garden. Having our ownherbs on the balcony , we can always count on access to their fresh, aromatic leaves. Seewhat herbs to plant on the balconyso that they grow well in balcony boxes and pots, as well as how to care for them and what growing conditions should be provided for them.
Herbs on the balcony
What herbs to plant on the balcony?
Many types of herbs are suitable for cultivation on the balconyApart from the most popular ones, i.e. basil, marjoram, oregano, lemon balm, mint and parsley, caraway seeds are perfect for balcony cultivation, coriander, garden savory and thyme.In large, decorative pots on the balcony floor you can grow perennial herbs , i.e. lovage, mugwort, Christmas tree, valerian, St. John's wort, rue and rosemary, hyssop, stevia and tarragon. Additionally, thebalcony can be decorated with beautifully flowering herbssuch as marigolds, borage, echinacea and chamomile.
Herbs can be planted in balcony boxes or single potsThese can be plastic containers, the advantage of which is lightness and better protection of the soil against moisture loss, or clay pots that they provide better air permeability and exchange, and are also heavier, so they do not tip over so easily in the wind. Choose frost-resistant pots for perennial herbs
List of herbs to be grown on the balconyalong with the minimum sizes of pots are presented in the table. Below the table there is a link to download the list of balcony herbs in a printable version.
You can download the list of herbs for growing on the balcony in a printable version:
- List of herbs to grow on the balcony (PDF)
How to grow herbs on the balcony?
1. How much sun do herbs need on the balcony?
Most herb species easily adapt to the conditions on the balcony. However, if we want our herbs to grow he althy and lush, it is better to take into account their light needs.
The vast majority of herbs prefer sunny locations , especially species with small leaves (e.g.marjoram, savory, rosemary). They require a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.However, they do not feel very favorable on the south balcony , because the strong sun causes the substrate to dry out quickly and the leaves of the herbs to be looked at during most of the day.
Some herb species grow much better in semi-shaded placesThese herbs need about 4 hours of sunlight a day to develop properly. Such herbs include, for example, mint, lemon balm or parsley. Bear's garlic is a typical shade-loving herb. It will be an excellent choice for cultivation on north-facing balconies.
Balcony boxes with herbs
2. Soil for growing herbs on the balcony
The soil should be selected individually for each species of herb.Mediterranean herbs feel great in light and sandy ground , which heats up quickly, is water-permeable and low in nutrients.In turn, lovage, valerian, wild garlic and leaf parsley prefer a sandy loam soil.
Normal potting or balcony soil is not suitable for growing herbsTraditional potting potting soil is high in peat and often enriched with mineral fertilizers. Herbs, on the other hand, require a small amount of nutrients. Additionally, many herbs like a slightly alkaline or alkaline substrate, and substrates generally are slightly acidic.
Universal potting soil, however, may be suitable for pot marigold, garden chervil, St. John's wort, stevia and borage. Some producers have launcheda special soil for growing herbs , which will prove to be the best choice if we cannot prepare a suitable substrate by ourselves. It is worth asking about it in garden centers and supermarkets.
3. How to water herbs on the balcony?
The herbs grown in pots on the balcony have limited access to water. In sunny and windy places, the substrate in the pot dries out very quickly. Therefore, you shouldregularly check the soil moisture in pots with herbsA soil gauge with a moisture indicator can be very helpful.
Abundant watering, preceded by extreme drying of the substrate, exposes plants to severe stress. Therefore, a reasonable solution isto water your herbs regularly and moderately on the balcony , preferably always at the same time of day.
Good to know!
It is best to water the herbs on the balcony in the morning or evening. Avoid watering herbs during the hours of strong sunlight.
It should be remembered that some herbs prefer wetter positions (e.g. garden chervil), and others prefer drier ones (marjoram, savory, rosemary). Therefore,composing herbs together in boxes , it is best to plant species with the same moisture requirements together.
4. How to fertilize herbs on the balcony?
Herbs have low nutritional requirements . Some, such as rosemary or thyme, require virtually no fertilization. Others, such as basil or lovage, only need a gentle fertilization with compost or diluted vermicompost.
Herbs are fertilized in spring and again after harvestYou should not use artificial fertilizers to fertilize herbs, because their ingredients accumulate in plant leaves, and only organic fertilizers. Fortunately, in many garden stores, we can easily buy organic fertilizer for herbs.
Note!
You should not overdo it with fertilizing herbs, because overfertilized herbs lose their aroma, root less well and are easily susceptible to diseases.
5. How to overwinter herbs on the balcony?
Perennial herbs from our native areas (mugwort, wild garlic, St. John's wort, ruthenium) can be successfully wintered on the balcony.The root ball of the herbs in the pot, however, is not as well protected against frost as in the ground. Therefore,balcony pots with herbs must be tightly wrapped with insulating materiale.g. jute, old blankets or a straw mat. Another solution is to put the pots in boxes filled with leaves or wood wool.
Before securing the pots, the herbs should be watered abundantly. Purple echinacea can also be used to overwinter in the winter.We also gently water the herbs wintering on the balcony during the winter , on days with temperatures above zero, because the soil in the pots dries up quickly.
Herbs that are not frost-resistant, winter indoorsTarragon, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, thyme and hyssop must be moved to a cool (with a temperature of 10-15 ° C) and light for the winter period. rooms (e.g. unheated staircase, garage). Throughout the winter, the plants should be watered regularly but scantily so that the soil in the pot does not dry out completely.
Good to know!
In order to store mint over the winter, its root shoots should be placed in a flat pot in a shallow pot and covered with soil. It will slowly develop, releasing fresh leaves in winter.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
