Herbs on the Balcony – Flavor in the Smallest Space

Balcony owners, pay attention! Often, balcony owners have many wishes they can't fulfill due to lack of space. But you don't have to go without fresh herbs even with a balcony!

It doesn't always have to be a large herb spiral in the garden or a decorative raised bed full of herbs. Fresh herbs can also be grown on the balcony, and they taste just as good from there as they do from the garden.

Especially in spring and summer, the desire for fresh herbs is at its peak. So it's naturally appealing to grow plants with aromatic leaves yourself. For those who "only" have a balcony instead of their own garden and thought that meant giving up fresh herbs, let me tell you: no way! Fresh herbs can absolutely thrive on a balcony. And they do so very well, because there are the right herbs for every balcony.

Sun worshippers will feel very comfortable on a balcony that gets a lot of sun during the day. Mediterranean herbs like oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme are particularly well-suited there. These herbs tolerate a lot of sun and also cope relatively well with dryness.

And even on a shady balcony, things can get spicy: parsley, chives, and basil truly thrive here. These herbs don't tolerate dryness and prefer "wet feet." Since different herbs have different thirst levels, only herbs with the same needs should be planted together in one container. This greatly simplifies care and ensures fresh vitamins.

Generally, the same rules apply to herbs on the balcony as in the garden: plant what you like and, most importantly, what tastes good. Therefore, on the balcony, you should only plant the herbs you truly enjoy and want to use in the kitchen. However, if the sight of the herbs is enough for you, you can certainly plant what appeals visually. There are plenty of balcony owners who love the scent and sight of lavender but wouldn't use it in the kitchen.

Furthermore, herbs on the balcony also offer good protection against insects. Their essential oils keep unwelcome visitors away, ensuring undisturbed hours on the balcony. And, as a bonus, they're also a treat for the nose.

Clay or terracotta pots are best suited for growing herbs. They should have a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging and allow excess watering to drain easily. To prevent soil from washing out when watering, you can create a drainage layer with gravel or place a pot shard over the drainage hole. It's also important not to plant herbs too close together, as they can grow larger than initially expected.

Of course, herbs can be grown in normal balcony boxes. The advantage of this is that the boxes are often already available and simply need to be planted with pre-grown herbs from a specialty store. However, herbs can also be easily started on the windowsill in spring and then planted out later.

If normal balcony boxes are too boring for you, you can resort to creative ideas. A herb tower, for example, is particularly well-suited for a balcony that doesn't offer too much space. In a herb tower, herbs are planted one above the other, thus taking up hardly any width. Hanging baskets can also be easily repurposed as herb hanging baskets. If the baskets aren't hung too high, you can then harvest the herbs quite relaxed from the air and use them directly in the kitchen.

If you have a house wall available on your balcony, you can also set up a Euro pallet, insert boards as shelves, and thus create a vertical garden. This saves space and offers the possibility to grow many different herbs in the smallest space.