I cannot adequately describe how excited I have been at the prospect of having a garden again! When we found this new home, with its lovely terrace, I immediately started dreaming up my new garden plans. It’s been almost 4 years without any outdoor space at all.
My last garden was started just around the first lockdowns, you know the ones, and then in 2022 we moved to an apartment with no balcony and very little sunlight inside, so no gardening for me. I knew the next place I moved to would need to have some outdoor space. That had always been the plan.
Is It A Balcony Or Terrace?
I call it my balcony garden, but it’s really a fully supported terrace, not an overhanging balcony. The terrace has walls and pillars on all sides that go all the way from the foundations of the building to the roof.
This matters because the difference in construction allows for larger (heavier) containers to be placed, while an overhanging balcony would not be able to support that much weight. Definitely something to take into consideration if you’re thinking of starting a container garden at your apartment.
How Big Is My Balcony Garden?
The terrace itself is about 13m² but of course that is not all growing space. The amount of space I can actually plant in will be determined by the planters I’m able to get my hands on and how much space needs to be left open for other activities, like outdoor dining and hanging laundry.
Being a terrace that hugs the entire front of the apartment, means that I have various walls and corners to work with as well as railings, pillars and doors to work around and a very high ceiling.
There are two main zones creating a sort of L shape. I’ve drawn a floor plan to give you an idea. There’s basically one third on the left and double that (two thirds) on the right.
Based on various apartments I’ve lived in before, I’d say that a standard overhanging balcony would generally just consist of the one third on the left, if that. So I’m happy to have way more outdoor space than I’ve had at any other apartment before.
I’ve also marked where the doors are that lead out onto the terrace from the apartment.
Design And Layout Of My Balcony Garden
As you can see from the floor plan, there are 2 clear zones, each with their own entry point and views from inside to consider.
The main growing area will be the larger space on the right. It has the biggest impact on the inside of the house since the doors are huge and completely glass and most of the apartment has a view onto this part of the terrace.
All of this area is visible all of the time. So having a lovely garden here makes sense.
The other narrower side also happens to be the shadier side. This is going to be the more functional area. The laundry will hang here to dry and I’ll have shelves to store equipment and dormant bulbs, pot up seedlings, etc.
When It All Started
So I moved in January 2026. It was still winter and not the right time to be setting up a new garden. There were also many other things that needed my attention first. Like unpacking all my belongings and finding new homes for them in a new space with all new furniture and storage solutions. It was exhausting, but it was also fun. I do enjoy the organising process!
Deciding When To Start Sowing Seeds
I debated whether to start mid-February, like so many people (rightly) suggest, but for one reason or another, that was just not possible this year. So my seed sowing got delayed till mid-March. Which is probably fine, we don’t get freezes here, so having my plants out a bit later is unlikely to be a problem. Unless the summer gets too hot, in that case, well, I’ll just have to think of this year as a learning year.
Now that the seeds have had time to grow, I can confirm, I’ll likely start many of the heat loving plants indoors in February next year. Especially the peppers and aubergines. And I’ll bring them inside every night until the temperatures are pretty high.
They are so sensitive to cool weather. Between 10 and 15°C at night and they get stunted. Lesson learned. So I’m already thinking of how I’ll set up my indoor grow station in February next year. There’s not that much space inside, so it’s going to need some planning. That’s a future me’s problem though.
New Climate And Growing Zone
I’m not new to gardening, I’ve been gardening with relatives throughout my childhood and then as an adult I’ve had 2 of my own gardens previously to this one. The problem is the growing conditions. The climate was dramatically different in each location, meaning I’m learning from scratch each time, making adjustments as I go.
So this is my third garden, in a third location, with once again a very different climate.
It should be Zone 9-ish, but being a terrace garden, having walls all around, and facing south-west-ish, it has its own micro-climate, including higher temperatures, unexpected sun/shade scenarios, and occasionally very high wind exposure.
The weather app and zone map can only help me so much.
Nothing Is As It Seemed
All the plans I had made before moving here were shaken up due to the weird angles and shadows I have to work with in real life. Things seemed so different on paper, when I was looking at the floor plans, compared to when I was actually in the space, observing how the weather interacts with the building. If that makes sense.
Another lesson learned: It’s important to be in a space and observe how the sun, wind and water moves in it before making plans.
Being a confined space, though, I don’t really have many options to move things around. It’s going to end up being survival of the fittest out there and I will learn over time what will thrive and what will struggle to grow in that space.
For The Little Girl Who Dreamed Big Dreams
I’m sure that if there were a parallel universe, in which my circumstances were different, I’d probably be a small-scale farmer or homesteader.
I’ve been vicariously living that life through various channels online and I’ve always liked the idea of growing my own food, living off the land, having a few smaller animals, cooking from scratch, baking my own bread, etc.
It’s been in my heart for as long as I can remember. I know my grandparents lived that way for some time, my dad grew up on a farm. I remember all the women in the family making and baking from scratch and the men all fished and would make things and fix things themselves. Each person had their specialities and got things done. Maybe that’s what sparked the interest.
So, to bring joy to my heart and for the nostalgia and the big dreams of that little girl, I will be growing as much food as I can in my small urban container garden. And between the edible crops I will plant as many flowers as I can, because I also love beautiful, colourful things and I enjoy arranging flowers in vases. Something I learned from one of my aunts.
I also want my garden to be full of wildlife. Birds and insects. They’ve already started to visit before any of my seedlings had their first set of true leaves. It’s like they have been watching me make changes out there, curious about what was happening on my balcony.
I can’t wait to have more flowers and fruit for them to enjoy!
Can I Grow Food & Flowers On A Balcony?
Yes, of course. On a very small scale, but it can be done. There are all sorts of plants that will happily grow in containers, including dwarf fruit trees! The main consideration is that everything is smaller in scale: the space, the plants, the amount of soil and nutrients the plants have access to, and so potentially also the yields.
Adjusting one’s expectations is the key to avoiding disappointment.
For perspective, the raised beds I see most commonly used online are pretty large compared to the ones I will be planting in. Just one of those raised beds can hold almost all of my balcony planters!
When I first realised this, I was pretty upset. I had to dramatically shift my expectations. And still I fear I may have sown too many seeds this year. Ever the optimist!
Choosing What To Grow In My Container Garden
I decided to grow things that I love to eat and flowers that I’ve wanted to grow for ages.
I had been compiling wishlists for years, while I was unable to actually garden. So, when the time came to place a seed order, I actually took weeks to break down those lists into a realistic order.
I had to remind myself that I do not in fact live on a farm and had to downsize considerably. I managed in the end, but having to let go of many lovely things, and choose between them, was not an easy task.
In the end, I have a good selection that I’m quite happy with.
I specifically aimed to get compact varieties of most things and chose ones that are not easily found on the grocery store shelves.
If I’m spending time and energy on growing things, then I would like them to be beautiful, tasty and unique. A good variety of colours, shapes and flavours that make the whole process of garden to plate more interesing and enjoyable.
I will go into more detail about each variety in future updates about each plant.
Growing A Fruit Tree And Berry Bushes In Containers
I’m on the ketogenic diet, it’s just what my body prefers, and although I’m not always in ketosis, I try to keep my diet as low carb as possible. That means I cannot really eat fruit, except for berries. Unfortunately berries are quite expensive, fortunately they’re all pretty compact and many varieties will grow in containers.
So of course I went all out and got every berry I could think of that would grow in a container and can be kept compact or trellised:
- Dwarf Cherry Tree – a deep red, sweet variety
- Blueberries – a typical blue and a pink variety
- Raspberries – a typical red and a yellow variety
- Blackberries – just one, thornless
- Gooseberries – just one, red
- Currants – a pink and a white variety
- Ground Cherries – new to me, they’re orange
- Strawberries – 6 different varieties, one of each
I later learned that Mulberries will also grow really well in containers. I didn’t even consider looking into them since I’d only ever seen giant Mulberry trees in Africa. Maybe in the future, if I can somehow find a space for one more planter?
I did also get one melon. It’s a small variety, what they call an individual or personal size melon. I will of course not eat a whole one myself, but will enjoy the occasional slice and share the rest with others.
Growing Vegetables And Herbs In Containers
Most people know you can grow herbs in containers, but you’d be surprised how many vegetables will also grow very well in such confined spaces. I’ve chosen vegetables that I love to eat, as well as many leafy greens for salads and all the herbs I like to use for seasoning.
I haven’t got many of the staple keto friendly vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages, because they take up a lot of space and time in the garden. And since I’m not too familiar with growing them, I didn’t feel like giving them that spot quite yet. I might try them in the future though.
Here’s what I’m currently growing:
Vegetables
- Tomatoes (technically a fruit. Large, medium and cherry varieties)
- Peppers (sweet and spicy varieties)
- Aubergines (Western and Asian varieties)
- Courgettes (Cocozelles)
- Pattipan
- Cucumber (Silver Slicer)
- Cucamelon (tiny Mexican cucumbers)
- Spring Onions
- Radishes (Summer and Winter varieties)
- Green Beans
Leafy Greens
- Lettuces
- Mache
- Cress
- Purslane
- Spinach
- Kale
- Rocket
- Tatsoi
- Pak Choi
- Mustard Greens
Aromatic Herbs
- Parsley
- Basil
- Thyme
- Origano
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Wild Garlic
- Chives
Pollinator Friendly Cut Flower Garden In Containers
I have been learning all about cut flowers for years while I waited for my next outdoor space. My wishlist was over 200 items long! I certainly cannot grow that many varieties on my terrace, but I managed to downsize to just over 20.
Although I was aiming mainly for flowers that will have a good long vase life. Some things I’m growing are not for cutting. Those plants were chosen more for nostalgia. Something I remember seeing in a relative’s garden or flowering African grasses that remind me of my childhood adventures.
I’m not sure if they’ll all have space to thrive, but it took me weeks to reduce that list and the seasons don’t wait for anybody, so I placed the order.
Here are some of the lovely things I’m attempting to grow in containers this year:
- Dahlias
- Zinnias
- Echinacea
- Yarrow
- Nasturtiums
- Anemones
- Narcissus
- Oxalis
- Alyssum
- Pulmonaria
- Convallaria (Lilly of the Valley)
- Eryngium
- Crocosmia
- Nerine
- Monarda
- Geranium
- Calla Lily
- Verbena
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Snapdragons
- Sweet Peas
There are also some aromatic or herbal plants that flower, like Borage, Chamomile and Calendula. But this covers most of the things I’m excited to grow. I’ll definitely be posting updates as they come up and start to bloom and share more about each variety. I cannot wait!
Follow The Garden Progress On Instagram
I’d started an Instagram account for my previous garden and loved connecting with so many lovely gardeners from around the world, but the account remained unused while I was in my previous home and unable to garden.
I have recently started posting updates again since I sowed my seeds in March.
So, if you’d like more frequent updates, as they happen, then connect with me over on Instagram. Otherwise, the updates will be posted over here, just less frequently.
I’m hoping to do monthly garden tours/updates and perhaps weekly summaries and highlights whenever anything exciting happens. So even if you don’t use Instagram, you’ll not miss anything.
You can find my gardening account at https://www.instagram.com/ChronicallyHopefulGarden or search ChronicallyHopefulGarden in the app.
I’m so excited to see how the garden grows this year and I can’t wait to share lots of photos of colourful flowers and delicious harvests.
