Your first balcony garden

1. Watch the light
Observe your balcony in the morning, midday and afternoon. Count hours of direct sun rather than judging brightness alone.

2. Begin with three pots
Choose a herb, a leafy crop and a flowering plant suited to the measured light. Use the planting finder as a starting point.

3. Make drainage easy
Use pots with open drainage holes and keep runoff away from neighbours and electrical fittings. Never hang unsecured heavy pots over a public space.

4. Learn one routine
Check soil moisture, inspect leaves and record what changed. Start with a few healthy plants before expanding.