How to Create a Balcony Herb Garden

Step-by-step guide to growing fresh herbs in containers on a small balcony space.

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Imagine stepping outside to your balcony and plucking fresh basil for your pasta or snipping mint for your tea—all from a lush, fragrant garden just steps from your kitchen. Whether you have a spacious terrace or a cozy apartment balcony, it’s entirely possible to grow your own herbs in containers with a little planning and care.

This guide will walk you through how to create a thriving balcony herb garden, even in tight spaces. No backyard? No problem.

🌿 Why Grow Herbs on Your Balcony?

• Fresh flavor anytime you need it

• Budget-friendly—no more wilted herbs from the store

• Adds greenery and charm to small outdoor spaces

• Great for beginner gardeners and urban dwellers

• Easy to maintain with minimal tools and time

🌞 Step 1: Assess Your Balcony Conditions

Before planting, evaluate your balcony’s environment:

• Sunlight: Most herbs love full sun (6+ hours daily), but some tolerate partial shade.

  • Full sun herbs: Basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme

  • Partial shade herbs: Mint, parsley, chives

• Wind exposure: Balconies can get breezy. Choose sturdy containers and group plants for protection.

• Weight capacity: Make sure your structure can support multiple pots or planter boxes.

🪴 Step 2: Choose Your Containers

Good news: Herbs aren’t picky. They’ll thrive in almost any container as long as it has drainage holes.

Great container options:

• Terra cotta pots (classic and breathable)

• Balcony railing planters

• Hanging baskets or wall planters

• Wooden boxes or recycled crates

• Vertical garden stands for small spaces

🌿 Tip: Use lightweight containers if your balcony can't support much weight.

🌱 Step 3: Pick Your Herbs

Start with 4–6 herbs you use often in your cooking. Choose a mix of textures, growth habits, and light preferences.

Easy herbs to grow in containers:

• Basil – loves sun and warmth

• Mint – grows fast (keep it in its own pot)

• Thyme – low and fragrant

• Parsley – grows in sun or part shade

• Rosemary – woody, drought-tolerant

• Chives – great for small containers

• Cilantro – quick-growing and cool-season tolerant

• Oregano – sun-loving and hardy

🌿 Step 4: Use the Right Soil

Use a high-quality potting mix, ideally one labeled for containers or herbs. For the majority of our container gardens we use Fox Farms Sea Forrest potting mix. https://amzn.to/40uAU1c It should:

• Drain well

• Hold moisture

• Provide enough nutrients for growth

Avoid heavy garden soil—it can compact and suffocate your herbs.

💧 Step 5: Watering and Care

Balcony containers dry out faster than garden beds, so check moisture levels often. If you have a bigger pot we like to use terra cola watering spikes. These are great to give a steady drink to plants exposed to the wind and sun out on the balcony and prevents you from having to water them every single day. https://amzn.to/3I1RHm6

• Water when the top inch of soil is dry

• Water early in the day or late afternoon

• Use saucers or trays to avoid dripping on neighbors below

• Fertilize lightly every 4–6 weeks with an organic herb-safe fertilizer

🌿 Tip: Don’t overwater—herbs like to dry out slightly between drinks.

✂️ Step 6: Prune and Harvest Often

Regular trimming encourages bushier growth and more flavor.

• Pinch off flowers to prevent herbs like basil or cilantro from going bitter

• Harvest often, but never take more than ⅓ of a plant at once

🧺 Step 7: Style and Enjoy Your Balcony Garden

Create a cozy herb nook with these ideas:

• Add a small café table and chairs

• Mix in flowering plants for color

• Use labeled garden stakes or chalkboard signs

• Hang string lights or lanterns for ambiance

Your balcony herb garden can be both functional and beautiful—a space for sipping morning tea, prepping dinner, or just unwinding surrounded by green.

Final Thoughts

With just a few containers and a bit of sunshine, you can transform your balcony into a fragrant, edible oasis. A balcony herb garden is proof that you don’t need a yard to enjoy the pleasures of growing your own food.

Simple, satisfying, and perfect for small spaces—it’s the ultimate garden for modern living.