6+ hours of direct sun, 5 pots
You can grow fruiting crops. The planner suggests one compact tomato, one chili, two basil pots, and one lettuce pot. Harvest starts around day 35 with basil leaves, then tomatoes by day 60.
Turn your balcony into a working micro-farm.
Enter your sunlight, container sizes, and climate. Get a crop shortlist, a spacing layout, a watering rhythm, and a harvest calendar that fits your space.
Your balcony plan
Pick a preset or enter your numbers. The plan updates as you go.
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Adjust the worksheet to see your crop shortlist, spacing layout, watering rhythm, and harvest calendar.
Sunlight6 hrs
Containers5 pots
Pot size8 in
First harvest~38 days
Suggested crops
Spacing layout
Watering rhythm
Harvest calendar
Scenario walkthroughs
Three common balcony situations and how the planner handles each one.
3 to 5 hours of morning sun, 3 pots
Leafy greens and herbs do best here. The planner suggests lettuce, chives, and mint. It removes tomatoes and peppers because they will stretch and produce little fruit in low light.
Under 3 hours of direct sun, 2 pots
Stick to the most shade-tolerant crops. The planner suggests mint and leaf lettuce, and notes that growth will be slower. It also suggests moving pots to the railing for reflected light.
Common mistakes on small balconies
These are the patterns that trip up most apartment growers.
- Overplanting. Ten crops in three pots looks fun for a week, then everything stalls. The planner caps suggestions based on your container area.
- Ignoring pot depth. Tomatoes need at least 10 inches of soil depth. Herbs can manage with 6. The planner matches crop roots to your pot size.
- Watering on a schedule. Soil dries at different rates depending on wind, sun, and pot material. Check with your finger instead of watering every Tuesday.
- Forgetting weight. Wet soil is heavy. A loaded balcony can exceed rental limits. Spread weight along the wall side, not the outer railing.
- Skipping drainage. Pots without holes drown roots. If you use decorative cache pots, make sure the inner pot can drain freely.
Quick reference
Short notes to keep nearby while you set up.
Sunlight rules
Fruiting crops like tomatoes and peppers want 6 or more hours. Leafy greens manage with 3 to 5. Herbs sit in the middle. Count only direct sun, not bright shade.
Soil and feed
Use potting mix, not garden soil. Add a balanced liquid feed every two weeks once plants have their first true leaves. Stop feeding herbs heavily or they lose flavor.
Container materials
Plastic holds water longer. Terracotta dries fast. Fabric bags air-prune roots but need more frequent watering. Match your container to your climate and habits.
Season timing
Start heat-loving crops after your last cool night. Start lettuce and spinach early, before long hot days make them bolt. The planner adjusts suggestions by climate feel.