Create a herb garden on the balcony

You don't need your own garden to grow fresh herbs yourself. We will show you how to create your own herb garden on your balcony.

If you don't have a garden, you don't have to do without fresh herbs for the kitchen. A large part of the herbs can also be kept excellently on a balcony. So you not only have beautiful balcony boxes, but also fresh greenery for salads and other delicious dishes.

Which herbs can be grown on the balcony?

In principle, most herbs can be grown on the balcony. The only limiting factor is the root system. Plants with shallow roots feel much better in balcony boxes than plants with deep and expansive roots, such as lovage or dill. Otherwise there are no limits to your design imagination. Of course, which plants thrive best depends on the orientation of your balcony. Native herbs will thrive on almost any balcony, while Mediterranean herbs need lots of sun and warmth.

You now have the choice between native and Mediterranean, annual or non-hardy herbs and perennial species.

annuals or non-hardy herb species

These herbs usually prefer a shady to partly sunny location, but without blazing midday sun. The substrate should be moist and have a pH in the neutral to slightly acidic range, i.e. between 6 and 7. These herbs feel really good in nutrient-rich and humus-rich herb soil - like ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil.

• parsley (Petroselinum crispum ssp. crise): Actually, parsley is biennial, but in our areas it usually does not survive the winter. However, you should not sow the plant again in the same place next year, as it is not self-compatible. Parsley can be sown directly from April/May.
• basil (Ocimum basilicum): You can never have enough fresh basil. A good reason to grow it yourself. It prefers slightly sunnier locations and warm temperatures. It gets too cold for him below 10 °C. Sowing outdoors only makes sense from May onwards.
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Nasturtium is not only tasty, but above all extremely decorative. The long shoots with the strikingly bright flowers like to hang down from the balcony or climb along beams and struts if you allow it. Sowing outdoors is possible from the ice saints in May.

tip: What other Herbs for the shade are particularly suitable, you can find out in our special article.

Perennial herbs

The following herbs are among those found in our temperate latitudes hardy herbs and often live for many years. Like the annual or non-hardy species already mentioned, these perennial herbs prefer semi-sunny or shady locations. The soil should be moist and humus and have a pH in the neutral to slightly acidic range. With herbal soils like our Plantura Organic herbal & seed soil you are on the safe side here. Our Plantura herb and seed soil meets the requirements of the herbs and also has the optimal nutrient content for your herbs.

• chives (Allium schoenoprasum): Chives not only taste great in scrambled eggs or salads, they also develop magnificent and even edible flowers that provide a welcome source of food for numerous insects. In addition, chives are robust and reliably come back every spring.
• lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): The lemon balm is almost indestructible. The long-lived herb survives for many years and can self-seed without any problems. They grow vigorously, so a small amount is usually enough to cover kitchen needs. Its small labial flowers, which appear in early summer, are a magnet for insects.
• mint (mentha): Mint is incredibly diverse. Flavor, plant shape, and even leaf color shading vary significantly within the species. Theoretically, you could have a very decorative window box with just a few different ones Types and varieties of mint shape. Mint is very reserved in its requirements and gets along well with warm and sunny as well as more shady balconies.

For very sunny and hot balconies you should use Mediterranean perennial species. sage (Salvia), lavender (Lavandula), thyme (thymus vulgaris), winter savory (Satureja montana) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) enjoy the dryness and heat and thus develop their full aroma. These herbs thrive on rather dry and nutrient-poor soil, the pH of which should be alkaline.

Planting a herb garden on the balcony: instructions

The substrate is of particular importance for your own herb garden on the balcony. The soil should not be too rich in nutrients so that the herbs can develop their unique aroma. Too many nutrients can reduce this. It depends on the type and amount of nutrients. In addition, the soil should be permeable and humus. Our Plantura herb and seed soil was specially developed for planting herbs and therefore offers optimal conditions for successful herb planting. By not using peat, the earth is particularly climate-friendly. Most herbs also particularly like the slightly acidic to basic pH value. It is also practical that you can also use the soil to grow cuttings.

Of course, normal balcony boxes are suitable as planters. Check that the boxes are securely attached before pouring in the soil. Of course, depending on the size of the balcony, you can also put the herbs in pots and other planters and distribute them over the balcony. Converted pallets also offer a space-saving option.

Now it's time to think about how to arrange the herbs in the most sensible way. Some herbs are quite tricky here as far as the neighborhood is concerned. Basil and lemon balm, for example, don't really like each other and should therefore not be planted directly next to each other. Otherwise, you should of course not neglect the aesthetics.

Most of the herbs themselves can be sown around the month of May or grown on the windowsill. You don't have to buy a lot of herbal seeds. Surely you have friends or acquaintances who can harvest a few seeds of lemon balm, nasturtium or lavender for you. If that is too tedious for you, you can also buy potted plants and plant them out or take cuttings. However, you should not fertilize purchased potted plants for the first six to eight weeks, as this can lead to over-fertilization. Herbs such as chives or lemon balm can also be propagated by division.

Tip: Growing your own herbs from seeds is a very special experience. With our Plantura herb growing set This is easy to do - the all-round set contains everything you need for home-grown herbs: Substrate, seed pots, seeds for 5 aromatic varieties, a mini greenhouse and plant labels.

Summary – Plant a herb garden on the balcony:

• Find a suitable substrate. Our Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil provides the best conditions here
• Select a suitable planter and attach it securely
• Choose herbs and create a planting plan
• Grow herb seeds or cuttings yourself

tip: An alternative way of growing herbs is the Herb wall made of pallets. You can find out how this works in our special article.

Caring for herbs on the balcony

Many herbs are absolutely easy to care for. Depending on how exposed your balcony is to the sun, you should water your new herb garden more or less frequently. Most plants like it rather damp, even if they don't like waterlogging at all. Only the sun-loving perennial Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and sage like it a little drier.

When it comes to nutrients, don't be overly indulgent about the aroma. Herbs such as basil, parsley and lemon balm, however, are happy about a portion of fresh fertilizer every now and then. Organic fertilizers like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer ensure the right supply of nutrients. Also a coffee grounds fertilizer suitable for many herbs. It has a slightly acidifying effect on the pH value of the soil and also contributes to the build-up of humus. Only lime-loving herbs like many Mediterranean plants should not be fertilized with coffee grounds.

In the fall, you can remove the residues of annual herbs and withered stalks of perennials. If the balcony boxes stay outside during the winter anyway, you can leave the plant remains until spring for the sake of the insects.

Summary – Care of herbs on the balcony:

• Many herbs are extremely easy to care for
• Keep the soil moist, water Mediterranean herbs such as sage and rosemary less often
• Fertilize heavily consuming species such as basil from time to time
• Cut back in autumn or spring and remove plant remains of annual species

More information about that fertilizing your herbs can be found in this special article.