How to Create Your Perfect Balcony Garden
A UK balcony garden produces fresh herbs, salad leaves, and tomatoes from just 1 square metre of floor space. A mini greenhouse on your balcony extends the growing season by eight weeks at each end. We have fitted balcony greenhouses on flats across Manchester, London, and Bristol since 2007. The Access Herb House (1x3ft, £419) is the most popular balcony model we sell. Even a north-facing balcony grows cut-and-come-again salad worth £3 to £5 per week at shop prices.
Key Takeaways
- A balcony greenhouse as small as 1x3ft provides year-round growing in flats and apartments
- Herbs on a balcony save £150 to £250 per year compared to supermarket prices
- South-facing and west-facing balconies suit fruiting crops like tomatoes and chillies
- Weight limits matter: check your lease before placing heavy pots or a greenhouse
- Vertical growing with shelves and hanging baskets triples usable planting area
- Wind protection is the most overlooked factor on upper-floor balconies
Installer's Note
We fitted a Harlow Mini Lean To on a third-floor balcony in Bristol last spring. The owner had 2.5m x 1.2m of space and wanted tomatoes and herbs. We bolted the lean-to against the building wall and added two tiers of staging inside. She harvested 4kg of tomatoes and enough basil to last the entire summer. The biggest challenge on balcony installs is getting the greenhouse up the stairs. We always measure the stairwell and landing before delivery. The Harlow's largest panel is just 900mm x 600mm, so it fits through most flat doorways.
Before You Start: Balcony Checks
Every balcony garden needs three things confirmed before you plant a single seed.
Weight Limits
A standard balcony on a UK flat supports 150kg to 250kg per square metre. A filled 30-litre pot weighs roughly 25kg. A mini greenhouse with staging and pots weighs 40kg to 60kg in total. Check your lease or ask your building manager for the load rating. Place the heaviest containers over structural joists, not in the centre of the span.
Sunlight Hours
Track your balcony's sunlight over a full day before choosing crops. South-facing balconies get six or more hours of direct sun. West-facing gets four to five hours of afternoon sun. North-facing balconies receive mostly indirect light.
- 6+ hours direct sun — tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cucumbers, strawberries
- 4 to 5 hours — herbs, courgettes, dwarf beans, peas
- Under 4 hours — salad leaves, spinach, rocket, radishes, mint
Wind Exposure
Wind is the biggest problem on upper-floor balconies. It dries out compost twice as fast as at ground level. It snaps stems and blows over lightweight pots. A balcony greenhouse solves this completely. The glass or polycarbonate panels act as a permanent windbreak while trapping heat for faster growth.
If a greenhouse is too large, fix a windbreak mesh to your railing. A 50% mesh reduces wind speed without blocking light. Anchor all pots and shelving to the wall or railings. Our urban gardening guide covers more solutions for growing in tight city spaces.
Best Crops for a UK Balcony
| Crop | Pot Size | Sun Needed | Yield Per Plant | Shop Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes (bush) | 10–15 litre | 6+ hours | 2kg–4kg | £6–£12 |
| Basil | 2–3 litre | 5+ hours | 20+ harvests | £30+ |
| Chillies | 5–10 litre | 6+ hours | 30–80 fruits | £10–£25 |
| Salad leaves | Window box | 3+ hours | 6–8 cuts | £8–£12 |
| Strawberries | Hanging basket | 5+ hours | 400g–600g | £4–£6 |
| Mint | 3–5 litre (alone) | 3+ hours | Year-round | £20+ |
Focus on crops that cost the most at the supermarket. A single basil plant in a £1 pot replaces £30 of supermarket basil packs over a season. Herbs give the highest return per square metre of any balcony crop. See our full guide on how to grow herbs in a greenhouse for variety recommendations.
How to Maximise a Small Balcony Space
Vertical growing is the key to a productive balcony. Floor space is limited, but you have 2m or more of usable height above it.
Tiered Shelving
A four-tier shelving unit 0.6m wide holds 12 to 16 pots in the same floor space as four. Secure it to the wall with brackets. Metal shelving withstands weather better than wood. Place sun-loving plants on the top shelves and shade-tolerant crops lower down.
Railing Planters and Window Boxes
Railing planters hook over the balcony edge without taking any floor space. A 600mm window box holds three herb plants or a row of salad leaves. Line the railing with planters and you gain 1 to 2 extra square metres of growing area.
Hanging Baskets
Wall-mounted hooks and overhead brackets turn dead space into growing area. Trailing strawberries and tumbling tomato varieties thrive in hanging baskets. Each basket adds 0.1 square metres of growing surface with zero floor impact.
Trellising for Climbers
Fix a trellis panel to the wall behind your pots. Cucumbers, climbing beans, and peas grow vertically up strings or netting. One climbing plant in a 10-litre pot produces the same harvest as three bush plants. Secure the trellis firmly. A fully loaded cucumber trellis weighs 5kg to 8kg.
Balcony Greenhouses: Extending the Season
A mini greenhouse on a balcony extends the season from April-October to March-November. That is eight extra weeks of harvests.
The enclosed space traps solar heat during the day. On a south-facing balcony in April, air inside a mini greenhouse hits 15 to 20 degrees. Outside, it is 8 to 10 degrees. That temperature difference matters for heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers.
Best Greenhouse Types for Balconies
- Lean-to models — bolt against the building wall. The wall stores heat and releases it overnight. The Access Harlow 2x3 Lean To fits a balcony as narrow as 1m deep.
- Shelf-style growhouses — freestanding units with multiple tiers. The Access Growhouse 2x4 holds 20 or more pots across four shelves.
- Herb houses — compact 1x3ft units designed for herbs and seed starting. The Access Herb House weighs under 20kg assembled.
All these models use toughened safety glass. That matters on a balcony where wind gusts can slam doors and rattle panels. Toughened glass is five times stronger than horticultural glass and breaks into safe pebbles, not shards.
Matt's Tip: Start with Herbs
Every balcony grower I talk to wants to jump straight to tomatoes. I get it. But start with herbs first. Basil, mint, rosemary, and parsley are almost impossible to kill on a balcony. They produce within weeks, they smell great, and they save real money. Once you have a herb station running, add tomatoes the following year. You will know your balcony's sun patterns and wind problems by then, and your tomatoes will actually survive.
Balcony Growing Calendar
| Month | Task | Crops |
|---|---|---|
| March | Start seeds in greenhouse | Tomatoes, peppers, basil, salad leaves |
| April–May | Transplant seedlings to pots | Move hardy crops outside greenhouse |
| June–August | Open greenhouse, water daily | Tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, herbs |
| September | Sow winter salads in greenhouse | Rocket, lamb's lettuce, winter spinach |
| October–November | Move tender plants inside greenhouse | Overwinter herbs, start garlic |
| December–February | Protect with fleece in greenhouse | Winter salads, overwintered herbs |
Container and Compost Guide
Good compost is the single biggest factor in balcony growing success. Use a peat-free multi-purpose compost mixed with 20% perlite for drainage. Balcony pots dry out faster than ground beds, so the perlite stops waterlogging while retaining enough moisture between waterings.
Every container needs drainage holes. Stand pots on saucers to catch drips. On a shared building, water running off your balcony onto the flat below causes real problems. Saucers also stop staining on the balcony floor.
Choose lightweight plastic or fabric pots over terracotta. A 15-litre terracotta pot weighs 8kg empty. The same size in plastic weighs under 500g. On a weight-limited balcony, that difference adds up fast.
Watering on a Balcony
Balcony pots dry out two to three times faster than garden beds. Wind and direct sun on all sides of the pot accelerate evaporation. In summer, check pots every morning. Water until it drains from the bottom.
A drip irrigation kit with a timer costs £20 to £40. Connect it to an outdoor tap or a gravity-fed reservoir. This is essential if you travel or forget to water. Consistent watering doubles the yield of tomatoes and peppers compared to irregular watering. If you are new to growing under glass, our beginners guide to greenhouse growing covers the basics.
Matt's Pick for Balcony Growing
|
1x3 Access Herb House Mini Greenhouse Best For: Balcony herb stations and seed starting Why I Recommend It: This is the most compact proper greenhouse we sell. The 1x3ft footprint takes up less space than a kitchen chair. Toughened glass panels are safe for balconies. The two internal shelves hold 8 to 10 herb pots. I have fitted these on balconies as narrow as 1.2m with room to spare. Price: £419 |
What can I grow on a balcony in the UK?
Herbs, salad leaves, tomatoes, chillies, and strawberries all grow well on UK balconies. South-facing balconies with six or more hours of sun suit heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. North-facing balconies still grow salad leaves, spinach, rocket, and mint. Use containers of at least 5 litres for fruiting crops and window boxes for herbs and salad. A balcony greenhouse extends the season by eight weeks in each direction.
Do I need permission to put a greenhouse on my balcony?
Check your lease or tenancy agreement before adding a greenhouse. Most UK leases allow container gardening on balconies. Larger structures like a mini greenhouse may need landlord approval. Some buildings restrict items on balconies for fire safety. Always confirm with your building manager before ordering. Our smallest model (the Access Herb House at 1x3ft) rarely causes any issues with landlords.
How much weight can a balcony hold?
Most UK flat balconies support 150kg to 250kg per square metre. A mini greenhouse with staging and pots weighs 40kg to 60kg total. A filled 30-litre pot weighs around 25kg. Place heavy items over structural supports, not in the centre of the span. Check your building's specification or ask the freeholder for the exact load rating.
What is the best mini greenhouse for a balcony?
The Access Herb House (1x3ft, £419) is our top balcony pick. It weighs under 20kg assembled and fits balconies as narrow as 1.2m. For more room, the Access Harlow 2x3 Lean To (£349) bolts to the wall and holds 12+ pots. Both use toughened safety glass, which is essential on exposed balconies.
How often do I need to water a balcony garden?
Water balcony pots daily in summer, every two to three days in spring and autumn. Balcony containers dry out two to three times faster than ground beds. Wind and sun exposure on all sides of the pot speeds up evaporation. Push your finger 2cm into the compost. If it feels dry, water until it drains from the bottom. A drip irrigation kit (£20 to £40) automates this entirely.
Related Articles
- Think Your Garden is Too Small for a Greenhouse?
- Best Beginner Greenhouse: Expert Picks 2026
- Seed Sowing Month by Month UK Guide
- Overwintering Plants: UK Frost Protection Guide
- How to Grow Strawberries in a Greenhouse
Need help choosing a balcony greenhouse? Email us at info@greenhousestores.co.uk with your balcony dimensions and we will recommend the best fit.
