Free example plan
Example: 2 m × 1 m east-facing balcony
A fictional balcony: 2 m wide, 1 m deep, open railing, about 4 hours of morning sun, breezy, watered every 2–3 days, herbs and flowers. It uses mild temperate assumptions: Frost likely Nov–Apr (last spring frost around April); coldest nights about -3 °C; warmest days about 23 °C.
Layout
- 1Bedding begonia20 cm pot · 3 plants
- 2Chives18 cm pot
- 3Lemon balm25 cm pot
- 4Bay tree35 cm pot
- 5Flat-leaf parsley20 cm pot
- 6Heuchera20 cm pot
- 7Sweet alyssum18 cm pot · 3 plants
- 8Viola18 cm pot · 3 plants
Morning sun, about 4 h a day in summer.
Shopping list
Plants
| No. | Plant | How many | Buy as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedding begonia | 3 | plug plants |
| 2 | Chives | 1 | young plant |
| 3 | Lemon balm | 1 | young plant |
| 4 | Bay tree | 1 | small plant (slow-growing) |
| 5 | Flat-leaf parsley | 1 | young plant |
| 6 | Heuchera | 1 | young plant |
| 7 | Sweet alyssum | 3 | plug plants or seed |
| 8 | Viola | 3 | plug plants |
Pots with drainage holes; lightweight plastic, fibreglass or fabric
| Size | How many | Holds about |
|---|---|---|
| 35 cm across | 1 | 29 L of compost each |
| 25 cm across | 1 | 10 L of compost each |
| 20 cm across | 3 | 5 L of compost each |
| 18 cm across | 3 | 4 L of compost each |
Also
| Peat-free multipurpose compost | about 70 litres (2 × 40 L bags) |
| Saucers or pot feet | 8 (feet in winter, saucers in summer) |
| Liquid tomato feed (high potash) | 1 bottle |
| Gravel or bark mulch | a thin layer on each pot to cut drying out in the wind |
Care calendar
January
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
February
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
March
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
- Order plants and pots now so they're ready; check drainage holes on any pots you already have.
April
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
- Trim last year's woody herbs and top up pots with fresh compost.
May
- First year: pot up and plant Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley, Heuchera.
- Water every 2–3 days; check pots on windy days.
- Pick Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley regularly — cutting keeps them bushy.
- Deadhead Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum and feed every 2 weeks.
June
- Frosts should be over — plant the tender ones: Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum.
- Water every 2–3 days; check pots on windy days.
- Pick Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley regularly — cutting keeps them bushy.
- Deadhead Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum and feed every 2 weeks.
July
- Water every 2–3 days; check pots on windy days.
- Pick Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley regularly — cutting keeps them bushy.
- Deadhead Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum and feed every 2 weeks.
August
- Water every 2–3 days; check pots on windy days.
- Pick Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley regularly — cutting keeps them bushy.
- Deadhead Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum and feed every 2 weeks.
September
- Water every 2–3 days; check pots on windy days.
- Pick Chives, Lemon balm, Bay tree, Flat-leaf parsley regularly — cutting keeps them bushy.
- Deadhead Bedding begonia, Sweet alyssum and feed every 2 weeks.
October
- Sow or plant Viola for the cooler months.
- Water when the top 2 cm of compost is dry (roughly weekly).
- Viola: deadhead weekly for flowers.
November
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
December
- Frost likely: group pots against the wall, lift them onto pot feet, water only when the top 2 cm is dry.
- Pick Bay tree lightly — little regrowth until spring.
- Violas keep flowering in mild spells; deadhead on dry days.
Plant notes
- Bedding begonia flower / foliage · about 20 cm
- Tolerates shade; don't let it dry out completely. Flowers all summer.
- Chives herb · about 30 cm
- Cut to 3 cm and it regrows within weeks. Snip leaves; flowers are edible.
- Lemon balm herb · about 45 cm
- Cut back hard in midsummer for a fresh flush of leaves. Pick leaves for tea.
- Bay tree herb · about 80 cm
- Evergreen structure; wrap the pot in hard frost. Pick single leaves.
- Flat-leaf parsley herb · about 30 cm
- Pick outer stems first; replace every second spring. Pick outer stems.
- Heuchera flower / foliage · about 25 cm
- Grown for its leaves; happy in part shade year-round. Year-round foliage colour.
- Sweet alyssum flower / foliage · about 12 cm
- Shear back if it flops; it reflowers. Honey-scented flowers.
- Viola flower / foliage · about 15 cm
- Deadhead weekly; they flower through mild winters. Flowers autumn to spring.