Emily Hartley
Why a Balcony Plot Is Perfect for Renters
Renting in Guildford or anywhere across Surrey does not have to mean going without greenery. A balcony, however modest, gives you a patch of outdoor space that is entirely yours — and unlike a garden border, it can be packed up and moved with you. Lettuce, herbs, tomatoes and a surprising number of flowers all thrive in containers, provided you give their roots enough room and enough water.
Before spending anything, check three things:
- Your tenancy agreement. Most allow pots on a balcony, but some ban anything fixed to walls or railings. Freestanding planters avoid the argument entirely.
- Weight. Compost plus water is heavy — a 30-litre pot can weigh 30-40kg when soaked. Keep the heaviest pots near the wall.
- Drainage. Use saucers or a tray so runoff does not stain the balcony floor or drip on the neighbour below.
Work Out What Your Light Actually Does
Watch your balcony for a full day before buying anything. Light is the biggest factor in what will grow.
- South-facing: six or more hours of sun. Best for tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, basil and rosemary — but expect daily watering in July.
- West or east-facing: four to six hours, often gentler. Salad leaves, chives, mint, parsley and strawberries do well.
- North-facing: two to three hours or bright shade. Grow leaves rather than fruit: rocket, spinach, chard, mint, coriander. Tomatoes will sulk.
Note the wind, too. Even a third-floor balcony can funnel gusts that snap tall stems, so choose compact varieties and line the exposed edge with lower pots.
Choosing Pots That Suit a Rented Space
Terracotta dries out fast and can crack in a hard frost; glazed ceramic holds moisture better. Lightweight plastic or fabric pots are easier to move when you clean the balcony for inspections.
Buy bigger than you think you need — an undersized pot is the most common reason a balcony garden fails, because roots dry out within hours. As a rough guide:
- 15-20 litres: one tomato, pepper or aubergine
- 10-15 litres: a courgette or a good clump of herbs
- 5-8 litres: basil, parsley, chives, a compact rose
- 3-5 litres: single herbs, salad crops, nasturtiums
Every pot needs drainage holes. Use peat-free multi-purpose compost, mixed with grit or perlite in larger containers so roots do not sit wet.
Herbs: The Best Return on Your Space
If you grow only one thing, grow herbs. They are pricey in small supermarket packets, they crop again and again, and most are perfectly happy on a sunny ledge.
- Basil: loves heat. Pinch out the tips to stop it flowering and keep leaves coming.
- Mint: always in its own pot, or it will take over everything nearby.
- Rosemary, thyme and sage: woody and drought-tolerant once established — ideal for a hot, windy balcony.
- Parsley and chives: cope with partial shade and keep producing into autumn.
- Coriander: sow little and often; it bolts quickly in heat.
Cut herbs regularly. A plant that is never harvested turns woody and stops producing.
Hardy Flowers That Forgive a Busy Week
A few flowers lift the whole balcony and give you something to look at from the kitchen window. Choose tough, long-flowering plants over delicate annuals that demand daily attention.
- Nasturtiums: almost impossible to kill, with edible leaves and flowers that trail over a railing.
- Pelargoniums: thrive in sun and shrug off wind and irregular watering.
- Lavender: excellent for bees and happy in a large pot of gritty compost.
- Fuchsias and begonias: the best picks for a shadier balcony.
- Violas and pansies: flower through the cooler months when little else does.
Tuck strawberries or rainbow chard among the flowers and the space earns its keep as well as looking good.
Watering, Feeding and Keeping Your Deposit Intact
Containers dry out fast. In high summer a south-facing balcony may need watering twice a day; a north-facing one every two or three days. Water early or late so less is lost to evaporation, and check by pushing a finger into the compost rather than guessing from the surface.
Feed regularly too, as compost runs out of nutrients after about six weeks. A general-purpose liquid feed every fortnight keeps herbs and flowers going; tomatoes and peppers appreciate a high-potash feed once flowering starts.
Finally, think about how you will leave the space. Keep pots on saucers or a waterproof tray, sweep up fallen leaves, and avoid drilling into walls or railings. Planters that simply lift away at the end of your tenancy keep your deposit intact and let everything you have grown follow you to the next place.
