What can you grow on a balcony?
91 balcony-friendly plants across 6 types — each with the minimum pot size, sun needs, sowing window and harvest. Set your sun and pot size and see what actually fits.
The difference from generic crop guides: every plant here is answered for containers on a balcony — real minimum pot sizes and depths, sun requirements and sowing windows, each sourced from RHS and the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Your balcony
How much sun does it get?
Biggest pot you can fit
91 of 91 plants
Photo: El Mono Español · CC BY-SA 4.0
Thyme
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 2 Ledible
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Oregano
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 3 Ledible
Photo: Billjones94 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chili Pepper
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 5 Ledible
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Chives
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 6 Ledible
Photo: Joanna Boisse · CC BY-SA 4.0
Winter Savory
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 6 Ledible
Photo: gnuckx · CC0
Basil
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 8 Ledible
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Radish
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 8 Ledible
Photo: Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA · CC BY 2.0
Tarragon
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 8 Ledible
Photo: Peter Burka · CC BY-SA 2.0
Arugula
Leafy green
⛅ Part shade≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Cherry Tomato
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: Freddo213 · CC BY 4.0
Geranium
Flower
☀️ Full sun≥ 10 L
Photo: Reji Jacob · CC BY 4.0
Mint
Herb
⛅ Part shade≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: Krish Dulal · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mustard Greens
Leafy green
☀️ Full sun≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: Vikiçizer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Parsley
Herb
⛅ Part shade≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: terri_bateman · CC0
Potato
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: cogdogblog · CC BY 2.0
Strawberry
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: Caumasee · CC BY-SA 4.0
Viola
Flower
⛅ Part shade≥ 10 Ledible
Photo: Billjones94 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bell Pepper
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 11 Ledible
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sorrel
Leafy green
☀️ Full sun≥ 14 Ledible
Photo: Emna ab · CC BY-SA 4.0
Borage
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 15 Ledible
Photo: GT1976 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kohlrabi
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 15 Ledible
Photo: Mositura · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lettuce
Leafy green
⛅ Part shade≥ 15 Ledible
Mizuna
Leafy green
⛅ Part shade≥ 15 Ledible
Photo: Kolforn (Kolforn) I'd appreciate if you could mail me (Kolforn@gmail.com) if you · CC BY-SA 4.0
Eggplant
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 19 Ledible
Photo: Adityamadhav83 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Okra
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 19 Ledible
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Blueberry
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Kolforn (Kolforn) I'd appreciate if you could mail me (Kolforn@gmail.com) if you · CC BY-SA 4.0
Broad Beans
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Alandmanson · CC BY 4.0
Bush Beans
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: David Adam Kess · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chamomile
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Arivumathi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cucumber
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Alandmanson · CC BY 4.0
Kale
Leafy green
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lavender
Flower
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 L
Photo: Narek Avetisyan /Narek75/ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pak Choi
Leafy green
⛅ Part shade≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: INRA DIST from France · CC BY 2.0
Peas
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Mabdmtmm · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rosemary
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Philmarin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sage
Herb
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: INRA DIST from France · CC BY 2.0
Snap Peas
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Tomato
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Gouwenaar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Turnip
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 20 Ledible
Photo: Александровы АГ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fig
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 25 Ledible
Photo: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata · CC BY-SA 4.0
Currant
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 30 Ledible
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Raspberry
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 30 Ledible
Photo: Silar · CC BY-SA 3.0
Runner Beans
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 30 Ledible
Photo: Judgefloro · Public domain
Spinach
Leafy green
⛅ Part shade≥ 30 Ledible
Photo: Александровы АГ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dahlia
Flower
☀️ Full sun≥ 40 L
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Gooseberry
Fruit
☀️ Full sun≥ 40 Ledible
Photo: koupakia · CC BY 3.0
Onion
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sun≥ 40 Ledible
Photo: Anonim Anonim · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alpine Strawberry
Fruit
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Hedwig Storch · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bacopa
Flower
⛅ Part shade
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bay Laurel
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Ryan Hodnett · CC BY-SA 4.0
Beetroot
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Freddo213 · CC BY 4.0
Begonia
Flower
⛅ Part shade
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Calendula
Flower
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Carrot
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: MPF · CC BY-SA 4.0
Celery
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Chervil
Herb
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Kuldeep Singh Deep · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cilantro
Herb
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
Coleus
Flower
⛅ Part shade
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Corn Salad
Leafy green
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Arivumathi · CC BY-SA 3.0
Cosmos
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Dill
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Arivumathi · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dwarf Lemon
Fruit
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Alfredo SÁNCHEZ GARZÓN · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dwarf Sunflower
Flower
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Artemas Ward · Public domain
Endive
Leafy green
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fennel
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: ByronGo77 · CC0
Fuchsia
Flower
⛅ Part shade
Photo: Hedwig Storch · CC BY-SA 4.0
Garlic
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ginger
Root vegetable
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Rameshng at Malayalam Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Impatiens
Flower
☁️ Shade
Photo: Musa geçit · CC BY-SA 3.0
Lemon Balm
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Lfatty22 · CC0
Lemongrass
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Schubbay · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lobelia
Flower
⛅ Part shade
Photo: EyeTrick · CC BY 4.0
Marigold
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: user:Maksim · CC BY-SA 3.0
Marjoram
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Microgreens
Leafy green
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Carol VanHook · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nasturtium
Flower
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Vojtěch Zavadil · CC BY-SA 3.0
Pansy
Flower
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Theactivistuk · CC BY-SA 4.0
Petunia
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Rocket Wild
Leafy green
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0
Salvia
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Snapdragon
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: Peachyeung316 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Spring Onion
Root vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Jorge Auz Salazar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stevia
Herb
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: PinguinoH21 · CC0
Sweet Alyssum
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: Penarc · CC BY 3.0
Sweet Pea
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Swiss Chard
Leafy green
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: PetrohsW · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tomatillo
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Photo: Annie Pressland · Public domain
Verbena
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: AnRo0002 · CC0
Watercress
Leafy green
⛅ Part shadeedible
Photo: Aris riyanto · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zinnia
Flower
☀️ Full sun
Photo: Rudolphous · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zucchini
Fruiting vegetable
☀️ Full sunedible
Häufige Fragen
Where does the data come from?
From the RHS (rhs.org.uk), the Old Farmer's Almanac (almanac.com) and USDA hardiness zones. Each plant page links its sources and shows the date. Nothing is estimated.
How do I use the finder?
Set how much sun your balcony gets and the biggest pot you can fit — you'll only see plants that actually work in that situation. Then filter by type or search a plant.
Are the pot sizes minimums or ideals?
They're responsible minimums from the sources. On a balcony, a slightly bigger pot dries out more slowly and almost always grows a healthier plant — especially for fruiting crops.
Sources & date
Growing data per plant from RHS (rhs.org.uk), the Old Farmer's Almanac (almanac.com) and USDA hardiness zones; the specific source is on each plant page. Data as of 2026-07-10. Pot sizes and timings are guidance — adjust to your climate/USDA zone and balcony aspect.
Plant photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY, CC BY-SA, public domain/CC0). The full credit for each photo — author, license link and source — is on the individual plant page.