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  • Naomi Stephens | Permaculture Designer

6 Easy Edible Plants to Grow in a Windy Balcony Garden

Updated: Apr 26, 2022


The conditions of growing on a balcony are vastly different from growing in a normal yard. It’s most likely to be more windy and colder.


In order to increase your chance of success, I recommend you plant hardy, wind-resistant vegetables that, where possible, tend to love soils to be on the dryer side.


The plants suited to a windy balcony garden are:


1. Fennel

2. Oregano

3. Rocket/Arugula

4. Thyme

5. Carrots

6. Leeks




Five plants in terracotta plant pots with chives, sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary



Fennel


Fennel is a great plant that can tolerate the windy nature of a balcony. It can also tolerate frost so it’s a reliable plant during the wintertime.

Fennel planted in a container, besides a window

It can handle dry soil or drought, so if you forget to water, it’ll be forgiving.


This plant stays green all year round, so I recommend you keep it where it can catch at least some sunshine.


The leaves can be dried and used as a natural insect repellant.










Oregano


Oregano is perfect for a balcony due to its woody stem and it handles strong winds well.


Oregano planted in a container and placed on a shelf in a silver tray

As with most plants, it’s best to start them indoors first as seedlings can be a little fragile.


It’s adaptable so it'll grow even in low nutrient-dense soil.


You can place this plant in a semi-shaded area.


It's a known ant repellent and growing it next to other vegetables in your edible balcony garden is ideal because it repels insects with the smell.








Rocket/Arugula


Placing rocket is a great option as it prefers dry soils. It is wind resistant and it's suitable for balcony container gardening.

It’s a vegetable that prefers sunny areas, however, it can still tolerate frost.


It's known as Arugula in the US.


It’s great on pizzas, pesto’s, hummus or in a mixed salad.












Thyme


If you have a small space balcony garden with a sunny spot then Thyme would be a good choice to fill that spot.

Close up picture of Thyme

It can tolerate dry soil, wind and frost. It’s quite easy to grow as it also tolerates low nutrient-dense soil.


This is why I recommend it as an easy herb to start within an edible balcony.

Both the flowers and leaves are edible, it can be soaked and drank as a tea.



If you put it in a spray bottle with some water then it will be a fungicide and a repellent. It's been known to deter cabbage root fly.



Carrots


Carrots planted in 5 large plant pots

Carrot as a root vegetable is perfectly capable of growing in a container on your balcony.


It’s a great summer or winter vegetable as it can tolerate frost.


It can handle strong winds too. It prefers moist soil so keep your eye on this one.



Leeks


Leeks can handle a well-drained or moist soil.


Leek planted in a raised bed

It doesn't grow as fast as say radishes, but be sure to place leeks on a sunlit part of your balcony.


They add a great depth of flavour to soups and stews or add it to a salad.














 

Let me know if you think you'll include some of these in your garden. Subscribe below to keep up to date with more edible gardening tips.


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