joshuas-garden.com

Your Balcony Herb Garden

Does your balcony need a new image? Try potted herbs! Having them in pots makes it simple because you can move them around (as you figure out the amount of sun your balcony gets). Their portability also helps for bringing your herbs indoors at the end of the growing season—you do not want to leave your herbs on the balcony all winter.

Balconies are all about sun and you’ll want to go with herbs like morning glories that grow well with a lot of sunshine. Morning glories are fantastic because they can handle the bright reflection from your windows and also all the heat that a metal balcony can generate. Observe the amount and type of light, heat and intensity on your balcony during a normal day. You’ll also want to know which way your balcony is facing—will you get more morning or afternoon sun?

A principle for balcony herbs would include any herb with a thick leaf or a velvety texture as well as any herb that is gray or silver. These unique features prevent the loss of water in evaporation.

Try some of these awesome herbs on your balcony:

• Aloe vera: Adding an aloe vera plant to your balcony will be simple. It does not need much water and it tolerates a lot of sun and heat. You can use aloe vera easily by snipping off the tip and rubbing it on a burn or other skin problem. It’s sticky, but you’ll feel better in no time!

• Cayenne pepper: If you grill out on your balcony, imagine being able to break off a pieces of cayenne pepper to add to your next meal. With a bright pop of color, cayenne pepper will be awesome on your balcony.

• Cucumber: Trailing cucumber vine can add a new texture to the herbs on your balcony. You can also use cucumbers in cosmetics—like facials! You can also grab a few cucumbers to slice for your salads, straight from the balcony!

• Hens-and-chicks: These are among my very favorite plants. Because they are succulents, they will hold water very well (less watering for you) and they will handle the bright sun and hot temperatures you may have on your balcony. Not to mention that they are so cute too!

• Lavender: Because lavender is a fragrant herb, you will be able to breathe in the soothing aroma of lavender when you put it on your balcony. The wonderful purple buds can make a colorful balcony even more colorful.

Choose a collection of interesting pots for your balcony or use a hanging basket lined with a coconut husk for good outcomes. I used chicken wire and moss to make my own herb balcony basket. I’d never tried anything like that before. It was not fantastic, but it worked. The key is to select a container or basket that can allow for good drainage.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.