Think apartment living and gardening don’t go together? Think again! If you have a private balcony or patio, you have everything you need to create a beautiful container garden. Let Skyline Living show you how to turn your outdoor space into a thriving green retreat!

How to plan an apartment balcony garden

Planning a container garden can be overwhelming; there are plenty of possibilities to consider!

The first step is to narrow down your strategy by answering these questions:

• Do you have particular flowers and plants in mind that you’d like to try growing?
• Are you considering a small vegetable and herb garden to harvest from and use in the kitchen?
• Do you want to repel mosquitos and bugs so you can spend more time out on your balcony or patio?
• Are you all about a colour scheme and willing to mix veggies and flowers?

Depending on your wants and needs, this might require a bit of digging (pun fully intended) to learn more and set yourself up for success. 

Before you get too deep into planning, be sure to refer to the “Policies & Procedures” section in your downloadable Skyline Living Tenant Handbook to read about our balcony use policies. It’s always a good idea to talk with your Resident Manager before you get started, so that your unique building guidelines can be followed as you create the best balcony environment that works for you.

If you’re a container-gardening newbie, don’t worry—this Garden Design article gives you a great overview of how to get started. You’ll learn which container sizes are appropriate, the types of required drainage for each, and the different materials that the containers come in.

Reading up on balcony gardening can also save you some tricky troubleshooting later in the growing season, and you’ll even pick up important tips like not overwatering out of respect for your neighbours who live below you! You’ll also remember to think about the direction your balcony faces and how much sun or shade you get, which will help determine what types of plants will thrive in your specific spot.

Best vegetables for balcony container gardening

A lot of people find that working on a garden provides a real sense of accomplishment and pride. Now imagine being able to share the “fruits of your labour” in a meal with friends and family. When you plant edible crops, like veggies or herbs, you’re not only creating a balcony garden that personalizes your home and helps you embrace the comfort of Skyline Living. You’re also growing food that you can share with your loved ones and neighbours.

Gardening Channel says that with proper care just about any vegetable can grow on your balcony. By choosing the right containers, providing enough sunlight, and watering consistently, even small outdoor spaces can produce an abundant harvest.

The vegetables that grow best on a balcony are:

• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Peppers
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Peas
• Beets

With a variety like that, growing your own veggies this year should be a snap.

And you don’t need even to choose between a practical edible garden over beautiful flower beds either! Companion planting involves pairing certain flowers and herbs with your veggie plants to attract good bugs while repelling pests. Plus, companion planting can add some colour to some otherwise boring greenery. If you want to stay on the balcony-garden-to-table theme, there’s also a whole list of edible flowers out there too (have you tried the popular lavender tea cookies?).

Get everyone involved and share your sweet successes  

Lastly, embrace gardening as a bonding and learning experience with your family, friends or roommates. If you’re going to garden with children or even teens, Family Education has helpful tips to keep in mind, like not aiming for perfection and considering using child-sized tools that they’ll be proud to call their own and have an easier time using.

lists helpful gardening tips to keep in mind when working with kids or teens, like not aiming for perfection or considering using child-sized tools that they will be proud to call their own and feel more comfortable using. 

Share your balcony oasis with us

When you’ve created your own Skyline Living gardening paradise on your balcony or patio, make sure to share photos with us on social media. We would love to see what you’re growing and how you’ve made your suite uniquely yours.