Creating an edible balcony garden

Balconies are the new backyards!

With all the advantages of an outdoor space, and none of the disadvantages of a full backyard, your URB4N apartment balcony provides:

✅ Alfresco dining options

✅ Access to fresh air and sunshine

✅ Extra space to entertain

✅ Plenty of privacy

✅ Low maintenance

✅ Gorgeous styling options

If you want to take your URB4N balcony to the next level, why not add some edible garden options?

There is nothing better than wandering out to your balcony garden and picking fresh herbs or vegetables and adding them straight into your cooking.

Here are our top five tips for creating a stylish AND practical edible garden.

1. Vertical gardens and green walls are a great way to maximise your balcony space. Check out your local hardware store or nursery for a range of fantastic modular options which will let you grow a wide range of different herbs and berries.
2. There are many vegetables suitable for growing in small spaces. Tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum, radishes and beans are all easy to grow in containers. The type of container is not important – you can use terracotta, plastic or clay pots, as long as they have good drainage.
3. You can germinate seeds indoors, then transplant them into the outdoor containers, or you can purchase seedlings and plant them straight away. It really depends on your level of patience and how long you are prepared to wait before you can start snacking on your balcony garden.
4. Microgreens are another fantastic option for growing on your balcony, either in a vertical garden or containers. Microgreens are the stems and leaves of baby vegetables which are harvested between 7 and 21 days after germination. They are a fantastic source of nutrients and add a lovely aromatic flavour to your cooking. You can harvest microgreens from almost any type of vegetable seed.
5. Most potted plants will need to be repotted only every two to three years if you follow some basic guidelines. Use a good quality potting mix, fertilise regularly, and add some pea straw which will break down and add organic matter to the soil. Use a pot that is an appropriate size for each plant to ensure the root ball stays healthy.