Balcony Garden
Balcony garden: Ideas for pots, window boxes and raised beds
You don't have a garden at your disposal, but still don't want to give up gardening? No problem! We'll show you how you can easily create your own little vegetable garden on your balcony. By becoming a pot gardener. However, this immediately raises a crucial question: How big does a pot actually need to be to grow a particular plant in it?
First of all, of course, it depends on which plants you would like to have in your urban garden and how much space you have available.
To prevent all this from happening in the first place, we will now tell you which pot size is suitable for which plant species.
For tomatoes, the pot size depends heavily on the growth habit of the individual varieties and how large you want the plant to grow.
Bell pepper and chili plants behave similarly to tomatoes, but are much more frugal when it comes to space. A bell pepper plant can already produce a high yield of fruit in a 10 - 15 liter/8.8 - 13.2 quart pot. However, when choosing a pot, you should also ask yourself how big the bell pepper or chilli is going to be later on.
Zucchinis are a relatively hungry and thirsty crop (a so-called "heavy eater"). Due to its high water and nutrient requirements, the pot should be large. 40 liters/35.1 quarts is the minimum for a zucchini, a 60 liter/52.6 quart pot would be even better.
In contrast to the zucchini, the eggplant, also known as "melanzani", is another relatively undemanding plant. A pot with a volume of 10 to max. 15 liters/8.8 - 13.2 quarts, a sunny spot and regular watering are all your eggplant needs to grow.
Bean plants are good self-supporters. They have the ability to obtain nutrients in a special way. They do this by forming a symbiosis with small bacteria on their roots, which help them to absorb nutrients. As a result, they do not need to develop a large root network to obtain sufficient nutrients and therefore do not require a lot of space. A 5 - 10 liter pot/4.4 - 8.8 quarts is completely sufficient for 2 - 3 bean plants. Important: Don't forget the climbing support!
Picking lettuce is probably the favorite of all pot gardeners. Due to the fact that it only has a very shallow rooting depth (approx. 10 cm/3.9 in), it requires the least space of all the species mentioned here. A 5 liter/4.4 quarts pot is more than enough for a single lettuce plant, which is why it is also ideal for growing in balcony boxes.
Beetroot is just as suitable for growing in a balcony box as lettuce. The easiest way is to harvest the beetroot small or use the leaves of the young plants for delicious salads. Of course, you can also wait until the beets are fully grown. However, you should make sure that you leave enough space for the individual beets to fully expand. To do this, either sow with a slightly greater distance between them or thin out the sprouted young plants after a few weeks.
Radishes are also suitable for growing in a balcony box. But here too, you should make sure that you sow with sufficient spacing so that the small turnips can develop without any restrictions.
Plant | Pot size in liters/quarts |
---|---|
Aubergines | 10 - 15 litres/8.8 - 13.2 quarts or a balcony box |
Beans | 5 - 10 litres/4.4 - 8.8 quarts or balcony box |
Bush tomatoes | 10 - 15 litres/8.8 - 13.2 quarts or a balcony box |
Pepper & Chili | 10 - 15 litres/8.8 - 13.2 quarts or a balcony box |
Radish | 5 - 10 litres/4.4 - 8.8 quarts or balcony box |
Beetroot | 5 - 10 litres/4.4 - 8.8 quarts or balcony box |
Pole tomatoes | 20 - 40 litres/17.5 - 35.1 quarts |
Salat | 5 - 10 litres/4.4 - 8.8 quarts or balcony box |
Courgette | 40 - 60 litres/35.1 - 52.6 quarts |
As inspiration for growing vegetables on the balcony in raised beds, tubs or pots, we have prepared bed plans for you.
If you think about how much space you have available in your urban garden right from the start and which plants are suitable, then nothing will stand in the way of your pot garden adventure. If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at [email protected].
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Eric is 23 years old and has been studying agricultural sciences at the University of Hohenheim since 2015. Together with a friend, he has been cultivating an allotment garden in Stuttgart since 2017.
Learn moreWhich pot size to choose for zucchinis?
Zucchinis are hungry and thirsty plants and need a pot with a capacity of 40 to 60 liters/35.1 - 52.6 quarts.
How big should a pot for peppers be?
Bell pepper and chili plants need a pot of about 10 to 15 liters/8.8 - 13.2 quarts. They are quite frugal with space.
Which plants can I grow in a balcony box?
You can grow lettuce, beans, bush tomatoes, peppers, chili peppers, radishes or beet in a balcony box. But you can also plant flowers and herbs in a balcony box without any problems.
How much space does a tomato need?
Tomatoes need different amounts of space depending on their growth habit. Bush tomatoes are frugal and need 10 - 15 liter/8.8 - 13.2 quarts pots. Pole tomatoes, on the other hand, need more space and you should choose a pot with 20 to 40 liters/17.5 to 35.1 quarts.