How you can transform a small balcony space into a large garden

“You might only be able to put three or four pots out, but now you can do three or four hangers, as well, so you could have eight tomato plants. There are people who don’t even have that in their gardens.”

Know your weather

When tending to a garden of any kind, understanding the local weather and environment is crucial to success.

But Hayles notes there are a few considerations more specific to balcony gardening to be aware of.

Perhaps most important is knowing how much sun your balcony gets in a day. Unless it faces south, chances are a small, covered balcony built along the side of a tall tower won’t see the sun all day.

If you are south-facing, or your balcony gets at least six hours of full sun on a summer day, Hayles says you can go ahead with most annual flowers, container-planted herbs, veggies like tomatoes and peppers, and even strawberries.

If your balcony spends more time in the shade, though, there are plants more suited to those conditions. “Lettuce, kale, spinach, potatoes, kohlrabi –– they will all do great in the shade,” said Hayles.