What you should keep in mind when growing fruit and vegetables on your balcony

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are among the most popular varieties and are essential in every potted garden. The tasty fruits of the small cocktail tomato are eaten by children and adults alike directly from the bush because of their natural sweetness. Even larger salad and beef tomatoes can find enough space in the tub on your balcony or terrace. The following applies to all tomato plants: They need plenty of sun, a spot protected from the rain and thorough watering. You should never water above the leaves but rather always above the ground to prevent fungal diseases such as leaf and late blight.

Cucumbers, peppers and courgettes 

These three vegetables are among the varieties that need warmth. They should be planted outside after mid-May to prevent frost damage. They need plenty of sun so that the fruits become ripe and develop a full flavour. While pepper plants take up little space, cucumbers and courgettes – both low-lying bushes – need quite a lot. Don't put more than one plant in a tub. You can harvest the fruits of your labour from July onwards.

Lettuces

Luckily, there are some vegetable varieties that cope with semi-shaded spots. Lettuces like the sun, but they predominantly thrive in late summer with moderate sunshine, including on east- or west-facing balconies. The important thing is that the soil is evenly moist. Water evenly from below – and not just on the heads! As salad only remains ripe for a short period, you should only plant as much salad as you consume during this period. It can be harvested between May and October.

Green beans, radishes and chard 

Green beans, radishes and chard also do well in semi-shaded spots. Green beans need little water and should only be watered when dry. Unlike radishes and chard, they need a soil that is consistently moist. Water the pot regularly, but avoid waterlogging.

Berries

Growing berries on your balcony is essential for those with a sweet tooth. Strawberries are particularly popular. Not only are they really tasty, they are also rich in vitamins and low in calories. Positioned in a sunny spot, continuously blooming and fruit-growing varieties supply us with sweet fruits until the end of September. Strawberries should not be planted too deep in order to prevent common grey mould. It is important that the fruits don't touch the ground and that there is a distance of 30 to 40 centimetres between the plants. If at all possible, fruits should quickly be collected from the moist soil. Raspberries or blueberries are also suitable for those with a large balcony.

Columnar fruit trees

Unlike their relatives in the garden, columnar fruit trees grow very slowly and are not so wide, but the small trees bear a lot of fruit. Thanks to their height of up to 2.5 metres, columnar fruit tress make very good privacy screens. Plant apple, plum, cherry, pear and the like in heavy tubs – this prevents them from tipping over in strong wind.