Vegetables on the balcony: what works in containers
You can harvest without a garden. What matters is sun, containers that are big enough and regular watering.
Well suited to balconies and containers
Aubergine (eggplant), Basil, Beetroot, Bush bean, Butterhead lettuce, Carrot, Chilli, Chives, Coriander (cilantro), Cucumber, Dill, Florence fennel, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad), Loose-leaf lettuce, Nasturtium, Onion (sets), Parsley, Pea, Pot marigold (calendula), Potato, Radish, Rocket (arugula), Runner / pole bean, Spinach, Strawberry (young plants), Sweet pepper, Swiss chard, Tomato.
In the sowing calendar these plants are marked “Balcony”; the “Balcony” starter set picks a proven mix.
Container size as a guide
- Herbs, radishes, loose-leaf lettuce: window box about 15–20 cm deep
- Peppers, chillies, basil in single pots: about 5–10 litres
- Tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers: preferably 20 litres or more
Sun, wind and water
Fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers need a sunny spot, ideally facing south or west; lettuce and herbs such as chives also cope with partial shade. Containers dry out quickly in summer – water thoroughly in the morning rather than a little several times.
Note: The dates apply to Central Europe (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, Poland, northern France). In warmer regions such as the Mediterranean, many dates come earlier; in Scandinavia or at high altitude, later. Use “Climate” and “Last frost” to adjust the calendar.
Sources
- Bavarian State Research Center for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG), Bavarian Garden Academy: vegetable garden guides (in German) – lwg.bayern.de/gartenakademie
- Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), German weather service: phenology and the “Ice Saints” (in German) – dwd.de, phenology
- Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE): seasonal calendar for fruit and vegetables (in German) – bzfe.de
- Seed packets and variety descriptions from seed producers – the information on the packet always takes precedence.
The dates in the calendar are typical ranges for Central Europe. Variety, location, soil and weather can shift them. As of November 2026.