How to Grow Food on a Balcony

Prepare containers with drain holes at the bottom, so that soil doesn't remain soggy, which would rot the roots of you vegetables. There are various containers available for use, in sizes as small as 1 square foot up to 4 or more feet long. Select planter lengths based on the measurements of your balcony. Some of the materials they are made of includes concrete, wood, brick and plastic. If your railing is solid and blocks light, use planters that are built up on legs to bring them into the light.

Place the planters on a south-facing balcony, if possible, which is the best location for growing plants, since it gets more sunlight. Tomato plants, squash, cucumbers and most of the vegetables prefer the light and do better with balconies facing south or southwest. Southeast also gives more light, but it is morning light and not as hot. This works well with plants that wilt in the heat. Other directions can also suitable for gardening, especially if the plants do better in more shady areas. Lettuce and herbs grow well in more shade, so they will do fine in balconies pointing north.

Place a first row of planters on the balcony floor, along the edges, next to the railing. Depending on the width of the planters, you might be able to place a second row behind the first. Ensure that you are able to reach over the planter closest to you and tend to the farthest one before you add a second row. If you are using a heavy container, such as concrete, don't try to add a second row -- the weight of the containers filled with soil might be too much for the balcony.

Tie planters to the railing if you selected a type that is up on legs. Use twine or zip ties around the legs and rail bars to hold and keep the planter from tilting. If your planter is low to the ground and filled with soil, it doesn't need to be secured with ties.

Fill the planters with topsoil, leaving at least 6 inches of space between the soil and the top of the planter.

Read your seed packets and plant one type of plant in each planter. Space the seeds out as indicated on the directions. It is a good idea to develop several plants for each type of food to get a decent amount for consumption. For plants like tomatoes, you might be able to get by with just one or two, since many tomatoes grow on each plant. On the other hand, many beans grow on one vine as well, but it takes many of them to make a meal. In this case three or four plants would give you more food. With a root vegetable like potatoes, you must plant as many in a container as you can, since these grow single vegetables.

Cover the seeds with soil as indicated on the package. Some seeds might only need a 1/4 inch of soil over them, while others might need 4 inches or more.

Water the soil to dampen it down 2 or 3 inches. Check soil daily and keep it damp while you are waiting for seeds to sprout. Once they sprout, cut water back, allowing soil to dry out down to a depth of 1 inch before rewatering.

Tap stakes or trellises in the soil if you are growing plants that need support. Continue to care for your food crops until they are ready for harvest.