Let's Talk About Sunlight!
When considering what to grow, one of the most important factors is the level of sunlight your balcony gets. All growing things need to harvest energy from the sun in order to produce flowers and fruit. If you’ve ever noticed an indoor plant start growing toward the window over time, this is the reason why. Ever noticed sunflowers changing the direction they point throughout the day as they follow the progress of the sun across the sky? Same concept. But different plants have different energy needs. Fruit-producing crops require a much larger intake of sunlight.
Some plants prefer direct light and some prefer indirect light. The success or failure of your endeavor will depend largely on this factor. Requirements will be listed as low, medium, or high. But what do these terms mean, exactly?
Low Light: This means the plant will do best when no sunlight directly touches it. Usually, it will be placed a few feet away from a sunny window or a similar light source. Some plants can survive in these conditions, but it is not ideal, and they won't thrive. These are not the idea choice for a balcony garden unless your balcony is shaded by a tree and never gets direct sunlight.
Medium Light: refers to indirect sunlight that is filtered or diffused in some way. The plant is not directly exposed to the sun’s harsh rays but instead enjoys dappled sunlight, much like the light that filters through a canopy of tree branches. This can be approximated by the use of a sheer curtain over a west or east-facing window. You should still be able to read in medium light conditions comfortably. This is typically the sweet spot for most houseplants. For our purposes, you could achieve this by hanging a weatherproof curtain or some sort of shade across your balcony, or more efficiently by positioning one of your taller, more voluminous plants so that it shades the ones that prefer medium light.
High Light: These plants require direct sun exposure for most of the day (6+ hours). Many crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplant fall into this category. If your balcony receives direct sunlight for several hours of the day, you should take advantage of the broader range of garden vegetables which will allow you to cultivate!
If your balcony receives a good amount of sun, you have more flexibility on what you can grow. But if not, you might be better off starting with plants grown for their leaves—such as most herbs and leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, or chard. In general, leafy vegetables require four hours of full sun daily, while fruiting vegetables like beans and tomatoes need at least six.
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