Sun in abundance poses particular challenges for balcony plants on the south side. The danger of summer drought stress is just as omnipresent as sunburn on the leaves and heat build-up in the root ball. We looked around the plant kingdom and discovered floral specialists who stage a fireworks display of colors in the sunny flower box.
Which plants and vegetables are suitable for a balcony box on the south side?
Sun-loving plants such as petunias, geraniums, two-tooths, hussar's buttons and purslane are suitable for a balcony box on the south side. When it comes to vegetables, we recommend summer spinach, radishes, lettuce, strawberries and mini tomatoes and cucumbers.
Set the stage for sun worshipers in the plant kingdom - these plants want to go to the south
The following plants want plenty of sun in order to create a spectacular flower display in the sunny flower box:
- Petunias (Petunia), the wonderful permanent bloomers with standing and hanging varieties
- Geraniums (pelargoniums), the indispensable classics for the south-facing balcony
- Bidens (Bidens), whose variety 'Golden Star' bathes the balcony in a golden-yellow sea of flowers
- Hussar buttons (Sanvitalia), the distinctive long-blooming bulbs with bright yellow starry flowers
- Purslane frog (Portulaca grandiflora) spoils the eye with a feast of colors in red, yellow and orange
It is important to note that there is an adequate water supply. To ensure that the beauties presented here do not languish in the sun, please check their current watering needs every morning and evening using a thumb test. A weekly portion of liquid fertilizer replenishes the used nutrient depots.
Vegetable bed in mini format – How to do it in a sunny balcony box
Growing vegetables in flower boxes is very popular in urban balcony design. If there is no garden available for cultivation, the balcony box serves as a mini vegetable patch. The sunny, warm location on the south side offers ideal conditions for a rich harvest of the following species and varieties:
- Summer spinach varieties 'Columbia' and 'Lazo'
- Radishes, such as the light red summer variety 'Cheyenne' or the bolt-resistant variety 'Celesta'
- Plucking lettuce, like the small, compact variety 'Picarde'
- Strawberries, such as the small-fruited, frequent-bearing monthly strawberries 'Ostara'
If you integrate a trellis into the balcony box, mini tomatoes such as 'Tiny Tim' and 'Red Robin' will thrive here. Crunchy, spicy cucumbers also feel at home here, as does the mini cucumber 'Printo'. The colorful fruits of the mini pumpkin 'Windsor' decorate the sunny balcony in autumn.
Tip
If you buy or build a flower box yourself, please choose a light-colored material. White and pastel-colored plastic or light wood species, such as Siberian larch, reflect the sun's rays so that the root ball cannot heat up.