Balcony Gardening for Beginners: My 'Hard-to-Kill' Plant List After 3 Months of Testing

I killed 17 plants before finally figuring it out.

I used to think gardening was for retired people—until I moved into my current place with a small balcony last year. Just two square meters, but great sunlight. I thought, why not try?

Result: total wipeout in the first month. My tomatoes rotted before ripening, my mint mysteriously withered, and I even managed to yellow a pothos—I surrender.

But I have this problem: the more something defeats me, the more determined I become. Three months of research and experimentation later, my balcony is now lush and green. I have more cilantro and green onions than I can eat, plus several cherry tomato plants bearing fruit like crazy.

Today I’m sharing my “beginner’s hard-to-kill list”—so you can avoid the pits I fell into.

Must-Grow #1: Green Onions

This is perfect for beginners. Buy green onions with roots from the market, keep the white parts, plant them in soil, water thoroughly, and place in sunlight. New leaves sprout within a week, and they keep regrowing after cutting.

My pot has been producing for six months straight. Grab a couple when cooking—fresh and convenient.

Must-Grow #2: Cilantro

Cilantro is interesting—it either thrives or dies immediately. The key is seed preparation. Cilantro seeds have hard shells; direct planting has low germination rates. My method: gently crack seeds with a rolling pin (don’t crush), then soak in warm water for a day before planting. Germination jumps from 30% to 90%.

Plus, cilantro tolerates shade—great for balconies with average light.

Must-Grow #3: Cherry Tomatoes

I started with large tomatoes but they wouldn’t grow properly on the balcony and attracted pests. Switching to dwarf cherry tomatoes (varieties like “Qianxi” or cherry types) opened a new world.

Compact plants, no staking needed, 20-30 fruits per plant. Best of all, they’re incredibly resilient—I once forgot to water until leaves wilted, but they perked up the next day after watering.

Must-Grow #4: Mint

I killed mint once before learning how to grow it properly. First attempt: balcony corner with insufficient light—quickly became leggy and died. Second attempt: sunniest spot with at least 4 hours direct sunlight daily. Now it’s overflowing the pot.

Use it for lemon water, mint tea, even mint beef stir-fry. Mint is nearly impossible to kill—just give water and sun. The more you prune, the bushier it grows.

Must-Grow #5: Lettuce

Lettuce’s advantage is fast growth cycle—seed to harvest in about a month. You can also harvest individual leaves without pulling the whole plant.

I plant in batches every two weeks for continuous fresh lettuce supply. Perfect for salads or wrapping grilled meat.

Beginner Pitfalls to Avoid

A few lessons from my failures:

First, don’t overplant. I initially crammed my 2-square-meter balcony full—poor ventilation led to pests and disease. Now I leave walking space and spacing between plants.

Second, more water isn’t better. Many plants die from overwatering, not drought. I follow “dry to wet”—wait until soil surface dries, then water thoroughly.

Third, soil matters. Don’t dig soil from your garden—may contain insect eggs. I buy general potting mix online, about $2-3 for a large bag that lasts ages.

Honestly, watching your plants grow day by day brings real satisfaction. And homegrown produce somehow tastes better (probably psychological, haha).

Most importantly, this whole process taught me patience. Some things can’t be rushed—give them time, and they’ll reward you naturally.

Have you grown any plants? Share your biggest success or most tragic failure!