Growing Herbs in Pots on a Balcony: Which Herbs Share a Pot

Herbs grow well in pots on a balcony with at least four to six hours of sun. The rule for sharing a pot is water: herbs that like dry soil, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage, go together; herbs that like steady moisture, such as basil and parsley, go together; and mint gets a pot of its own.

This page is part of what to grow on a balcony. It covers which herbs share a pot, then sun, pot size, watering and harvesting.

Which herbs share a pot?

Iowa State University Extension advises grouping herbs with similar water needs in one container. Extension sources sort the common kitchen herbs into three groups.

Iowa State’s own example of an Italian kitchen pot mixes parsley and basil with oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme. That can work for a season if you water for the thirstiest plant, but the groups above are easier to keep healthy.

How much sun do balcony herbs need?

Iowa State and Illinois Extension both suggest a spot with at least four to six hours of sun a day. Illinois says rosemary prefers full sun, and basil a sunny spot with fertile soil.

Shade narrows the list rather than ending it. Iowa State’s guide to shady areas names basil, chervil, chives, cilantro, mint, parsley, sage and tarragon for light shade (four to six hours of direct sun). For moderate shade (two to four hours), it lists mint alone. Illinois adds that parsley will grow in partial shade.

What size pot do herbs need?

Illinois Extension recommends containers of at least 6 inches, since herbs quickly outgrow small pots. Oregon State University Extension says 10-inch pots suit parsley and many herbs. Every pot needs drainage holes; Iowa State suggests a well-drained commercial potting mix.

On a narrow balcony, herbs suit containers that do not take floor space. A box on the inside of the rail works well (see railing planters and window boxes), as do the pockets of a vertical planter. Window boxes full of wet mix are heavier than they look, and their runoff drips onto the balcony below, so read balcony weight limits and keep a tray under each one.

How often to water herbs in pots

Iowa State Extension says to water before plants wilt badly. In the heat of summer that can be once or twice a day, especially for small pots. The dry-soil group can wait until the top of the mix has dried; basil and parsley should not.

Water at the soil, slowly, and stop when it starts to drain. Watering a balcony garden covers saucers, timers and what to do when you travel.

How to harvest so herbs stay compact

Regular cutting keeps herbs bushy, which suits a small space.

• Basil: Illinois Extension says to pinch stem tips for a bushier plant and to pinch off flower buds as soon as they form, because flowering affects the flavor of the leaves.
• Leafy annual herbs: Iowa State suggests harvesting when flower buds first appear and leaving 4 to 6 inches of plant.
• Perennial herbs such as thyme, oregano and sage: Iowa State says to take only the top third of the plant or the leafy tips. Illinois gives the same one-third limit.

Herbs through the winter

Illinois Extension says rosemary is not reliably hardy in zone 6 or colder. Pot it and bring it indoors before frost, to a cool, sunny spot, and keep it on the dry side. Parsley can also be potted up and grown inside over winter. Basil is sensitive to cold: Illinois notes that temperatures around 50°F can blacken its leaves.

A windowsill planter carries a kitchen herb pot through the winter, and our gifts for balcony gardeners include ideas for the cook. For other crops by sun and shade, go back to what to grow on a balcony, or read growing tomatoes in pots.