Growing spaces: balcony

Grows in a bottle of water on a windowsill and keeps going. Best first plant for a child or a new gardener;…

Upright, architectural and forgiving of dark corners. Releases oxygen at night, which makes it a favourite for bedrooms.

The most satisfying pot crop there is. Stake it early, feed every fortnight, and pinch side shoots so the plant puts its…

Sow thickly in a wide shallow tray and snip with scissors. Rub the seed between your palms before sowing to improve germination.

Slow to start, then generous for decades. Feed with curd whey or diluted buttermilk once a month for glossy leaves.

A pest guard as much as a flower — plant it at the edge of vegetable beds. Deadhead often and it flowers…

Flowers on new growth, so prune hard after the monsoon. Loves a monthly dose of potash.