Growing Herbs on a Sydney Balcony

Your apartment balcony can supply fresh herbs year-round with the right setup

Sydney apartments often come with a balcony and very little else. The good news is that herbs are the perfect balcony crop. They're compact, productive in containers, and most of the popular cooking herbs handle Sydney's climate well. You can grow enough basil, mint, parsley, and rosemary on a small balcony to replace supermarket herbs entirely.

The key variables are sun exposure, wind, and pot size. Get those right and the rest is straightforward.

Assess Your Balcony

Sun Exposure by Facing Direction

North-facing: The best option in Sydney. Full sun most of the day, year-round. Every herb will grow here. The challenge is summer heat, where pots can overheat on concrete. Raise pots on feet or place them on timber boards.

East-facing: Morning sun until midday. Excellent for herbs that prefer gentle light, including coriander, parsley, mint, and chives. Basil and rosemary will grow but produce less than on a north-facing balcony.

West-facing: Intense afternoon sun, especially in summer. Tough Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage) love this. Leafy herbs like basil and coriander may wilt in the afternoon heat without some shade protection.

South-facing: Limited direct sun, especially in winter. Only shade-tolerant herbs will survive here: mint, parsley, chives, and Vietnamese mint. Expect slower growth and leggier plants.

Wind

High-rise balconies in Sydney cop strong winds, especially near the coast and harbour. Wind dries out pots quickly and damages soft-leaved herbs. Place pots against the building wall rather than the balcony edge. Use solid containers that won't blow over. Terracotta is heavier and more stable than plastic. A small windbreak screen helps on exposed balconies above the 10th floor.

The Essential Sydney Balcony Herb Kit

Basil

The most popular balcony herb and the one that needs the most attention. Plant from September to February. Needs full sun (north or west facing), warmth, and consistent moisture. Use a pot at least 20 centimetres wide. Pinch the growing tips weekly to prevent flowering and keep it bushy. Sweet basil (Genovese) is the standard. Thai basil handles heat and humidity better and is worth growing alongside it.

Basil is an annual in Sydney. It will die off in winter. Plan to replace it each September.

Mint

Grows year-round in Sydney. Common mint, spearmint, and Vietnamese mint all perform well. Always grow mint in its own pot, as it will take over any shared container. A 25 centimetre pot is the minimum. Mint handles part shade, making it perfect for east or south-facing balconies. Water frequently, as mint likes consistently moist soil. Cut it back hard whenever it gets leggy and it will regrow thickly.

Parsley

Grows year-round with steady production. Italian flat-leaf parsley has more flavour. Curly parsley is slightly hardier and handles wind better. Use a 20 centimetre pot. Parsley tolerates part shade well, growing on any balcony aspect. Harvest outer stems first. Replace the plant every 12 to 18 months when it flowers and goes to seed.

Rosemary

A perennial that will live for years in a pot. Needs full sun and excellent drainage. Use a 30 centimetre pot with quality potting mix. Water only when the top 2 centimetres of soil is dry. Rosemary hates wet feet, so never leave it sitting in a saucer of water. Perfect for north or west-facing balconies. Tuscan Blue is a good upright variety for pots.

Coriander

The trickiest balcony herb because it bolts to seed in warm weather. Sow from March to September for the best results. Direct sow into a 20 centimetre pot (coriander hates transplanting). Use slow-bolt varieties. Once it starts flowering, let it set seed, collect the coriander seeds for cooking, and resow. East-facing balconies suit coriander best, as it gets morning sun without afternoon heat.

Chives

Completely reliable, year-round, low maintenance. Grows in any aspect with at least 3 hours of light. A 15 centimetre pot is enough. Cut the entire clump back to 3 centimetres every 6 to 8 weeks and it will regrow. Divide the clump every 2 to 3 years when it gets crowded.

Thyme

Another Mediterranean perennial that loves Sydney's warm, dry conditions. Needs full sun and sharp drainage. Use a small pot (15 to 20 centimetres) and let the soil dry between waterings. Common thyme and lemon thyme are the most useful for cooking.

Container and Soil Basics

Use a quality potting mix labelled "Premium" (look for the Australian Standard tick). Garden soil compacts in pots, drains poorly, and usually brings pests. Add perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage for Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano).

Every pot must have drainage holes. If your decorative pot lacks them, drill holes or use an inner plastic pot that sits inside it. Standing water kills roots faster than anything else on a balcony.

Feed container herbs every 2 to 3 weeks with liquid seaweed or a diluted organic liquid fertiliser. Potting mix nutrients are exhausted within 6 to 8 weeks, so regular feeding keeps herbs productive.

Seasonal Calendar for Sydney Balcony Herbs

September to November: Plant basil, chilli, lemongrass. Existing perennials (rosemary, thyme, mint) push new growth.

December to February: Harvest basil heavily. Protect pots from extreme heat on west-facing balconies. Water daily in heatwaves.

March to May: Sow coriander and dill. Basil starts declining. Parsley produces strongly. Plant new mint runners.

June to August: Coriander and parsley at their best. Rosemary and thyme slow down but persist. Start planning spring basil replacements.

Frequently Asked Questions