North Balcony Shade Boxes
A 4×2 planting for the balcony that never sees direct sun: mint, salads, chard, and the greens that prefer it that way.
About This Template
A north-facing balcony gets written off as hopeless, but bright open shade is genuinely good growing light for an entire category of crops. This two-box layout uses only plants that produce without direct sun. Mint — nearly indestructible in shade — takes its own container, followed by a lettuce, a chard whose stems glow even in low light, and a parsley-chive block for the kitchen. The second box is sown as a dense baby-leaf factory: spinach, arugula, mizuna, and mâche in tight blocks, cut young with scissors and regrowing for months in the cool conditions they prefer. A north balcony even has advantages: no scorch, no daily watering, and salads that stay sweet in August.
Benefits
- 1Every plant here produces in bright shade — no direct sun required
- 2Cool north exposure keeps greens sweet and bolt-free through summer
- 3Shade boxes need watering half as often as south-balcony pots
- 4Baby-leaf blocks regrow after cutting for months of salads
- 5Finally, a productive answer for the 'hopeless' side of the building
Growing Tips
- 1Use light-colored boxes and walls to bounce the available light around
- 2Harvest baby leaves at 8–10 cm; small and often beats big and rarely
- 3Keep mint in its own box — even in shade it will conquer shared soil
- 4Watch for slugs after rain; shade balconies are their favorite venue
Included Plants (9)
Mint
Mentha spicata
Spacing: 45 cm · 18 in
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Spacing: 25 cm · 10 in
Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Spacing: 30 cm · 12 in
Parsley×2
Petroselinum crispum
Spacing: 20 cm · 8 in
Chives×2
Allium schoenoprasum
Spacing: 15 cm · 6 in
Spinach×4
Spinacia oleracea
Spacing: 15 cm · 6 in
Arugula×4
Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
Spacing: 15 cm · 6 in
Mizuna×4
Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
Spacing: 15 cm · 6 in
Lamb's Lettuce×8
Valerianella locusta
Spacing: 10 cm · 4 in
Ready to Start Growing?
Use this template as a starting point and customize it in the garden editor.
Related garden plans
Balcony Container Garden
A space-smart 6×3 layout designed for balconies, patios, and small outdoor spaces.
Patio Container Vegetable Garden
A 6×2 container lineup for a sunny patio: cherry tomato, peppers, compact cucumber, and salad on the side.
Balcony Herb Wall
A tiny 4×2 vertical herb garden perfect for the smallest balconies and windowsills.