Start with a Tape Measure and a Cup of Tea

Before you buy a single pot, spend twenty minutes out there with a tape measure, a notebook and something warm in a mug. Note the overall width and depth in metres, the height of the parapet or railing, and the width of the door opening — anything wider will not make it out later without a struggle. Mark which way the balcony faces. A south-facing ledge will bake by mid-afternoon in July; a north-facing one may see no direct sun at all between October and March, which narrows your plant list considerably.

Then look for the wind. On upper floors it funnels along the building and can be far fiercer than anything at ground level. Note where it whistles through, and where rain drips from the balcony above. Both details matter more than the view. Finally, check your lease or ask the freeholder before drilling into walls or hanging anything weighty from railings. Freestanding and clip-on solutions usually sidestep the question altogether.

Choose Pots That Earn Their Floor Space

Floor space is the scarce resource on a balcony, so anything stackable, tiered or wall-mounted pays for itself twice over. A useful rule of thumb: measure the footprint you can spare, then halve it, because you still need somewhere to put your feet.

• Stackable and tiered planters let you grow three or four herbs or small flowers in the footprint of one pot, and they can be split apart when you want a change.
• Lightweight materials matter more than they sound. Fibreglass, resin and zinc-lined planters weigh a fraction of terracotta, and balconies have loading limits you cannot see. Keep the heaviest containers close to the wall or over a supporting beam rather than out at the railing edge.
• Glazed terracotta is fine for small pots, but make sure it is frost-proof or it will crack after its first hard winter.
• Self-watering reservoirs and deep saucers reduce how often you need to water and keep drips off the neighbours below — worth their weight in goodwill.

Add a fold-flat watering can and a small trug for tools, and store them under a bench or in a slim lidded box so the space stays usable when you are not gardening.

Add a Folding Screen for Shelter Without Shade

A folding screen is the single most effective upgrade for a small balcony. It cuts the wind that shreds leaves and rattles cups, gives you a sense of privacy from overlooking windows, and folds flat against the wall when you are not using it.

Choose slatted or trellis-style panels rather than solid boards. Slats break the airflow while still letting daylight through, so a north-facing balcony does not become gloomy and a sunny one does not lose its afternoon warmth. Position the screen on the side the prevailing wind arrives from — usually the south-west in most of the UK — and angle it slightly rather than running it parallel to the railing, which simply channels the gust along.

• Weighted feet or a water-filled base keep it upright in gusts.
• Lash it down or bring it inside before named storms; screens become sails very quickly.
• Shoulder height is enough when you are seated, and it will not block the light you need for tomatoes or herbs.
• Train a climbing jasmine or a small clematis up the slats for greenery and scent.

Furniture That Folds Away

A round bistro table around 60cm across seats two comfortably and leaves walking room; anything larger starts to feel like an obstacle course. Choose folding or stacking chairs, and consider a storage bench, which gives you seating and somewhere to hide cushions, secateurs and a bag of compost out of the rain. Cushions should live indoors when not in use — British weather will not be kind to them otherwise.

Plant for Scent, Colour and Cover

Go for a mix of evergreens for structure, seasonal colour and something edible. Rosemary, thyme and lavender all cope with wind and dry spells once established, and they smell wonderful when you brush past. Mint needs its own pot or it will take over. For shade, ferns and hardy geraniums will shrug off a north-facing corner. A small Japanese maple gives height without bulk, while sarcococca or a winter-flowering honeysuckle provides scent in the darkest months. Tuck spring bulbs in among the perennials in autumn and they will reward you before anything else stirs. In long, narrow troughs, salad leaves and radishes crop quickly and look tidy.

Keep It Working All Year

Set a simple routine and the balcony will look after itself. Water in the cool of the morning during summer, and fit a drip tray under every pot. Feed flowering plants fortnightly from April to September. Tidy spent blooms, sweep the floor, and check that screens and pots are secure before autumn gales arrive. Wrap terracotta in fleece or move it under cover for hard frosts, and raise pots onto feet so they do not sit in standing water through winter. Then, on the first mild evening of spring, take a chair out, pour something cold, and enjoy the small, sheltered, green corner you have made for yourself.