You can bring new life to your balcony by adding a few potted herb plants. Having them in pots makes it easy because you can move them around (as you figure out the amount of sun your balcony gets). If you grow your balcony herb plants in containers, they are portable—so you can bring them inside at the end of the season.

Balconies are all about natural light and you’ll want to go with herbs like morning glories that grow well with a lot of light. Morning glories are awesome because they can handle the bright reflection from your windows and also all the heat that a metal balcony can generate. Check out your balcony at different times of the day to see the quality of sunshine, the heat and the intensity. You will also want to know which way your balcony is facing—will you get a lot of morning or afternoon sun?

A principle for balcony herbs would include any plant with a thick leaf or a velvety texture as well as any plant that is gray or silver. Their unique features prevent the loss of water in evaporation.

These are some herbs that I suggest for your balcony:

• Aloe vera: Adding an aloe vera plant to your balcony will be simple. It does not need much water and it tolerates a lot of sun and heat. You can use aloe vera easily by snipping off the tip and rubbing it on a burn or other skin problem. It will cool the location, but it will be sticky!

• Cayenne pepper: If you grill out on your balcony, imagine being able to break off a pieces of cayenne pepper to add to your next dinner. This plant should do very well on your balcony and add some color too.

• Cucumber: A trailing vine, like a cucumber, will provide an added touch to your balcony. You can also use cucumbers in cosmetics—like facials! You can also grab some cucumbers to slice for your salads, straight from the balcony!

• Hens-and-chicks: I completely like hens-and-chicks. These do not require a lot of watering—they are water-holding succulents—and can tolerate the hot temperature and bright sunshine that you might have on your balcony. Not to mention that they are so cute too!

• Lavender: Because lavender is a fragrant herb, you will be able to breathe in the soothing smell of lavender when you put it on your balcony. The beautiful purple buds will make a colorful balcony even more colorful.

You can select a few nice-sized containers to put on your balcony or try a hanging balcony basket that has an inside layer from a coconut liner. I used chicken wire and moss to make my own herb balcony basket. I had never attempted anything like that before. That basket was not the best thing since sliced bread, but it was functional. The key is to select a container or basket that will allow for good drainage.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.