You can bring new life to your balcony by adding a few potted herbs. Having them in containers makes it a cinch because you can move them around (as you figure out the amount of sun your balcony gets). If you cultivate 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 sunlight and you will want to go with herb plants like morning glories that grow well with a lot of sun. These little herbs will tolerate the reflection from the windows and doors and also the heat that a metal balcony captures. Check out your balcony at different times of the day to see the quality of sunlight, the heat and the intensity. You’ll also want to know which way your balcony is facing—will you get a lot of morning or afternoon sun?

Use gray or silver-colored herbs as well as those with a velvety texture or thick leaves in your balcony garden. Their unique features prevent the loss of water in evaporation.

Try a few of these fabulous herb plants on your balcony:

• Aloe vera: Adding an aloe vera plant to your balcony will be easy. It tolerates the sun very well and needs minimal watering. It is also very helpful for burns, just lop a small piece off and rub it on the burn. It will cool the location, but it can be sticky!

• Cayenne pepper: With cayenne pepper on your balcony, you can always add a little spice to your meal next time you grill out. This herb should do very well on your balcony and add some color too.

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

• Hens-and-chicks: These are among my most favorite plants. These do not need 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. They are adorable to look at too!

• Lavender: Just one whiff of the soothing aroma of this fragrant herb and you’ll be more at ease. It is also a brilliant plant that adds a nice pop of color.

You can choose 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 actually made my own balcony basket with chicken wire and moss. It was my first try at something like that. That basket wasn’t the best thing since sliced bread, but it was functional. It will work better if you carefully consider the drainage when you are buying your basket or pot.

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.