I just mapped the microclimates on my tiny urban balcony with a cheap temp logger + phone light meter and it blew my mind! I’ve got multiple “mini-climates” in just a few square meters, so I want to choose veggies by zone instead of generic “full sun” lists.
My zones:
- Reflective hotspot: south-facing wall bounces light/heat, 6-8 hours sun, gets to oven-level in late afternoon, stays warm at night.
- Wind tunnel corner: bright, 5-6 hours sun, constant breeze, dries out fast.
- Dappled shade strip: 2-3 hours direct sun, bright ambient the rest, holds moisture.
- Night-cool nook: shaded most of the day, good sky exposure so it radiates heat at night.
- Low-light shelf: 1-2 hours direct sun, otherwise bright shade.
Constraints: 15-20 cm deep containers (some sub-irrigated), can trellis to 1.8 m, occasional weekend-only watering, aiming for low-input, climate-resilient choices. Bonus if perennial and happy in pots.
What would you plant where?
- Heat lovers with shallow roots for the hotspot (compact okra/eggplant? specific cultivars that don’t sulk in pots?).
- Wind-tough greens/legumes that won’t get shredded (any dwarf pole beans or choy that thrive in breezy spots?).
- True shade-tolerant edibles for 1-2 hours sun (beyond mint/chives… any surprisingly productive greens or tubers?).
- Perennial veg/herbs that actually produce in containers and partial shade (sorrel, Welsh onion, perennial kale-any proven winners?).
- For balconies near traffic: do you favor crops you can peel or fruits over leafy greens to reduce foliar grime? Any varieties known to handle urban air better?
Wild card: has anyone noticed streetlights or building glow affecting bolting/flowering? Any tricks to exploit or avoid that?
If you’ve done microclimate mapping, I’d love to see your zone-to-crop matches and the specific cultivars that crushed it. Data points and photos welcome!