Climbing plants and vines on the balcony.

Shade or sun? A shade-loving plant does not thrive in the sun, and a sun-loving plant does not thrive in the shade. Choose a climbing plant that suits your balcony or terrace. On a south-facing balcony in the warmer hardiness zones of the country, it may be worth trying plants that originate from southern regions, such as grapevines or wisteria. If you live in northern regions and have a balcony in the shade, you should think completely opposite. Here, for example, a hardy climbing hydrangea may be a better choice.,,Different ways to climb. Remember that some plants have suction cups or tendrils that can damage facades, especially plaster facades. This applies, for example, to climbing hydrangea, Boston ivy, and ivy. However, these can be great in other places, such as if you want to cover a rock or a wall. The growth and climbing method is simply something you should consider, and this also applies when choosing support and trellises. Certain plants, such as wisteria, honeysuckle, and hops, twine around, flowering plants have claws that grip and cress and clematis hold on through inverted leaves. Roses and blackberries instead use their thorns to grip.

When planting in a pot on a balcony or terrace, it is advantageous if the pot is large, ideally half a meter in both diameter and height. It should also have drainage holes at the bottom, so that excess water can drain out. Leca balls or gravel can also form a drainage layer at the bottom. Remember that water and nutrients disappear faster in pots than on open ground, so you usually have to water and fertilize more frequently.

Climbing flowers that are suitable for balconies and terraces include, for example: Daylily / Morning Glory, Winged Thunbergia, Honeysuckle, Climbing Roses, Clematis. Some flowers are perennial and only need light care in the long run. With the annual variants, you can vary the color from year to year. Take a closer look at the flowering time when choosing a plant. Do you want something that blooms as long as possible or something that blooms more intensively in a certain period? Also consider that the plant should fit where you want it. Climbing Rose Helenae and Architect's Plant grow very strongly and are best suited for larger areas.

Among edible plants that like to climb up a trellis, we find, for example: Nasturtium, Climbing beans, Tall sugar peas, Malabar spinach, Beans have the advantage that they also have sweet flowers. A nice example is runner beans, which can have anything from white to beautiful fiery red flowers. If harvested regularly, the plant continues to produce new pods right up until the frost comes. Nasturtium also has large, beautiful flowers, and both these and the leaves can be used in salads, for example. Malabar spinach is an exciting spinach variety that can be moved indoors in winter. If you live in a really warm part of the country, you can even try growing grapes, which can yield a lot of fruit.

Liselotte Roll, Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, gardening, and animals, such as "Earth," "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as hobby".