Your First Pot
Everything you need to begin — pot, compost, seeds, light and water.
Pick the right pot
Drainage matters more than looks. Choose a pot with holes at the base — terracotta breathes well; plastic stays moister. For most herbs and leafy greens a 20 cm-wide pot is enough; tomatoes, peppers and courgettes need 30–40 L of soil to be happy.
Choose a good compost
Skip the cheap stuff — peat-free multipurpose compost is the sweet spot. For Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme) mix in a third of horticultural grit to keep things sharp-draining.
Seeds or starter plants?
Quick wins start as plug plants (basil, lettuce). Patience pays for tomatoes, chillies and herbs grown from seed — start indoors on a bright sill 6–8 weeks before your local last frost.
Light is the silent ingredient
South-facing balconies (north-facing if you're in the southern hemisphere) get the longest sun. If you only have a few hours of direct light, lean towards leaves: lettuce, mint, parsley, chard.
Water with your finger
Push a finger an inch into the soil. Dry? Water deeply until it runs out the bottom. Damp? Wait. Most beginner plant deaths are from over-watering, not under.