Balcony garden - novice needs advice

[Aziraphale]

I've just moved to a place with a balcony that gets sun for at least half the day. I've grown herbs back in the tropics, but I'm a newbie to temperate gardening.

I want to grow a few veggies, herbs and flowers, from seeds and from seedlings. What sort of compost/potting mix do I need? And what else do I need to bear in mind?

[taff]

Just a general all purpose compost will be ok for most stuff.
Things to bear in mind, pots dry out faster so keep an eye on the watering, and on a blacony, they could be subject to a bit of wind, so give them a bit of protection. And the right depth of container for the vegetables you want to grow.

[lfnfan]

hello, and welcome to the temperate zone...

just to echo taff's comments on wind - i have some tomato plants growing on my 2nd floor balcony. Well, I guess they're still growing but I'm not totally sure because they have been really whipped by the wind this past week , even on relatively calm days.

ymmv but i'd be choosy in what you decide to grow - ask yourself how well the prospective plant will cope with a windy environment once it's out on the balcony?