DL Gardeners - Please Advise

Psssst! Hostas.

Hostas will break the planters eventually.

Basil and cherry tomatoes for your sunny area. Maybe rosemary and thyme. Nasturtiums' colorful blossoms are edible, and they gave a cascading habit. You can plant mint and lemon balm in the shadier areas, but keep them in their individual containers as they can be invasive and will crowd other plants out.

Cherokee purple for southern tomato sandwiches and a roma for salads and sauces,

Begonias come in all varieties and colors and do well with little sun and water. The flowers will continue to grow for several months though they are annuals, not perennials.

LA mandevilla on the rail? Citrus topiary?

No tomatoes in railing planters. Tomatoes need more room for their root systems. Put them in a large pot WITH a pot saucer instead. Herb need sun. You're best bet are flower that need part shade.

ivy geraniums are lovely. there are many for part shade.

I live in LA btw, r7 / r8.

That should read, "I live in LA."

If you live on a busy street, do not grow food on your balcony. OK maybe vegetables you can peel but don't grow herbs for crissakes.

Cherokee purples are wonderful, but aren't really suitable for small planters, r4. They also aren't terribly productive

r7, you're not wrong. Tomatoes would prefer more room, but I have grown many a cherry/pear/grape tomato in those small containers. I took some leggy sungolds almost 2 feet tall and buried all but 4 inches under the soil. All of the buried stem became a root system and it's flowering nicely with only 3 hours' worth of sunlight.

These are all fine varieties.

[quote]If you live on a busy street, do not grow food on your balcony. OK maybe vegetables you can peel but don't grow herbs for crissakes.

Mary!

You can do lettuces and some greens in planters without worrying about roots too much.

I don’t think I’ll do tomatoes. Basil and lettuce sound good. Maybe peppers?

My balcony does not face a street, but thanks for your concern, r11

I’m going to put just flowers (begonias sound good) in the sunless corners. Should I buy nursery plants or try to go from seeds?

Planters on a balcony are hell if anyone lives below you. Every time you water, the excess water falls on them. If no one lives below you, plant whatever you want depending on the sunlight.

Nasturtiums are lovely and pretty hardy….also will trail out of the planters which is beautiful. Also edible and can be used as a pretty garnish

If you grow peppers, OP/r14, grow small ones. Lettuce is a fun crop, but tends to bolt (flower and go to seed) quickly. Maybe try a perennial green like sorrel?

Speaking of seeds, nasturtiums grow well from seed. It might be better to buy begonia seedlings.

Begonias are easily and best started with small plants from nurseries. They grow quickly. Here in the north east most begonias are already sold out at nurseries, but hopefully not In LA, OP.