How Much Sun Does My Balcony Get? Garden & Balcony Check
Find out how many hours of direct sunlight your balcony or garden gets. Get plant recommendations based on your orientation and month.
Balcony Sun Check
Based on sun position and orientation – without building shading.
Shade-Lover Zone (< 3 hrs)
Your balcony gets little direct sun. Perfect for shade-tolerant plants!
Partial Shade Zone (4–6 hrs)
Ideal conditions for vegetables that don't need blazing midday sun.
Full Sun – Tomato Paradise! (> 6 hrs)
Your balcony is a sun deck! Heat-loving plants thrive here.
Full Sun vs. Partial Shade – What does it actually mean?
Seed packets often say "Full Sun" or "Partial Shade" – but what does that mean in practice? The answer depends on your location, the season, and the compass direction.
Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Partial shade is 3–6 hours, and shade is less than 3 hours. These values change dramatically by month.
Full Sun (> 6 hours)
Tomatoes, peppers, chili, cucumbers, zucchini – all fruiting vegetables need lots of direct light and warmth.
Partial Shade (3–6 hours)
Beans, peas, root vegetables like carrots and radishes manage with less sun.
Shade (< 3 hours)
Lettuce, spinach, herbs like parsley and mint thrive even with little direct light.
Use bright walls
Light-colored walls reflect sunlight and increase the light yield for your plants.
Elevate planters
Place pots on shelves or window boxes on the railing to avoid shading from the balustrade.
Consider the month
In midsummer, even an east-facing balcony gets 5+ hours of sun. Use the calculator for each month.
Don't forget wind protection
Upper-floor balconies are often windy. A windbreak helps tomatoes and peppers enormously.
Water in the morning
Water early in the morning so plants can use the moisture before the midday sun arrives.
Seasons and Balcony Sun
The sun hours on your balcony vary enormously between winter and summer. A south-facing balcony in Berlin gets only ~2 hours in December, but 8+ hours of direct sun in June.
That's why the month matters as much as the orientation. Our calculator shows you the yearly overview so you can find the perfect time to sow.
Every plant has its own requirements for sun, water, and space. Click on a plant above to jump directly to its details.
These plants need lots of direct light and warmth – perfect for south and southwest balconies in summer.
Ideal for east or west balconies. These plants like sun but not blazing midday heat.
Perfect for north-facing balconies or shaded spots. These plants thrive with little light.
Remove suckers! Pinch side shoots from leaf axils for better yields.
Start early in Feb/March indoors! Chilis need a long growing season.
Pinch the first flower (crown bud) for bushier growth and higher yield.
Snack cucumbers are ideal for balconies – compact growth, high yield.
One single plant is enough for a family. Harvest fruits young (15–20 cm).
Pinch flowers immediately! Otherwise the plant turns bitter and dies off.
Bush beans are ideal for balconies – compact and productive without trellis.
Perfect for spring and fall! Peas don't like heat above 25 °C.
Short varieties like 'Parisian Market' are ideal for shallow balcony boxes.
Re-sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvest from March to October.
After the main harvest, smaller side shoots grow back – don't discard too early!
Pick-leaf lettuce instead of head lettuce! Harvest individual leaves, plant keeps growing.
Spinach bolts quickly in heat – in summer try New Zealand spinach instead.
Germinates very slowly (3–4 weeks) – patience! Soak seeds for 24 h beforehand.
Always keep in its own pot – mint will overrun every other plant.
Risk of confusion with lily of the valley! Not a problem on the balcony.
Hanging strawberries are perfect for balconies – save space and look great!
Tap the dial to turn the balcony. Amber: sun reaches it, grey: it is behind the wall.
Height of buildings or trees, in degrees above the horizon. 0° = free view.
Clear sky; obstacles as set above. Preset: 10°, typical for buildings or trees opposite.
Sunlight only – frost and temperature decide too, see Temperature on each plant.
How accurate is the calculation? It follows the sun's position every 10 minutes on a cloudless day. Buildings and trees opposite can be set with the obstacle slider; clouds, balcony ceilings and side walls are not included, so the real value is usually a little lower.