Balcony gets full sun for six hours what shall i plant?

[EachandEveryone]

I lot of my flowers are dying off in this heat. I have two cats to complicate things. Im on sick leave and i like to sit and read a book. I feel sad that its just so hot my flowers seem to be dying. My sunflowers didnt stand a chance. Any thing worth picking up in the supermarkets? I have three lovely planters attached to my rails and i can probably refill them.

Strawberries. They taste lush when you grow your own. Sweet pea smells nice?

Everything needs masses of water in this heat, I am finding. Containers need watering maybe twice a day. I am finding that my containers of dwarf cosmos, nemesia and nepeta (all mixed) are long lasting and standing up well as long as they get enough water. I also have some small pots of euphorbia diamond frost, dwarf purple campanula and lots of geraniums and bacopa, which are doing well despite the heat. I deadhead a lot though.

I think all of these would work well for you in planters attached to balcony rails. Possibly with the exception of the dwarf cosmos as I wondering if it would be too tall? Mine are about 30 cm tall, maybe a bit more.

Wheres the best place to buy plugs from? Im off sick post surgery so cant drive

They need to be on trays which you top up regularly with water.

Water storing crystals are helpful for containers. Not really as pricey as they look as a little goes a long way.

Yes Ive seen them in Poundland I’ll find some

I am finding my plants in pots are struggling this summer. My back garden is nw facing yet it has sun pretty much all day! To help with my pots next year, though it will now no doubt be the wettest summer on record, I will add water retaining gel. If you can put mulch on top of the soil after a good soaking then that can help retain the moisture and not dry out so quickly.
I have found my trailing lobelia is doing quite well in its hanging basket. Its a mixed colour one, so very pretty. Sweet peas do need a lot of water, being of the pea family.
For hot dry climates, they tend to have quite woody plants like thyme, lavender and rosemary. Once established they can cope with dry weather very well.

Does your balcony have railings? Could you line with reed/bamboo screening to create a cooler environment? Even temporarily?

If using pots on the ground make them as big/tall as possible to avoid drying out.

Aldi have been selling plastic self watering troughs and pots. I have the troughs (£3.99) and they're amazing! I noticed the pots still on sale in my local yesterday for £2.99 or £3.99. They have a drainage shelf with a water reservoir below.

Lavender

These ones. Only the square terracotta shape are available to order online but the others are instore. I think the troughs have sold out unless you get lucky and find some instore.

here

At the moment I’m still not great at carrying I’m four weeks post hysterectomy. I can get a chair out on my balcony it’s just disappointing everything’s dying. I’m not on top of it like normal. Plus I can’t have anything ground level that will poison the cats I’ll try and post photos. Quite a lot of great Kant space really

Plant space!

When you’re more active - I’d put a square tall planter with an obelisk. In it I’d plant a Jasmine. Then on the hanging planters some trailing Begonias and geraniums. Herbs such as thyme, rosemary and chives would be ok for your cat and survive dry times. You can cheaply grow these from the supermarket herb pots. Although you do have to pot them on.
Wilkinson’s is cheap and do a home delivery service for compost, water gel, pots etc.

Just seen the other photos. Duh! Looking at your Fatsia, and Rosemary, they would probably benefit from bigger pots and a feed.
The compost in some of the planters looks too shallow to retain enough water or nutrients.
Hope you’re soon back on your feet.

My Fatsia was gorgeous last year! Im just too useless to reach over and pick him up. I reckon i can order bits online and do things slowly. So shall i top up the compost i can probably take my shopping trolley off to a local shop and buy a small bag.

Ive got lots of self watering troughs but nowhere to hang them i can probably put them on the ledge. it was such a long Winter i could never get out there and suddenly i was rushed into hospital all i could do is scatter some packets of seeds in my balcony planters and hope for the best! So theyve grown and died off so im guessing i can pull them up is it too late to start again?

Yes, do top up the compost and water well. It will give the plants a boost.

Oh that's a shame! Are you in the UK (whereabouts)?

What kind of shops do you have nearby accessable on foot? Wilko and Morrisons have had good bedding plants, sometimes the selection is a bit hit and miss. Morrisons also do £1 fuchsias - some are hardy (check the front label).

Is it possible to have compost and some gravel (for mulching) delivered and set down on the balcony for you?

To be honest I'm struggling to plant bedding plants in this weather and I'm in full health The combination of bending and lifting doesn't seem great if you're post-surgery. Do you have anyone who could lend a pair of hands?

Not really. My family is up north. I have a granny trolley and Morrissons Asda is one bus stop away (i would normally walk it) and the other way is Sainsburys/M and S and a garden centre stall in the carpark. Poundland were very good last year but dont seem to have the stock this time round. Amazon/Ocado bring parcels up the stairs for me.

I can do things bit by bit. The heat is not helping but im off suck for another four weeks id like to crack on.

Ah you might have luck with the supermarkets then! Is your Morrisons/Asda any good for plants? Ours have both been pretty good and bargainous - plenty of bedding plants too. Anything trailing seems like a good bet for your troughs (petunias, fuchsias, begonias, lobelia etc) and geraniums as a pp mentioned!

Definitely order in the heavy stuff in that case - compost and a gravel mulch seem like a priority.

Someone mentioned Wilko doing a good range of larger pot saucers. I've had a look (I need some too) and they have a good selection. Delivery available. Would help keep the moisture in!

Looks like Wilko do compost for home delivery too if you need to order a few bits and pieces

The have a good selection of seeds as well but i guess they will be for next year now.

Geraniums are quite drought hardy and flower for ages.

I'd say geraniums too.