Balcony Garden - Please help!

[missludgatecircus]

hi everyone. Apologies for not having photos but am posting from work.
I have a small balcony garden approx 8' by 3'. it is North East facing and there is a wall between two small doors leading to it. We only use one door however. I'm keen to grow a climber up that small wall. Would honeysuckle work? Or is clematis more hardy?

We are located in west Essex, and it can be quite cold in the winter. We do sit out in nice weather though and currently have two small chairs and a low coffee table.

Also, would appreciate any advice about what plants i could grow in pots to brighten up the space. There is no hose so watering will all be done by hand (!).

Final question; am I too late to do anything for this year? Should I wait until spring next yea before starting?

Thank you in advance for your help!

You don’t say how high up the balcony is. One of the main problems will be cold wind, especially from the East. Also how is the balcony constructed? Railings, glass or brick?
Climbers would struggle as soon as they are exposed to the wind. I have seen succulents make successful greenery on balconies. You could plant them in vertical planters to make a living wall. They need little watering and could be protected in the depth of winter.
Annuals such as training nasturtium would give the same effect as a climbe during the summer. Herbs such as varieties of mint and thyme don’t require much watering and will tolerate a N/E aspect.

To add; you could start the succulent growing now, a bit late for annuals, but you might pick up a ready planted pot, they tend to be sold off cheaply around now.

the balcony is railings. it is on the 3rd floor, so not very breezy, and is sheltered by surround houses and large trees to the east.

You might need to put a barrier across the railings, such as Perspex or brushwood. The winter chill at that height might kill you plants.

Balcony gardens are great! Assess how much light and sun your balcony gets before committing to any plants - they all have different needs.
We got artificial glass from Maze Grass for our balcony so that it's green all year round but with no effort on our behalf!