A north-facing balcony gets bright, even light and very little direct sun. That rules out most herbs and fruit, but it suits a long list of plants that scorch elsewhere.
Ferns, hostas, heucheras and hardy fuchsias all do well, and climbing hydrangea will cover a wall slowly and reliably. Mint and parsley tolerate shade better than most herbs.
Pots dry out more slowly in shade, so drainage matters more than watering. Use a free-draining mix, raise pots on feet and choose wide, shallow containers over tall ones.
