Balcony-smart plans 
Indoor harvest workflows 
Space-first product picks Small-space plant fit checker
Check one outdoor container before buying plants. See which selected conditions are met and what still needs attention.
This is a conservative planning screen for four outdoor crops, not a prediction of harvest or a complete suitability assessment.
Your container and growing conditions
Use measured direct sunlight and usable potting-mix capacity. US gallons here are volume, not a nursery trade-pot size. Indoor windows and grow lights are outside this screen.
The requirements table below works without JavaScript. Interactive controls appear when the checker is available.
Requirements used in this screen
| Crop | Direct sun screen | Minimum US gallons | Conditions | Support plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf lettuce | 3+ hours | 0.5 | cool | Not screened |
| Cherry tomato | 6+ hours | 2 | warm | Confirm support |
| Pepper | 6+ hours | 5 | warm | Confirm support |
| Eggplant | 6+ hours | 5 | warm | Confirm support |
Method and limits
The linked Extension sources inform the light and volume values. We use the lower end of each light range. Season, support and daily-check rules are conservative editorial gates; they are not universal limits for every cultivar.
A listed minimum is not an optimal pot size. This screen does not assess root depth, drainage, frost, extreme heat, wind, balcony load, local planting dates or indoor growing. Check the plant label and local extension guidance. No planting density or yield is calculated.
Broader guides may describe other growing options. These results only apply to the inputs and rules shown here.
- University of Maryland Extension: Container vegetables — source checked .
- University of Maryland Extension: Lettuce — source checked .