Editorial Policy

How guides on Balcony Grower are researched, written, verified and corrected.

Our editorial approach

Balcony Grower is an editorial research resource. Guides are produced by researching each product category in depth - manufacturer documentation, published specifications, verified owner feedback and independent reviews - and synthesising that research into clear, UK-specific buying advice.

We are explicit about what that means: we are a research-driven publication. Where we haven't physically tested a product, we don't pretend otherwise. When a specific figure appears in a guide (a PPFD figure, a pod count, a tank capacity), it is taken from a checkable source, and significant claims are cited.

What we check before publishing

  1. Specifications are verified against the manufacturer's own documentation, not copied from other reviews.
  2. UK availability - every recommended product links to a real UK listing that was live when the guide was published.
  3. Prices are never hard-typed into guides as fact. Where prices appear, they are retrieved live from the retailer so they can't silently go stale.
  4. Small-space claims - whether a kit genuinely works on a balcony, windowsill or kitchen counter is the core of our verdicts, so those statements get checked hardest.
  5. Plain-English trade-offs - every "best" pick states what you give up, because every product category involves a compromise.

Ranking independence

Rankings and verdicts are decided on merit against the criteria stated in each guide - typically fit for small urban spaces, real running costs, build quality and value. Affiliate relationships (see the affiliate disclosure) never influence which product ranks first, which products are included, or how trade-offs are described. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not do "sponsored reviews".

Corrections

When we get something wrong - a spec, an availability claim, a compatibility detail - we correct the guide and update its dated stamp. If you spot an error, contact us via the footer channel where available.

AI assistance

AI tools assist with research synthesis, drafting and editing. A human editor reviews every published piece. The boundaries - what AI is used for and what it is never used for - are documented in full in the AI use disclosure.