A Guide to Growing Food on Your Patio
The weather has been going a little crazy the last few years, and each year it seems that more and more of the country is affected by drought conditions. It’s no surprise, then, that drought landscaping (sometimes called xeriscaping) is becoming a hot topic. There are a lot of easy things you can do in your garden to conserve water. A rain barrel under your house gutters is an obvious solution, and one that’s becoming more and more popular (I’ll be installing a 55-gallon barrel at my parents’ house tomorrow). Putting down a thick layer of mulch can help a lot of plants to retain moisture. Many landscapers are recommending less grass, most types of which require a tremendous amount of water. In the place of grass natural areas and planting beds are taking over.
Why Grow Edibles in Containers?
Container gardening offers several advantages, especially for those with limited space or less-than-ideal soil conditions. Here’s why growing edibles in containers is a smart choice:
Small Space Garden Efficiency: If you’re short on space, containers allow you to grow a variety of plants in a small area, making them perfect for patios, balconies, and even windowsills.
Control Over Soil and Conditions: Containers give you complete control over the soil mix, drainage, and exposure to sunlight. This is particularly useful if your garden soil is poor or you want to tailor conditions for specific plants.
Mobility: You can easily move containers around to capture more sunlight or protect plants from harsh weather, extending your growing season.
Pest Management: Growing in containers can help reduce the risk of pests and diseases that often thrive in garden beds, as well as make it easier to control infestations if they do occur.
Accessibility: For those with mobility issues or who prefer gardening at a comfortable height, containers can be placed on tables or raised platforms, making gardening more accessible.
Best Vegetables for Containers
When it comes to container gardening, not all vegetables are created equal. Some thrive in pots, while others struggle without deep soil and space to spread out. Here are our experts’ top vegetables selections for container gardening. You can find them at Park Seed:
Tomatoes: Mini varieties like Celano F1 Grape Tomatoes and Kitchen Minis™ Siam are bred specifically for containers. These compact plants produce full-size tomatoes, perfect for fresh eating and cooking.
Peppers: Both sweet and hot peppers, such as Snackabelle Red Pepper or Pot-a-Peño Pepper, do well in containers. They need a sunny spot and regular watering, but the results are worth it.
Lettuce and Leafy Greens: Fast-growing and shallow-rooted, greens like ‘Salad Bowl’ lettuce and ‘Bloomsdale’ spinach are ideal for containers. You can harvest leaves continuously, making them perfect for fresh salads.
Radishes: Quick to mature and taking up little space, radishes like Roxanne Hybrid are excellent for small pots. They’re also a fun crop for kids to grow.
Carrots: While standard carrots need deep soil, shorter varieties like Little Finger Organic are well-suited to container life. They thrive in deep pots with loose, sandy soil.
Beans: Compact and productive, beans like Algarve Garden bean seeds don’t require support and can yield a bountiful harvest in a container.
Because we’re big fans of growing our own food, Park Seed has a vast assortment of miniature and compact growing vegetables and flowers that you might not expect to find on this “Edibles for Container Growing” list.
Try these!
Have you seen the Sow Effortless Collection™ of pre-sown seed tapes, mats, and discs? They make handling small seeds easy and you can trim them to size, place, cover with soil, water, and watch them grown. Easy steps to homegrown goodness!
Fruits for Containers
Fruit-bearing plants can also flourish in containers, offering fresh, homegrown produce in even the smallest spaces. Consider these options:
Strawberry ‘Eversweet’: This everbearing strawberry variety is ideal for containers and hanging baskets. It produces sweet, juicy berries throughout the growing season.
Blueberry ‘Top Hat’: A dwarf blueberry variety perfect for containers. It produces full-sized berries on a small, attractive bush that also adds ornamental value to your patio.
Dwarf Citrus: Compact citrus trees like ‘Meyer Lemon’ or 'Trovita' Orange Tree can thrive in containers. They need plenty of sunlight and slightly acidic soil to produce fruit.
Figs: Varieties like Ficus Stella™ Figare well-suited to container growing. They need a large pot and full sun but will reward you with sweet, rich fruits.
Fruits for Containers
Herbs are naturally suited for container gardening, allowing you to keep fresh flavors just steps away from your kitchen:
Basil ‘Genovese’: A classic culinary herb, basil is perfect for containers. This variety offers large, aromatic leaves that are ideal for pesto and other dishes.
Italian Plain Leaf Parsley: This flat-leaf parsley grows well in containers and is an essential herb for many recipes, providing fresh, bright flavor.
SimplyHerbs™ Rosemary: A robust rosemary variety that thrives in containers. The plants can be ready to harvest in under two months.!
English Organic Thyme: Organic and easy to grow, thyme is perfect for containers and offers a fragrant addition to your herb collection.
Edible Flowers for Containers
Adding edible flowers to your container garden not only enhances its beauty but also offers unique flavors for your kitchen:
Nasturtiums: These vibrant flowers are not only beautiful but also edible, with a peppery taste that’s great in salads. They’re easy to grow and do well in containers.
Pansies: Perfect for cooler weather, pansies add a burst of color to your containers. Their petals are edible and can be used to garnish desserts and salads.
Calendula: Known as "pot marigold," calendula’s bright petals are edible and have a mild, slightly spicy flavor. It’s also a great companion plant for vegetables.
Borage: This herb produces star-shaped blue flowers that taste like cucumber. They’re perfect for garnishing drinks and salads.
NOTE: When growing edible flowers, be sure they are grown from seeds and that you manage them using organic practices.
Tips for Successful Container Gardening
Choose the Right Container: Ensure your containers have adequate drainage holes and are large enough to accommodate the mature size of the plant.
Use Quality Potting Mix: Garden soil can be too heavy for containers. Instead, use a high-quality potting mix that retains moisture while providing good drainage.
Water Regularly: Containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, so regular watering is essential. Check moisture levels daily, especially during hot weather.
Fertilize Wisely: Container plants rely on you for nutrients, so fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer to keep them healthy and productive.
Rotate for Sunlight: If your containers are portable, rotate them to ensure all sides receive adequate sunlight, especially if placed in a partially shaded area.
Of course, true xeriscaping requires a great deal more than just putting in some drought tolerant plants. The most advanced xeriscaping efforts require rethinking the entire landscaping from the bottom up, using specialty grasses, carefully built gradients to channel water in the appropriate ways, and careful balancing of shade and sun. You don’t, however, need to be an advanced xeriscape gardener to get real water-saving benefits from your garden this year.
