Grow Smaller Versions of Your Favorite Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers
A patio may seem like a small patch of concrete or pavers but it can be the start of something big. With the right containers, plant varieties, and a little planning, you can grow a beautiful, productive garden filled with herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. You might want fresh salad greens just outside the kitchen, a burst of color from edible flowers, or the simple joy of harvesting tomatoes from your deck. With the right setup, patio gardening brings all of that within reach. No backyard required.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to plan, plant, and enjoy a productive patio garden including choosing the right containers, selecting crops, and setting up your space for a season of success. Along the way, we’ll highlight a few favorite products that make the process even easier.
Step 1: Plan Your Patio Layout
Every successful patio garden starts with smart planning. Start by observing how much sunlight your patio gets because most edible plants need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Take note of wind exposure and feasibility for regular watering, too.
Then think vertically. Tiered planters like the GreenStalk Vertical Garden make the most of small footprints. Smart Pots can hang from railings and Vego raised beds let you spread out where you have the room.
Helpful Tools for a Thriving Patio Garden
- Vertical Planters – Ideal for maximizing space in small areas. A multi-tier system lets you grow more in less square footage, perfect for herbs, leafy greens, and even strawberries.
- Fabric Grow Bags and Saddle-Style Planters – Lightweight, breathable containers that promote healthy root development. These are especially useful for patios where traditional pots might overheat or retain too much water.
- Compact Raised Beds – A great option if you have a bit more room. They offer deeper soil for root vegetables and can be easily set up on any hard surface, including decks and balconies.
- Hanging Baskets with Natural Liners – Excellent for trailing flowers or herbs. Look for breathable, sustainable liners that allow proper drainage while keeping your setup eco-friendly.
Look out below! Most raised beds and fabric planters drain excess water so you might need a catch to capture the runoff and to avoid watering your downstairs neighbors.
Step 2: Choose the Best Seeds and Crops for Containers
Choosing the right plants is one of the most exciting parts of starting your patio garden. You want varieties that stay compact, grow well in containers, and bring color, flavor, or beauty to your outdoor space. Plant dwarf varieities, prolific fruiters and bloomers, and plants with shorter root systems (broccoli, spinach, lettuce, kale, onions, radish, celery, petunias, basil, chives, and more) Thankfully, you’ve got plenty of choices.
Here are some favorites to consider:
- Pot-a-peño Jalapeño: compact, spicy, and perfect for pots
- Patio Baby Eggplant and Patio Choice Tomato: bred for container growing (yellow tomatoes, too).
- Wee Be Little Pumpkin: ornamental, edible, and patio-friendly
- Bush Beans and Bush Cucumbers: productive, tidy growers
- Mini Garden Plants: lettuce, radish, pak choi, spinach
- Small-Space Herbs: basil, thyme, chives, parsley, cilantro
- Edible Flowers: nasturtiums, calendula, pansies
- Pollinator Picks: dwarf sunflowers, lavender, alyssum
If you're new to starting from seed, our Sow Effortless™ seed tapes, discs, and mats make things easy. They're pre-spaced and ready to plant—no thinning or guesswork needed.
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When to Plant a Patio Garden
The best time to plant depends on the type of crop and your local climate. Some plants—like lettuce, spinach, and radishes—prefer cooler weather and can be planted in early spring or fall (often called cool season seeds). Others, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, need warm temperatures and should be planted after your last frost date (referred to as warm season seeds). Not sure when that is? Find general dates here and use Park Seed’s app From Seed to Spoon for more precise dates based on your specific location.
Start From Seed or Transplant?
Starting from seed gives you much more choice and better control—but not every plant needs the same approach. Fast growing seeds like lettuce, herbs, radishes, and beans can go straight into your patio containers. Crops that take longer to mature or love the heat—like tomatoes and peppers—benefit from a head start indoors so they are ready for you to pot up when the weather warms.
Step 3: Set Up Your Patio Garden
Now that you’ve picked your plants, it’s time to give them the best possible start. Patio gardens grow best when the fundamentals are in place—healthy soil, consistent watering, proper nutrients, and containers that suit the crop. From a single herb pot to a full raised bed setup, the right foundation helps your plants grow stronger, produce more, and stay healthier through the season.
Use a high-quality container mix formulated for edibles. Ensure good drainage, water consistently (especially in summer heat), and feed with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
Choose containers large enough for your crops. For example, tomatoes and eggplants do best in 5-gallon pots or larger, while herbs and greens can thrive in smaller containers.
Vertical growing? Plant leafy greens at the top of your GreenStalk and reserve lower pockets for root crops or herbs.
Try succession planting with fast growers like radishes and leaf lettuce to keep your garden producing all season long.
Tip: Add mulch to containers to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Step 4: All Season Patio Garden Tips
Your patio garden can keep producing from early spring through fall with the right planning. Start the season with cool-season flowers and crops, transition to heat-loving vegetables and flowers and wrap up with another round of quick-growing greens or herbs.
Spring: Cool-Season Starters
As days lengthen but temperatures remain mild, begin with crops and blooms that thrive in the chill.
Vegetables & Herbs:
- Sow leafy greens, spinach, radishes, peas, and kale directly into containers.
- Start cool-season herbs like dill, cilantro, and parsley.
- Use succession planting to re-sow greens every couple of weeks for a steady harvest.
Flowers:
- Choose cool-tolerant flowers like pansies, violas, and sweet alyssum to bring early color and encourage pollinators.
- Add calendula or edible nasturtiums for beauty and function in your containers.
Seeds for Summer: Heat-Loving Plants
Once nighttime temperatures stay warm, shift to crops and flowers that can handle the summer heat. While many of these plants need plenty of sunlight to grow and fruit, patio gardeners may need to provide light afternoon shade or use shade cloth to protect plants from scorching conditions, especially in the hottest regions or on exposed surfaces.
Vegetables & Herbs:
- Plant beans, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and tomatoes in large containers.
- Basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary love the heat and flourish on sunny patios.
- Keep sowing quick crops like bush beans and lettuce blends to replace harvested plants.
Flowers:
- Zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos bloom nonstop through summer and support pollinators.
- Dwarf sunflowers make a striking container display and draw beneficial insects.
- Consider trailing flowers like petunias or verbena to cascade over pots and maximize visual impact.
Fall: Quick Crops & Cool Comebacks
As summer fades, take advantage of shorter, cooler days by replanting fast growers and fall-friendly herbs.
Vegetables & Herbs:
- Arugula, mustard greens, spinach, and green onions can be re-sown for a late-season harvest.
- Cilantro and chervil thrive in cooler weather and grow quickly.
- Mulch your containers to help retain warmth and moisture.
Flowers:
- Late-season flowers like snapdragons and nasturtiums add fresh color and tolerate light frost.
- Sow another round of sweet alyssum to maintain pollinator activity into fall.
- Chrysanthemums started earlier in the season may bloom just in time for autumn color.
Use row covers to extend the season. Replace spent crops with fresh sowings or quick-growing herbs.
Pro Tip: Use vertical trellises, plant stakes, and tomato cages to support climbing crops and maximize your vertical space.
Bonus: A Sample Patio Garden Layout
- GreenStalk: Top tier = lettuce; Middle = herbs; Bottom = radishes, edible flowers, strawberries
- 2 Smart Pots: Pot-a-peno, Patio Baby Eggplant
- 1 Vego Bed: Patio Choice Tomato, Bush Beans, Mini Carrots
- Hanging Basket: Nasturtiums and chives
- Window Box: Salad mix with pansies and alyssum
A well-planned patio offers a restful place to unwind while giving you the potential to grow fresh herbs, delicious vegetables, and colorful flowers, right outside your door.
What Can Be Planted All Summer Long?
Summer doesn't mean the end of planting—it opens the door for a new wave of crops that thrive in warm weather. You can keep your patio garden productive all season long by choosing varieties that grow quickly or love the heat:
Vegetables for Summer Planting:
- Bush Beans & Pole Beans – Sow every 2–3 weeks through midsummer.
- Cucumbers – Compact, container-friendly varieties do well with trellising.
- Zucchini & Summer Squash – Fast-growing and prolific in large containers.
- Okra – A heat-loving standout with ornamental appeal.
- Swiss Chard – Tolerates heat better than spinach and keeps producing.
- Carrots & Beets – Choose shorter, patio-sized varieties for repeated sowing.
Herbs that Love the Heat:
- Basil – Thrives in summer; pinch back for bushier plants and more leaves.
- Oregano, Thyme & Rosemary – Ideal for pots, needing minimal watering.
- Lemon Balm – Adds tropical flair and grows well in large containers.
Flowers That Keep Blooming:
- Zinnias – Bright and bold, and perfect for pots; sow successively for fresh blooms.
- Marigolds – Deter pests and add vivid color all summer long.
- Cosmos – Tall, airy, and drought-tolerant, great for a sunny patio.
- Sunflowers (dwarf varieties) – Great for containers and kids' gardens.
Best Picks for Succession Sowing on a Patio
Succession sowing means planting in intervals so you have a continuous harvest. This method is especially useful for smaller patio gardens where space is at a premium and you want a steady supply rather than a single, large flush.
Quick-Growing Crops for Patio Succession:
- Leaf Lettuce – Sow every 2–3 weeks for baby greens or looseleaf harvests.
- Radishes – Fast maturity (around 25 days); sow between slower crops.
- Arugula – Peppery and fast-growing, it appreciates light shade in midsummer.
- Spinach (heat-tolerant types) – Try Malabar spinach for vertical growth and summer resilience.
- Green Onions – Keep sowing throughout the season in small rows or container
Herbs:
- Basil – Fast-growing and ideal for cut-and-come-again harvesting; sow every few weeks for continuous fresh leaves.
- Cilantro – Quick to bolt in heat but perfect for spring and late summer sowings; reseeds easily.
- Chervil – A delicate, shade-friendly herb that thrives in cooler weather and grows quickly.
- Dill – Grows fast and adds height, flavor, and pollinator appeal to containers.
Flowers:
- Calendula – Quick to bloom and often self-sows; flowers are edible and attract beneficial insects.
- Sweet Alyssum – A low-growing flower with a sweet scent that fills in gaps beautifully and blooms fast.
- Nasturtiums – Edible leaves and flowers, fast-growing, and great for trailing over the edge of pots.
- Cosmos (dwarf types) – Quick to germinate and bloom, with continual flowering in containers all summer.
By rotating and interplanting compact and quick-maturing varieties, your patio garden becomes a productive, evolving space that provides food and beauty from spring through fall.
Ready to Get Growing? Shop Park Seed's complete line of small-space gardening tools, seeds, and garden collections to bring your patio garden to life.
