Nothing is as luscious as sun-kissed, fresh veggies harvested straight from the garden. But if you think the closest you can get to this freshness is waiting for crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes and sweet carrots to show up at your local farmers’ market because you only have a small balcony or patio on which to garden...good news. Many vegetables not only grow successfully and easily in containers, their texture and form add an appealing design element to your patio garden.
Here are 10 tips for growing enviable veggies to please both your palate and your eye.
TIP #1
It’s no more difficult to grow vegetables in a container than any ornamental plant, as long as you choose the right size of container. Because veggies will grow rapidly, choose a 16" or larger pot. Focus more on the width of the pot than the depth, as this will give the root system room to spread out. Terra cotta pots will dry out faster than plastic or wood.
TIP #2
The best veggies for containers are ones that are compact, have shallow roots and mature quickly. Dwarf varieties are ideal. Try ‘Munchkin’ broccoli which has compact, blue-green full-size heads; ‘Little Dipper Hybrid’ sweet bell pepper, an abundant grower which matures early; ‘Sundrops Hybrid’ miniature golden squash; ‘Tiny Tim’ dwarf 1" cherry tomatoes. You can start your vegetables from seed, but for faster results, buy already started seedlings at the nursery.
TIP #3
Most veggies need full sun, defined as 6-8 hours per day. In most cases, if plants do not get sufficient sun, they’ll be straggly and less flavorful. Make sure that vigorously growing plants such as beans and tomatoes don’t create too much shade for nearby plants.
TIP #4
Improper watering is the most likely reason for a failed crop. Veggies need lots of water and erratic watering can stress the plant to the point that it will be stunted and more susceptible to diseases and pests. Keep the soil damp – not soggy -- at all times; don’t let it dry out. In very hot or windy conditions, plants may need to be watered twice a day, especially if they are in terra cotta pots. Tomatoes, in particular, suffer from inconsistent watering and may develop blossom end rot, which is a spreading decay patch starting at the end of the fruit. Good drainage is also important. Put your containers up on pot feet or small overturned saucers to permit air circulation.
