Going to Pot with Container Gardening
- July 20, 2009 by Fox | Comments: 14
There are countless ways to go to pot. Since I’ve already taken a few pot shots, discussed pots of money, shown you how to sweeten the pot, thrown you into the pot, and given you ideas for a pot luck, I guess it’s time to go to pot with container gardening. But please, if you don’t have a pot to pi$$ in then I can’t help you. I ain’t perfect.
Anypissorgetoffthepot, this post is about container gardening. Container gardens are the perfect solution for those who don’t have the space or time to build larger square foot gardens. Container gardens are small and perfect for those renting apartments or living in condos – and they’re lots of fun!
I first learned about container gardening years ago while living in an apartment building in downtown Ottawa. My neighbors one balcony over were container growing experts and often shared their extra green beans, tomaotes, and strawberries with me. Since that time I’ve been a huge fan of growing vegetables in a pot and have saved hundreds on fresh produce all while having fun.
If you’re limited on space but would still love to grow your own food then give these 11 fruits or vegetables a green thumbs up and don’t be afraid to throw them into a pot!
Stuff You’ll Need:
- Planter pots: A 10-inch diameter clay pot costs about $5. Plastic containers cost 50% less.
- Soil: Untreated potting soil costs about $2 to $3 per bag, enough for several pots. Or make your own compost for free!
- String or Twine: Use to string up beans, tomatoes, or peas.
- Watering can: A small bucket works fine but a spouted can costing $5 to $10 makes watering a lot easier.
- Seeds or plants: Growing from seeds is less expensive than potting plants but takes a while longer.
11 Fruits and Vegetables You Can Grow in a Pot!
This list of fruits, vegetables, and herbs all grow well together, so feel free to plant several herbs together in a single pot to save some cash. The only way to fail with container gardening is to not water! You can also pay a little more for special containers though and I know some people who will only grow strawberries in strawberry pots. But I’ve grown plenty of berries in just regualar flower pots. 
So go find some terra cotta or plastic containers, add some soil, plant and few seeds and let’s get growing!
1. Grow Strawberries in a Pot
Who doesn’t love summer sweet strawberries in a yummy strawberry crisp? Anysweettooth, the two best types of strawberry plants for containers are the ever-bearing and the day-neutral varieties. These strawberry plants tend to yield a regular harvest from late spring until early fall. Ask your local garden shop for the best strawberries for your area and be sure to mention you’re growing strawberry plants in pots.
2. Plant a Potted Herb Garden
Fresh herbs bought from the grocery store are expensive. Starting a small herb garden in a pot can provide you with fresh herbs all summer long. Rosemary, basil, thyme and sage can all be planted together in a single container.
3. Growing Tomatoes in Pots
Can I grow cherry tomatoes in a container? The answer is YES! I’m currently growing some outstanding cherry and heirloom tomaotes in containers. While many garden varieties of tomatoes require a large area to plant and grow, there are plenty of newer varieties that thrive in a pot. Ask at your garden centre for “patio tomatoes” and consider planting smaller tomato varieties. Growing tomatoes in pots is pretty easy but you’ll probably have to string them up for some support.
4. String Up Snap Peas, Snow Peas, or Beans in a Pot
Planting snow peas in a container is fun. Over the years I’ve had excellent success with a variety of snap peas, green beans, and yellow beans. Just run some strings up your balcony and get vertical to get some fresh peas and beans growning in a pot and onto your dinner plate.
5. Get Rad with Radishes in a Pot
Radishes are quick and easy to grow in a pot and don’t take much space. Radishes are yummy in salads, are fabulous with hummus dips, and add some bite in the hot summer heat. They’re also a great way to spice up a budget family meal!
6. Sling Fresh Summer Salads into a Container
Get a head’s-up by passing on traditional lettuce heads and opt for spring mix varieties to gets some green into your fresh summer salads. Spring mix varieties grow in less space and can be harvested frequently while heads of lettuce take up a lot of space.
7. Beat It with Beets in a Pot
Beets grow easily in a container and are a part of my container gardening strategy. Just be sure to use a large enough pot to allow for your beeters to root deep and delicious.
8. Get Slawed with Container Cabbage
Container cabbage takes a little bit of work. When the cabbage head is first forming on your plant, slice the top part of it into quarters (when looking down) to grow four smaller heads instead of one large one.
9. Ward off Vampires with Garlic in a Pot
A smaller rectangular planter can grow enough garlic to last you a long time. It’s easy to grow, and if you dry it after harvesting it could last you well into the winter.
10. Get Spicy with Hot Peppers in a Pot
If you live in a warmer climate, hot peppers such as jalapenos are simple to grow in a pot. They can be used as attractive ornamentals while providing some home-grown heat for your sassy salsa or your homemade chili.
11. Get Cool with Container Cucumbers
Cucumbers are great for cooling sore, puffy eyes and taste great in a summer salad. Just don’t plant the massive field cucumber varieties in your container garden since these require a lot of space. Small pickling varieties grow well in a pot and taste great both fresh and pickled.
Need some more inspiration? Also try these 12 Vegetables You Can Grow in a Pot to add some more variety to your summer spread.
Growing vegetables in containers is a fun and frugal way to get some seasonal produce onto your dinner plate for less. If you’ve got a patio, a front door landing, or some modest space for hanging pots then don’t be afraid to get verticle and have some fun with container gardening. You might just find that you’ll love going to pot!
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Your Two Cents:
I grow all kinds of things in pots, mostly herbs that I can bring indoors in the winter. I particularly like cabbage in pots, they’re like giant green roses.
Wonderful post! I live in a small apartment, with a sunlit french balcony in my room. Now I can start actually using it for something fun – and beautiful!
Thanks for mentioning my post, Fox. Don’t forget upside down tomatoes for those of us who are in the bottom of the pot.
I love pots! I live in apartment with a sunny window and balcony and find I can successfully grow lettuce outside and herbs indoors (starting in August).
This year I’m growing my own mesclun mix, yum!
I put my roof garden in the 3rd week in May. I’ve been eating all sorts of greens and radishes waiting for the tomatoes to ripen. Ohhh…4 early girls look about to explode. I think I’m at around 70 tomatoes in various stages of growth. The next 2 weeks are going to be the longest I can remember wating for tomatoes. It’s been a lot of fun growing stuff on the roof. I haven’t eaten anything this fresh since I left the farm after high school.
The jalapenos are growing too fast for me, the basil is jungle-like. mint, sage and oregano are everywhere. Beets and turnip greens vie for salad bowl space with the mesclun and radishes. I should have planted cucumbers. and some beans. and some of those nice japanese turnips/ tokyo cross. and some thai eggplants and tomatillos and little zuchinni and yellow crook necked squash…oooh…and maybe those little honeydews or the tiny watermelons…oops. Getting carried away.
What do you slice up the cabbage with? Just a regular knife? It doesn’t damage it too much?
You can grow so much in a pot!
Once you perfect growing vegetables in a container you can take the next step. Raised bed gardening.
What about slugs where the plants are outdoors? Any help please – our potato, lettuce, courgette plants (maybe sweet corn too) are being consumed by slugs and/or snails before we get a look in!!
Growing plants in a container gardening is a fun to do. And it helps you in many ways. They can beautify your home and add fragrance. They can ease your stress and tiredness. Some can even give you flavor for your dish and some can really be cook. So, it gives not just fun but food and medicine too. Be creative and design your pots. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can recycle. You can ever use your shoebox, can, crack pot, cup or anything that you want. It’s up to you. It should just have a drainage and consider the amount of space your plant needs.
Like Chiot’s Run, we bring our herbs into our bay window for the winter. It is a little drafty there, but they do OK.
I’m not trying to sell you anything, but I only use High Mowing Seeds. I went from telling my wife “Tear out all the grass, are you nuts” to wanting to grow everything!