Plant a Pint-Sized Garden

By Vicki Spencer, Master Gardener

GardeningPatio or container gardening is not a new concept. It’s always been a wonderful way to showcase flowers and enjoy their sweet fragrances while relaxing outside. But research and new plant varieties have expanded container options beyond the traditional flower box. No longer do you need to sacrifice a passion for fresh vegetables just because you don’t have a large garden area. You can transform any sunny spot in your yard into a vegetable garden, regardless of the size, as long as you have a container.

As I get older, I find it’s much easier to plant and maintain vegetables growing in pots or raised beds than in a traditional garden plot. No more bending down or kneeling to cultivate the soil or eliminate weeds. With a container garden, I no longer have to deal with heavy clay or rocky soil. Instead, I fill my pots with exactly the right mix for the plants I am growing. Watering is so much easier, too.

Having a garden close to the house also means you can easily monitor it. If there is going to be an unexpected freeze, no problem. Just step outside, cover the plants and then step out again to uncover them when it warms up.

Patio gardens make pest control easier. On more than one occasion, I have glanced out the kitchen window just in time to catch a critter before it had a chance to fill its belly.

Some of the best benefits of a patio or container garden come at harvest time. I love to watch my vegetables grow, and when I want some fresh salad greens, tomatoes or herbs, all I need to do is take a few steps out my door. This beats running across the yard to collect that one essential ingredient that was forgotten until I became engrossed in cooking. And anyone who has grown zucchini knows how they magically seem to double in size within moments. By growing them in containers, or along the patio border, you can catch the zucchini while they are still small and tender.

There are so many ways to get creative with your patio or container garden. You can select plants based on a variety of shapes, colors and tastes. Imagine a window box with purple basil, lemon verbena and chives. Or, you could plant a tea garden in a box. Mint, rose geranium, pineapple sage and lavender would make a beautiful container, and a delicious cup of morning tea.

You can be creative choosing your container. I found all kinds of inexpensive and unusual containers for my plants at yard sales. I planted flowers and vegetables in “antique” milk cans, bushel baskets, fruit crates and ceramic frogs. An old shoe rack can hold a variety of herbs planted in small pots. If you don’t want to go to yard sales, explore your local garden center for ideas instead.

Remember, you need to select containers that will fit into your space, but will also be appropriate for the plants you want to grow. I found small pots are perfect for peppers, greens, kale and herbs. For a beautiful combination of texture and color, try planting a hearty tomato variety, such as Early Girl Bush, which stands on its own, with Tumbling Tom or Tomato Mountain Magic, which will spill over the side of the container. Or you could plant a large green bell pepper surrounded by colorful smaller varieties, such as Sweet Pepper Mini Bell Mixed. With a patio or container garden, there is no end to where your imagination can take you.