CORVALLIS, Ore. — Many vegetables grow well in containers on a patio, porch, balcony or even a sunny windowsill. Don’t let a lack of yard space keep you from gardening this spring and summer.
While limited space may rule out large crops — for example, corn isn’t practical on a balcony — many vegetables are well-suited for containers, said Brooke Edmunds, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.
Good candidates include lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, carrots, beans, squash, radishes, kale, chard and spinach. Look for dwarf or miniature varieties such as ‘Thumbelina’ carrots or other baby vegetables that perform especially well in tight spaces. Vining crops like beans or squash can be grown in hanging baskets, large pots or barrels and trained vertically using trellises, stakes or railings.
Match plants to sunlight
Sun exposure will affect your plant choices. Leafy and root crops — such as lettuce, beets, cabbage and mustard greens — tolerate some light shade. But vegetables grown for their fruit, such as tomatoes, green beans and peppers, require 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily. More sun is even better.
Choose the right container
Almost any container will work if it has good drainage. Options include:
Traditional pots
Bushel baskets
Metal drums
Gallon cans
Fabric grow bags
Plastic tubs
Wooden boxes
Clean, well-rinsed bleach jugs (cut off)
Container size matters. Ten-inch pots are suitable for herbs, parsley and green onions. Larger plants with deeper root systems — including tomatoes, peppers and eggplant — need five-gallon containers.
Whatever container you choose, make sure it drains well. Drill holes along the side about ½ inch from the bottom. To improve drainage further, elevate the pot slightly using bricks or wooden slats so it’s not sitting directly on concrete or in a saucer of water.
Use quality soil
Start with high-quality potting soil or composted soil purchased from a garden center. These mixes are lightweight, sterile and designed to drain well — all critical for container success. Avoid using garden soil or topsoil, which can be too heavy and may retain too much moisture.
Planting and watering
Container vegetables can be started from transplants or directly from seed. Before planting, moisten the soil by adding water and mixing it in with your hands or a small trowel. The soil should be moist but not soggy — you shouldn’t be able to squeeze out water. Smooth the surface, plant seeds according to the seed packet, and water gently to avoid disturbing the soil.
Watering regularly is essential. Soil in containers dries out quickly, especially on patios in full sun. Daily watering is often necessary, but don’t allow the soil to become soggy or waterlogged. Water when the top of the soil feels dry and continue until water runs from the drainage holes.
After harvesting spring and early summer crops, you can replant the same containers with late summer or fall vegetables.
Fertilize consistently
Vegetables in containers need frequent feeding. A water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer is easiest to use — apply every three to four days at half the recommended strength. Dry fertilizers can be used as well but should be applied every three weeks. Organic options such as compost, aged manure, blood meal, greensand or rock phosphate are also effective.
For more information on container gardening and general vegetable gardening tips, refer to the OSU Extension publication Growing Your Own
A Practical Guide to Gardening in Oregon.
Previously titled No room for vegetables? Pot up your plants