I am questioned often by my urban neighbors about how I manage to grow large amounts of produce each year, considering the size my almost non-existent yard. My usual response, is quite simple: container gardening. You can grow edibles in small spaces and even indoors. The success of growing healthy and productive plants is knowing the precise conditions they need and utilizing it.

Edible can be grown in almost any container from beautiful and clay pots to practical and inexpensive 3-5 gallon plastic buckets. The key to success container growing is proper drainage, a good quality growing medium and choosing the correct sizes of the containers which best suit the plants you will be growing. For example, tomatoes, summer squash, peppers and cucumbers need much larger containers — at least 24 inches wide and deep enough to allow their vigorous root systems to grow and allow room for supports or cages if needed. Shallow-rooted vegetables such as lettuce and small herbs can be planted in smaller containers at least 10 inches wide.

The right growing medium is essential for container gardening. Edibles like herbs benefit from a well-draining, coarse and slightly sandy soil-less medium whereas fruit and vegetables thrive in well draining, nutrient rich medium containing equal parts of quality garden soil, peat moss, perlite and builders sand (compost is optional). Watering is also an important factor because soil-less mixes tend to dry out quickly so frequent watering may be needed.

There are numerous new varieties of edibles most suited for container gardening. This option greatly benefits many Northern gardeners because of a shorter growing season and urban gardeners because of space limitations. Here are a few of the most popular varieties available for growers provided by various edible seed and plant suppliers:

Vegetables:

Arugula, Roquette
Bean, Cherokee Trail of Tears (Pole)
Carrot, Chantenay
Collard Greens, Vates
Kale, Red Russian
Lettuce, Buttercrunch (Bibb)
Mache
Okra, Dwarf Clemson
Pea, Cascadia (Snap)
Pepper, Fresno (Chile)
Pepper, Shishito (Chile)
Pepper, Thai Orange (Chile)
Radish, French Breakfast
Spinach, Bloomsdale
Tomatillo, Toma Verde
Tomatoes, Cherokee Purple
Tomatoes, Fox Cherry

Herbs:

Anise Hyssop
Basil, Sweet
Basil, Genovese
Basil, Lime
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley, Italian Flat Leaf

Edible Flowers:

Cornflower (Blue)
Borage
Chamomile
Nasturtium

Fruit:

Blueberry, Dwarf Tophat

Raspberry, Raspberry Shortcake

Strawberry, Tristar

Purchasing Resources:

http://www.rareseeds.com/

http://www.seedsavers.org/

http://www.burpee.com/

https://www.starkbros.com/