Whether it's an apartment balcony, a backyard patio, an urban rooftop, or even the edge of a driveway, all you need is a space with a few hours of sunlight to grow container veggies. Colourful crops such as red lettuce and cabbage, multicoloured ‘Bright Lights' Swiss chard, and orange and yellow peppers add visual pizzazz. And while you're at it, intersperse pots of flowers, particularly edible ones such as nasturtiums, bergamot, lavender and pansies.
When choosing vegetables, the most important consideration is how many hours of sunlight the growing area receives (see chart on next page, for various light requirements). Select a site, if possible, with easy access to water; being able to hook up a hose to an outside tap or an indoor faucet will save you laborious and time-consuming trips with a watering can.
There are several options for containers, including barrels, buckets, garbage pails and plastic crates lined with plastic garbage bags—even hanging baskets or window boxes can be used. Keep in mind, though, that clay pots, unless they're glazed, absorb moisture from the soil so plants need more frequent watering (see “Container Criteria” on next page for more tips).
Before adding the potting mix to the container, place fibreglass screening (available at hardware stores) or landscape cloth over the holes in the base to keep soil in and unwanted creatures out. Fill to within a few centimetres of the top and gently press the mix down—not enough to compact it but enough to settle the mix (if necessary, add more to once again bring it to the desired level). If the soil doesn't already contain a slow-release fertilizer, mix in an organic fertilizer or slow-release type, such as 10-10-10 or similar all-purpose fertilizer for greens, and 5-10-10 for other vegetables, according to manufacturer's directions.
Once you've decided on a container, a suitable growing medium is essential for success. The mix (available with or without soil) needs to be porous enough to allow for good drainage and for oxygen to reach plant roots. It must also hold moisture well; most garden soil is not suitable, as it becomes too compacted when wet. Buy the best available (ask a knowledgeable person at a garden centre for advice, as there is usually more than one quality for sale). You can also add compost or composted manure (up to one part compost/manure to three parts potting mix).
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