Growing Edibles in Containers
Containers can provide a quick and easy way to grow edibles
• A great solution when growing space is limited
• Locate to be convenient and accessible
• Relocate to protect edibles from bad weather
• Create visual interest in outside living areas
• Avoids soil borne diseases in native garden soil
• Reduces accessibility of some pests
**Note: Container plants require more frequent watering and fertilizing
Any vegetable & herb that you can grow in the ground or in a raised bed can be successfully grown in a container.
Choose your containers:
• Most containers will work if you have good drainage
• Containers should be a minimum of 6 inches deep
• Some plants require more depth
Important considerations:
• Drainage holes are essential to allow excess water to drain so roots do not rot from sitting in stagnant water.
• Don’t add gravel, pebbles, or sand to the bottom of containers. This will make it more difficult for excess water to drain away from roots.
• Smaller containers and unglazed clay pots dry out very quickly in summer. They require more watering and have less room for roots to grow.
• Deeper containers provide more space for roots to grow down into in search of moisture and cooler temperatures.
This enables plants to thrive during the long, warm summer days which cause soil to dry out fast.
• Choose containers large enough to support plant root systems when they are full grown.
• If you are using recycled containers, scrub them well and rinse in a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach.
• Never choose a container that held toxic products.
Site your containers:
• Most vegetables need a minimum 6 hours of direct sun per day.
• Some leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, chard, and kale will tolerate part shade (3-4 hours minimum of sun per day).
• You can extend your growing season of some vegetables like leafy greens by moving their containers to a less sunny position during warm weather.
• Some herbs in small containers can be grown indoors.
Add Potting Mix:
Potting mix is one of the most important factors to growing happy and productive container plants. It supplies the roots with nutrients, air, and water. It allows space for root growth and it physically supports the plant.
• Garden soil should usually be avoided in containers as it can harbor disease, weed seed, and create drainage problems.
• Add high-quality fresh potting mix that is light, porous, and quick draining.
• The soil-less mix should retain moisture but also have plenty of air spaces for the roots.
• Water soil mix well and let it sit for a day to dampen and settle.
Plant seeds or seedlings:
• To get the most out of limited space, choose high yielding and dwarf varieties with small- to-moderate sized fruit.
• For plants that vine or trail, add stakes or trellis when you first plant so you will not damage roots by adding them later.
• Eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes are best planted as seedlings due to the seed germination needs.
• Plant beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, radishes and summer squash from seed or seedlings.
• Remember to dampen your soil before you plant and gently water after.
Water
All containers dry out quickly. Watering requirements will vary according to the season, type of container, soil mix and sun exposure.
• Keep the soil moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out, especially while plants are young.
• Check containers daily. Stick your finger or moisture meter into the top inch of soil. If it is dry, water until some runs out the bottom of the container.
• Water early in the morning to avoid wet leaves at night when temperatures drop and mildew and disease organisms flourish. Use a slow even spray.
• In mid-summer and on windy days water requirements will be higher.
• To reduce evaporation and plant stress along with and saving water, mulch plants with straw or other non-woody material from June through the summer.
• Irregular watering contributes to stressed plants that may fail to thrive.
Fertilize
Use an organic fertilizer balanced for growing vegetables to be certain your plants get adequate nutrients.
• Confined root systems demand frequent but light fertilizing during their growing period.
• Nutrients are leached from the soil with every watering and need to be replenished regularly.
• Follow the package directions. Liquid and granular products can both be found on nursery shelves.
Be creative - most containers will work!
• These tomatoes are growing directly in a bag of potting soil.
• Holes were made in the bag for excess water to drain.
• A trellis provides support for the plants.
BACK TO EDIBLES
> What Edible Gardens Need
> Best Choices for Marin
> How to Prepare
> How to Plant
> Edibles in Containers
> Planting Calendar
> Grow & Care Sheets for Vegetables, Herbs & Fruits
> Tips & Techniques
> How to Maintain
> Fruit Trees
> Top 20 Edible Garden Problems
> Cover Crops & Soil Enhancements in the Off-season
> Conserving Water
•••••••••
Visit our EDIBLE DEMO GARDEN at IVC Organic Farm & Garden
June 2025: Patio Gardening
This past month EDG volunteers created a small “patio” in the garden to demonstrate how edibles can be successfully grown in limited space. Too often gardeners are discouraged from growing edibles, believing that it takes a large back yard with room for long rows of plants. However, with the imaginative use of containers even a small deck, patio, or balcony can be converted into flourishing garden.
What are the basic requirements for growing edibles in small spaces?
Sun – Edibles need 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. Regardless of the size of the growing area, sun exposure is essential. Leafy crops such as lettuce and chard require at least 4 hours of sun per day and fruiting crops like tomatoes, melons, and beans need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. It’s important to choose the sunniest spot on a deck or patio for an edible garden area.
Water – Container plants need water more often than those grown in the ground. The need to transport water to growing plants with buckets or watering cans can diminish the pleasure in growing edibles. While drip irrigation is ideal, a hose attached to a water source will suffice.
Containers – The possibilities for garden containers are numerous and range from commercial pots, planters, troughs, and bags to the creative repurposing of old pans and buckets, wooden crates, wheelbarrows, and, of course, wine barrels. A used filing cabinet with the drawers removed can make a great container for edibles. In the Demo Garden, a straw bale provides a patio container for yellow fin squash. Regardless of the type of container, good drainage is important so it may be necessary to drill holes to allow water to flow through easily.
Containers need to be deep enough to provide sufficient space for root growth. Depth requirements vary with the type of crop. Salad greens and some herbs can grow in 6- to 10-inch-deep containers while peas, eggplant, and peppers need at least 14 to 16 inches to develop a strong root system. Tomatoes in containers require a minimum soil depth of 18 inches.
Soil – The potting mix used in containers should be porous and fast draining, yet moisture retentive. A high-quality mix that contains compost and other organic matter is best. Garden soil is too heavy, difficult to keep evenly moist, and can harbor disease. Organic fertilizers should be added in frequent but light amounts as the watering that container plants require leaches nutrients from the soil.
Additional tips for small space edible gardening
Credit: PickPik
Take advantage of vertical space – Trellises and stakes help tall and vining plants to grow upward. Use walls or fences as additional planting space by adding shelves, racks, or hanging baskets. A recycled step ladder is an inexpensive vertical gardening option.
Avoid damage to structures – Use blocks or bricks under containers to prevent rotting wooden decks or stairs. Consider the weight of the soil and container when planting on a balcony.
Protect against animals and pests – Plants in containers are susceptible to the same pests as in-ground plants. Cages or netting might be necessary to protect against birds, squirrels, and other critters.
Don’t forget the pollinators – Adding a few flowering plants to a container garden can help to attract pollinators to the edibles and increase veggie and fruit production.
Click here for more information on growing edibles in containers.
