How To Grow Container Vegetables On Your Patio

Imagine walking out your door onto your patio to pick fresh vegetables. Sighing, you nod. That would be wonderful, but you live in an apartment or a house in the city. Your yard is either non-existent or the size of a postage stamp.  No worries! Even you can grow vegetables. It’s simple with a container vegetable garden for your patio.

With container gardening, you don’t need a lot of room. You can configure your garden to fit your space. Containers for your vegetables can be any size or shape to fit into corners or against walls and railings nicely. With a little planning and a lot of fun, you can grow a vegetable garden.  Yes, you can walk out onto your patio to harvest fresh vegetables! 

Containers for Your Patio Garden

Some containers are better than others. Traditional terra-cotta (clay) planters are porous. The material tends to absorb water and dry out the soil. Plastic containers are an excellent choice. For an environmentally better product, use recycled plastic planters. If you don’t appreciate the look of plastic, place the plastic container in a terra-cotta pot for a better aesthetic appearance. Terra-cotta planters can be decorated and painted to match your outdoor décor.  Keep in mind that black color on a plant container will absorb sunshine. This heat can dry out the soil and damage your plants.

Natural woods such as Cedar and Cypress work well for growing vegetables and have a nice ambiance.  Western Red Cedar is a naturally rot-resistant material. An excellent choice for outdoor use as a planter. To preserve color and add a layer of protection against outdoor elements, treat with light sealer. Use a VOC-free product to reduce the number of chemicals that could come in contact with your vegetables.

Best Vegetables to Grow on Your Patio

There is a wide range of plants you can grow in container gardens such as flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Some common veggies for your garden patio include tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, beans, carrots, and celery. Add some variety with spinach, chard, or kale. Other vegetables you can grow in containers include peppers, onions, eggplant, and cabbage. 

If you have limited space on your patio, make a list of you and your family’s favorite vegetables.  Then, decide how much room you have on your patio that you can comfortably convert into your container garden. You want enough room where you can easily tend to your plants, and not get in the way of other patio furniture.

Growing Your Garden

Once you have your containers and the layout you want on your patio, you can start your garden. When setting up your planters, make sure your plants will receive approximately 6 hours of sunshine a day. To start your garden, you can use seeds, replant seedlings you started indoors, or buy mature plants and seedlings.  

When choosing a potting soil, organic is best. Organic means it’s free of chemicals that may harm your plants. Fill your containers about 2 to 3 inches from the bottom of the rim. Water the soil and let drain for about an hour. Then place seeds or plants about 2 to 3 inches apart. Sprinkle a high-quality organic fertilizer around the plants, or add it to the soil before planting. Gently water the plants or seeds. You don’t want to over-water. To protect the dirt from weeds, and drying out, cover with mulch. 

Water your plants every day and watch your vegetable container garden grow. Harvest your vegetables when they reach edible size. Not letting your veggies grow too big will help your plants stay healthy. Yes, you can have a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables on your patio!