Do you want to have a garden, but don't have a lot of space? Vegetable container gardening is an easy and convenient way to grow fresh vegetables. Many city dwellers are realizing that this is an option that is perfect for them! Whether you have a small yard, deck, or porch, or no more space than a windowsill or counter top, container gardening will work for you. The only requirement for growing vegetables is plenty of sunshine, and a regular supply of water. Container gardening is a great way to save money, and enjoy fresh home grown produce. Here are some ideas that may work for you.

Vegetable Container Gardening

Raised Beds

If you have some space in your yard or patio, building a raised bed can be a good way to contain your garden and to make tending it less work. These beds can be built very easily, and they allow you to use soil that is precisely what the plants need, and they are easy to water. You can simply use a hose and sprinkler, or it is also quite simple to install a drip system for watering, which will save water while cutting down on the amount of weeds that will sprout. Also, a raised bed garden is more comfortable to tend, as you can sit on the edge instead of being on your knees or bending down. Position your raised bed garden from north to south if possible, to provide maximum sunlight for your vegetables.

Porch, Deck or Patio Vegetable Container Gardening

Vegetable Container Gardening

One of the great ways to vegetable garden conveniently, is on your porch or patio in a sunny location. The containers can be nearly any size, shape, or color that you want, and can be decorative as well as providing fresh food for your family. Try tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, green onions, and fresh herbs in your containers. Mix a few flowers in with your vegetable pots to add some color, and you can have a perfect garden in a very small space! Hint: Container gardens need to be watered as often as twice a day in hot weather, as the soil can dry out quickly in hot windy conditions.

Hanging Container Gardens

Another convenient way to garden with limited space, is to suspend your garden from the ceiling of your porch or patio. There are lots of vegetables that do quite well when planted in a large pot or container, and it is fine if they are suspended at eye level. Tomatoes are an especially good option when you are thinking about using this type of container, especially some of the dwarf varieties or cherry tomatoes.

Pots with Trellises

When you think about growing vegetables like squash or cucumber, you might think that they need a lot of space to sprawl, but they will be quite happy growing "up"! If you want to grow climbing vegetables in a small amount of space, all you need to do is to put something next to the pot or in it that they can climb. As the plant sprouts and gets taller, you can weave it through or around the slats of your trellis and your plant will grow up rather than out. While this takes some time and attention, it is easily done.

Windowsills

If space is at a premium, consider your windowsill. Windowsill vegetable container gardening does not need to be limited to herbs, though it is a great place for herbs as well. Consider lettuce, radishes, and green onions, which do very well on a bright windowsill and which need a very small amount of space to grow.

Countertops

Countertop gardens are a great way to grow fresh herbs and vegetables right in your kitchen! There are several sizes of countertop gardens available, and they offer a very convenient way to grow some of your own vegetables in a very small space.

Window Box

Window boxes have been traditionally used to grow flowers, but you can easily grow vegetables if your window box is in a sunny location. Try smaller vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, green onions or herbs, add a few cheerful marigolds for color, and you have a beautiful window garden!

Make some time and think about what area you might use for a container garden. What sort of space do you have available in a sunny location with a source of water nearby? What vegetables would you like to grow and how much space do you have available? Vegetable container gardening is a fun and easy way to grow some of your own food!