Articles » 5 Easy Tips for Growing Veggies on Your Patio

Think you can’t because you’ve got a brown thumb?  Think again.  It is do-able even if you’ve never grown anything.   Container vegetable gardening is the answer, but before you pull out the dressing, there are a few things you need to do.

 

1. Assess your patio area.  Do you have a place that gets 4-5 hours of sunlight a day?  If the answer is yes, congratulations; you’ve just passed your first veggie growing hurdle.

2. Containers. Do you have room for at least one large pot?  (At least 18” in diameter and 12” tall) Clay usually works best as they won’t dry out as quickly as their plastic counterparts.    (In extremely dry climates, this is imperative or you’ll find yourself watering a couple of times a day.)

3. Veggie Selection.  If you have limited time and this is your first attempt at container gardening, start small.  Go to the seed display and select one or two veggie packets and build on that as you go.  Easiest to start from seed:  spinach and/or lettuce. There are so many varieties you’ll have a difficult time narrowing down your choices.  Harvest time is relatively quick: 30-45 days depending on the variety. 

As for tomatoes and other veggies, seedlings are a better choice for newbies.  Try to select something designed for containers or patios. Look at the labels in the plants and select one that is healthy (no wilting, yellow leaves or bugs). Smaller tomatoes, like cherry tomatoes, are usually a little easier when first starting out.  When in doubt, ask questions at the nursery or home center. 

4. Soil.  It’s best to use potting soil developed especially for containers.  Packaged soils have fertilizers built in and will give your plant a fighting chance for the first few months.  Backyard soils don’t offer the same nutrients your seedlings will need.

5. Follow plant instructions.  Just read the back of the seed packet or the marker that came with your seedlings and plant as suggested. 

And now the fun part; waiting for the seeds to emerge from the soil! 
You’ll find yourself anxiously awaiting the arrival of your new baby seeds!  Within about 10-14 days you should begin to see signs of life.  In another month, you can pull out the salad bowl and the dressing and enjoy the veggies that you grew all by yourself. 

Written by Debra Howard for Tucson Home and Garden Spot www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com/listings/garden an online resource directory for the local home & garden industry.  Debra is a former retailer, interior designer and writer who now helps small businesses get maximum exposure on the web, through her company