What plants are best to start a small urban vegetable/fruit garden?

Question

I am new to gardening and live in an urban area. I wanted to experiment with gardening, but don't want to plant veggies/fruit in ground. Is it possible to grow peppers, zucchini, strawberries in pots in Chicago?

Answer 1

Yes, but try using a long, rectangle planter. Try cherry tomatoes. Zucchini and other types of squash tend to spread out and require lots of room. Strawberries work well in a pot. Good luck, have fun and make sure to read about the needs of each plant to be most successful.

Answer 2

If you're wanting a puppy or young adult Golden, I would definitely say this is too small of a space. However, there are a lot of older or "elderly" dogs who need homes. Few people want to adopt a dog who's older than 8 or 9, because they think the dog won't bond to them, will have health issues, or will die soon. While the dog may end up needing care sooner than later, and your time together may be shorter than if you had a puppy....the bond between you and an older dog can be very rewarding. Older dogs usually come pre-trained, pre-housebroken, and are past the need for tons & tons of exercise. They're content to accompany you on your daily walks & lay their head on your feet when you read the paper or watch TV in the evening. So definitely- if you REALLY want a Golden, look into adopting an older one. You'll be helping a dog who may not otherwise find a home, and you'll be richly rewarded for it. Otherwise, if you must have a pup or young dog, I'd consider a smaller breed; a boisterous young Golden might just drive you batty!

Answer 3

Yeah, you can pretty much grow just about anything in pots that you can in a regular garden besides things with long vines like watermellons and pumpkins. There are special pot varieties of tomatos made just for pots. There are also clay pots made specifially for strawberry plants and herbs. Just remember that you have to be a little more vigilent with your plants than you do in a regular garden. They dry out quicker and it is easier to overwater them. One cool little trick that I've seen done with potted plants is to bury a plastic water bottle with holes punched around the bottom in the pot. Water can be poured directly into the bottle neck and this allows the water to slowly seep out into bottom of the pot. Another good idea is to put foam peanuts in the bottom of the pot. This allows the excess water to drain to the bottom and it keeps the pot lighter, to move around easier. Excess water around the roots can cause the roots to rot. One thing nice about raising a garden in pots, they are a lot easier to weed. Some plastic pots even have a reservoir for water underneath the pot so you don't have to water the plant as frequently.

Answer 4

You can grow virtually anything in pots. You just have to make sure they are deep / big enough, and that you water and feed them adequately. I've had excellent success with cherry tomatoes, and lots of people grow strawberries in pots. Peppers should work, and zucchini should be OK if you give the vines a place to grow and give it LOTS of water.

Answer 5

the best way to start is to plant tomatoes as they are relatively easy to grow especially if you are using pots. Make sure your pots are big enough to hold the plant. Other things you could plant are strawberries, peppers, green beans (bush plant), hot peppers and herbs such as basil and parsley.

Have Fun

Answer 6

tomatos are pretty easy to grow in pots

Answer 7

yes strawberries you can even get in hanging baskets if your pinched for space

Answer 8

I respectfully invoke my 5th amendment rights as my answer may tend to incriminate myself

Answer 9

Depends, do support legalized drugs?