What are some vegetables that are easy to grow in pots and tubs?

Question

I live in a cool, temperate, alpine region. The soil is too poor and rocky for a vegetable garden (I grow herbs in that bed instead).

I have a large verandah that gets full sun for most of the day and is very sheltered, so I was hoping to grow some vegetables in big tubs and planters along it.

Any suggestions from experienced gardeners? Most vegetables will grow here, unless they are tropical or subtropical.

Answer 1

You can grow virtually any veggie in a big enough pot or container. I grow a tangerine tree in a very large pot so I can move it to shelter when it gets cold. It grows very good quality, tasty tangerines. Obviously that's a fruit, not a veggie, but I use it as an example of how you can use a pot to grow a large plant that would usually be planted in the ground.

Since you live in a cool climate, you should be able to grow all sorts of salad greens - lettuce, arugula, spinach, chard, cabbage, etc. You can also grow broccoli and cauliflower. If you have a deep pot or container, you can grow root vegetables and tubers such as carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, and garlic. Peas also like cool weather - you might want to look for ones that are labelled "dwarf" or "self-supporting" - or you could put a trellis in a large container and let the standard type of pea vine grow up it. I especially like snow peas, since you can eat the pod as well as the peas.

Be sure that the pot has enough room for the root ball to develop, and keep it well-watered (but not soggy.) Use a good quality potting soil. You will have to give the plants some kind of fertilizer, too, since the roots can't seek out soil nutrients as they would if they were planted in the ground. Just experiment - if it grows well in the ground in your area, you should be able to grow it in a pot.

Answer 2

You can grow almost any veggie in a container - tomatoes, eggplant, beans, peppers, even root crops like radishes or baby carrots. Good drainage is the key. That means the right soil mixture and the right container. Planting in pots can even be an advantage. My container tomatoes always have ripe fruit before my in-ground ones. Below are a couple links for more info. Also, check out your state's Agricultural dept website.

Answer 3

you can grow potatoes in a container. start with a small amount of dirt and as the vine rises, add more. by the times its full you have a bucket full of potatoes.larger ones at the bottom.(we use 5 gal buckets but you could use a barrell or other container)
also my mom grows tomatoes in 5 gal buckets. as they groe tall you put a tripod around them for support.they get to be 4 or 5 feet tall sometimes. she does a minature variety or romas, i'm not sure which.
bananna tree also has grown in a bucket but when we tried to transplant it it died.

i live in texas and she lives in louisiana, both on the gulf coast, so very temperate here.
but since you have a sheltered area you can probally do quite a bit.go to a library and find out what temprate zone you are in to be able to pick out the hardiest plants and know how to start them off.

personal experience==bananna peels make for good fertilier for plants that are outside, and so does egg shell, orange peels and seaweed.

Answer 4

Zucchini was always a favorite of mine when I did container gardening when I lived in Washington State. Good luck!!

Answer 5

Almost any veggie could be grown in a pot. My best friends grandparents even grow vining plants (squash, melons, etc.). in big storage containers.

Answer 6

The easiest are carrots, radishes, and green onions. With a little more effort you could do tomatoes and peppers.

Answer 7

you can grow just a bout any thing in a tub carrots patatos tamatoes onions

Answer 8

green beans