Grow Fresh Edibles Even When Space Is Limited
To be able to pick your own, fresh, home-grown organic edibles, such as herbs, salads and vegetables, is hugely rewarding. However, if space is limited, try to think creatively.
By choosing edibles that will do well in containers, you can make the most of any small area like a patio, balcony or even a sunny windowsill.
Choosing Containers for Small Space Vegetable Gardening
You can use any sort of container successfully so long as it has drainage holes, for example, wooden crates, which should be lined with polythene, buckets, hanging baskets or wall planters.
Container plants do dry out, so keep checking if the soil is dry beneath the surface, then water well, preferably early morning, or late evening. Water-retaining granules will help keep the soil moist.
What Vegetables Can You Grow in Containers?
Plan your planting according to container size. A large pot could have dwarf runner beans or a cucumber ‘Patio Snacker’ in the centre with a variety of quick-growing salads around the edge, like rocket, spinach or lettuce and some calendula, also edible, for a splash of colour.
Try growing chillies, Pak Choi, peppers, egg plant ‘Patio Baby’, spring onions, radish and carrots, which will need a deeper container, mixed with a variety of tasty herbs.
Tomatoes grow well with basil and spring onions, or parsley grown with leafy vegetables works well.
Strawberries and Tumbling Tomatoes
Strawberries and Tumbling Tom tomatoes are great for hanging baskets or wall planters, but watch out for birds enjoying the strawberries before you!
Growing Herbs in Containers
Mint, thyme and rosemary are best grown in single containers as they can spread. They can remain in their containers more or less permanently.
Feeding and Caring for Container Vegetables
Feed your containers regularly with a liquid seaweed fertiliser every two weeks, keep checking for slugs and snails and enjoy your delicious, healthy organic harvest!
Village Gardens is an established landscaping and garden design company in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, creating beautiful outdoor spaces that balance aesthetics, practicality and environmental sustainability.
Their expertise includes water-wise landscapes, indigenous gardens, edible gardens and outdoor spaces designed to attract and support local wildlife.