Plants will grow in many different containers, given the right conditions. An advantage to using containers is that you can move them to maximize growing conditions.
Try adapting unusual containers such as milk cartons, baskets, canisters or plastic containers. Be sure to poke holes in the bottom of the container. Line the bottom with 2 to 3 inches of small gravel, then fill the container with topsoil.
Here are some things you can plant in spring and summer:
- Beets
- Beans
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Green onions
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Squash
- Tomatoes
Beets and carrots will need 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) of soil to grow in and will take about 2 months to mature.
Beans will need 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) of soil and warm weather for growth. Snap beans (or string beans) take approximately two months to mature.
Cucumbers grow as vines and need a gallon (4 liters) of soil PER PLANT to grow in. You may want to design a container to allow the vines to grow vertically, keeping the cucumbers off the soil. They take 8-10 weeks to mature.
Lettuce will also need a gallon (4 liters) of soil PER PLANT to grow in. Some varieties mature in 5 weeks, others take a week or two longer.
Green onions and spinach need 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) to grow in; green onions can mature in 4-6 weeks, while spinach takes 7-9 weeks to mature.
Radishes need only 6 inches of soil (15 cm) for growth and can mature as early as 3 to 5 weeks.
Lettuce, green onions and radishes can tolerate a light frost, so you can start a little earlier.
Tomatoes grown in containers are typically a mini variety, which needs 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) to grow. You can also plant dwarf varieties, which need a gallon (4 liters) of soil or start and transplant larger varieties. Tomatoes absolutely need warm weather, and can take 2-3 months to mature.
Eggplants, peppers, squash and standard tomatoes will grow in containers, but will not get very big. They can be started in containers and transplanted if you like. Squash blossoms are tasty in salads and as a cooked vegetable.
Try experimenting with other leafy greens like Swiss chard and kale. Swiss chard can be harvested by picking only mature leaves, letting smaller leaves grow. This does not work with spinach.
Be sure to follow planting instructions on your seed packets. Also remember that a one gallon container filled with soil is heavy, especially after you water your plants. Be sure to consider how you are going to move your containers to maximize their growing conditions.