By Albert Mondor, horticulturist and biologist
If you live in an apartment or condo, you probably think it's impossible to grow veggies. Well, I have good news for you: you can grow them in containers! Whether on a balcony, patio or roof, most vegetable plants can easily be grown in pots, right in the heart of the city!
The edible plants that are the most adapted to container growing are, without a doubt, those whose leaves we eat, such as Swiss chard, spinach, kale and lettuce. Also, dwarf beans and peas yield great harvests when grown in containers. Climbing bean and pea cultivars work well too, as long as they're provided with something to cling to.
What vegetable varieties to choose?
If you want to grow tomatoes in containers, choose a compact or trailing cultivar, such as ‘Lizzano’, ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Tumbling Tom’. You can also grow cucumbers, eggplants and peppers that produce small fruits, such as ‘Lunchbox’ snack peppers, for example.
Finally, as surprising as it may sound, some root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots can also be grown in containers. However, make sure to use pots at least 45 cm deep. With smaller containers, choose round or Nantes carrots.
