The best vegetable varieties for patios, balconies and terraces

Spring's foot is almost here and that means gardeners are getting anxious to put their green thumbs into some dirt and start planting. To prepare my fellow urban gardeners for this season of renewal, I have sifted through a number of excellent seed catalogs for the best of the patio vegetable and fruit varieties. This list is not comprehensive, but it does identify what is currently available for container loving hybrids and heirlooms.

I am well aware that some gardeners are not fans of hybrids, as these are breakthrough breeds of vegetables and fruits; but I find them fascinating because they offer new ventures for gardeners with improved performance or optimized flavor.  For those of you who do not know, it is important to note that hybrid does not mean GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms.)  On the contrary, I am not a supporter of the new GMO seeds and I refuse to support companies that offer them.  The newest hybrid variety this year that is of particular curiosity to me is a grafted TomTato called "Ketchup 'n' Fries."  Additionally, to my surprise a watermelon variety called Sugar Pot has been developed to fit into a container as well as a corn breed called On Deck. 

In regard to heirlooms, they are equally as enticing as the hybrids because of the myriad of options, especially since most supermarkets don't sell every God given heirloom out there. Heirlooms tend to be colorful, full of rich flavor, great for cooking; and because they have been around a long time, they have proven themselves to be hardy against disease as well.

Beans for bursting

Pencil Pod Golden Wax is a bush bean that has been a favorite of gardeners since 1900.  The pods are 6" long, stringless, slim like a pencil, yellow and edible.  With just 60 days to maturity, the beans are highly versatile and can be cooked, canned, or frozen.  The gardener also favors this plant because it is highly disease resistant too.  

Blueberries for biting 

Blueberries may take a couple years to produce a bountiful harvest but it's definitely worth the wait because they offer a punch of nutrition and add so much to baked recipes.  The best container types are self pollinating.  Top Hat is a dwarf variety with blueberries the size of peas.  It grows only 2' tall and 12" in diameter and works well in zones 5-7.  Patriot is a little bigger at 4' in both directions and the fruits are large, working well in zones 3-7.

Carrots for cooking 

When I think of carrots, I think of France for some reason; maybe because many of the tastiest heirloom varieties are used in French cooking.  Smaller varieties of carrots are harder to find in stores, but they exist and are quite cute.  Oxheart is a very old Chantenay heirloom type that grows in a heart shaped formation, reaching 5-6".  Paris Market is a 19th century heirloom with round reddish orange carrots that are 1-2" in diameter.  This variety is coveted by gourmet restaurants.  Tonda di Parigi is another 19th century heirloom, but from Italy.  The carrots are short and round, so it's perfect for shallow containers.

Corn for cracking

The first ever sweet corn bred for containers is exclusively sold by Burpee.  On Deck is a hybrid that grows to just 5' in height and produces bicolor corn that reaches 8" in length.  Each corn stalk produces approximately 1-2 ears. 

Cucumbers for crunching 

Cucumber plants can get pretty large, but they are a must for salads and sandwiches; so it's great that there are container varieties for sale. Patio Snacker has been tested in field trials and seems to stay within a 3' radius.  It's a vigorous producing plant with 7" long cukes.  Mini Munch cucumbers are just 4" long and can be trellised and also tolerate lower temperatures.  Spacemaster is a very compact bushy plant that works well for pickling.  Then there is the All-American Selections Winner, Salad Bush Hybrid, which grows 8" long cucumbers in just 57 days.

Eggplant for eating

Eggplant is a must for vegetarians and vegans because it makes for a great meat substitute.  I have personally grown Japanese eggplant in a container and it worked quite well as the fruit is long and thin and I got multiple yields throughout the summer season.  Patio Baby is an All American Selections Winner that also works great in a container because it only grows to be no more than 24" tall.  These eggplants yield 3" long, egg shaped fruit that are almost black in color. 

Peas for popping

Peas are super healthy, supplying our bodies with omega-3 fatty acids.  They are easy to grow in cooler weather too.  Little Snowpea Purple is a dwarf snow pea that grows 24" tall and has showy purple flowers.  Little SnapPea Crunch has self supporting vines and grows up to 32" in height.  Half Pint, also called Tom Thumb, is a rare heirloom dating back to 1850 from England.  This shelling pea only grows to be up to 8" tall so it does not need to be staked, but it still produces full sized pods.  Lastly, Burpee exclusively sells Peas in a Pot, which grows to be 10" high.

Peppers for pickling

Habanero Peach is the Seed Savers Exchange's favorite container variety.  It is unique because of its peach color; but just like regular Habanero peppers, these are very hot.  Rooster Spur peppers are 2" long peppers that grow on plants that reach 2' high.  These are rare and are traditionally used to make hot Rooster Pepper Sausage.  McMahon's Texas Bird pepper looks a lot like cranberries on a 12" bush.  These peppers are native to Texas and are medium hot. Perhaps, what's the most interesting about these seeds is how they were originally given to Bernard McMahon from Thomas Jefferson.  

If you are looking for a pepper that is more ornamental than culinary for a container then Chinese Ornamental, Candlelight or Medusa are great choices. Sweet Sunshine is also ornamental, but it's not as fiery hot as ornamental's tend to be so it's the edible ornamental that you could plant in a hanging basket. 

As far as sweet peppers go for containers, ODA is perfect for pots. This heirloom pepper is also ready in early summer.  The fruit is a cute bell shape and is a pretty plum purple at first that later turns red-brown when ripe.  

Strawberries for slicing

Strawberries look divine in containers and who doesn't want to walk out onto their veranda and pop a sweet berry into their mouth?  Moreover, strawberries that truly are fresh are hard to find in the stores so it's better to grow your own.  I think the prettiest of the container varieties for strawberries is a hybrid called Rainbow Treasure because it bears white, pink, and deep rose colored flowers.  Other container types of strawberries include the Mara Des Bois, an everbearing French variety that will only spread up to 2'; and Sweet Kiss, which is also an everbearing variety that grows on plants that reach just 12" with white blooms.  

Tomatoes for tasting

Fortunately, there are many types of tomatoes to choose for a small space, but the best rule to adhere to is to buy determinate types rather than indeterminate types.  This year I am growing a tomato called Red Robin, which is a very compact variety with potato like leaves that may work well in a window box.  The other years before, I grew a sweet tasting cherry tomato hybrid that I recommend called Sun Gold.  

Cherry and grape tomatoes are especially convenient for patios and balconies, but some get overly tall so it's better to stick with shorter varieties such as Sweetheart of the Patio, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Sweet Pea, and Lizzano.  Other hybrid tomatoes that grow well in containers include Patio Princess, Patio Paste, and Better Bush.  

The company known as Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has selected Geranium Kiss as its top choice for container growing.  The tomato is an early producer with round fruits that have pointed ends about the size of a golf ball.  The company also sells a very tiny tomato plant that only reaches a foot in height called Minibel. Territorial Seed Company and The Seed Savers Exchange sell the smallest tomato I've seen with fruit that is only 1/4" called Sweet Pea.

Watermelon for whacking 

Would you believe watermelon can now be grown in a container? Sugar Pot is the first of its kind, spreading no further than 18" of the pot that you plant it in.  Mature in about 82 days, the fruit is approximately 8-10 pounds with red flesh.  

Zucchini for zzz-delight

Patio Star was bred to fit into a container and is about half the size of a standard zucchini plant; yet, it produces full size fruit.  The plant is spineless with silver speckled leaves and is mature in just 50 days.


Now that I've done the work for you, go out there and purchase some container varieties that will look great on your patio, balcony or terrace.  Fresh food is never underrated and planting edibles can look terrific when planted with flowers too.  Happy planting!

Progressive design for small space gardeners

Urban garden design has taken off in Europe

As a balcony gardener, I like to look for aesthetically pleasing and innovative containers or mediums to grow both flowers and vegetables in that also don't take up a lot of space. Urban gardeners often don't have big yards to grow plants so it is absolutely essential that they have a means to grow food and flowers in.

I have been studying what is both chic and functional for anyone with limited space.  Consequently, I have discovered that the Europeans seem to be on the cutting edge of progressive urban garden design and I would love for the Americans to catch up with not just a trend, but a productive lifestyle.

Outside the "box" container gardening is more common than you think 

There is an unorthodox gardening trend that the "earthier type" has popularized in the last few years. For example, items that are completely unrelated to gardening are being used as plant containers with upcycling and reuse in mind, especially if that item is broken. Shoe organizers are often used to plant herbs in, colanders are used to grow strawberries, pallets work well for veggies, burlap bags can grow potatoes, tires make petunias look edgy, tin cans are cool for succulents, and pansies are cute in the tops of boots.  As you can gather, the possibilities are endless if the urban gardener has an imagination and isn't afraid of what the neighbors might think.  I have even seen items such as baby carriages, shopping carts, bath tubs, VW Beetles; and dare I mention, toilets being used as planters.

Then there is hay bale gardening, which is a great option if you aren't keen on having a lot of soil to contend with. Hay bales are fairly easy to transport and carry so these can work great; but again, this type of planting medium is not for the "traditional" city type gardener.

Sustainable wood makes for fine looking planters

If flea market gardening isn't your style, there are less unorthodox methods for small space garden design while still adhering to what's environmentally conscientious.  Reclaimed wood businesses are on the increase in the urban gardening market.  Cedar wood is particularly good for containers. I personally like http://cedarcraft.com/ products, which uses Western Red Cedar from mills that normally would toss the scrap material. Besides the benefits of recycling ceder, it also naturally resists rot, fungus, and insects too.  

There are also companies that make wood planters from sustainable tree plantation sources such as http://www.vegtrug.com/.  VegTrug is a portable raised planter with a deep V-shaped bed that allows for a range of soil depths to accommodate different plants' needs. Being that the planter is off the ground, its ergonomic design prevents the gardener from having to bend over, meanwhile safeguarding plants from pets and pests. Additionally, when weather takes a turn for the best you can move it to take advantage of a microclimate; and inversely, if the weather takes a turn for the worst, it is easily moved out of the way of frost.

Vertical gardens maximize space 

Perhaps the most modern and stylish of all urban garden design is vertical gardening.  Metropolitan areas have caught on to its appeal, while seeing its benefits.  In fact, the ParkRoyal Hotel on Pickering in Singapore won the award for best green urban design in November 2015 by the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) for its vertical gardens. The architects not only sought to replace the lost greenery in constructing the hotel, but aimed to multiply it.  To be exact, foliage cover encompasses more than 200% of the structure's total land area.

The basic concept of vertical gardening is like that of what a skyscraper does: use the upward space because ground space is limited.  Balconies, patios, and terraces tend to be small and if the the urban gardener fills up the horizontal space with pottery and hanging baskets galore, this only adds to what may look more like hoarding than lovely and functional.  

Vertical gardening can vary in its methods of supplying plants with their basic needs. Some gardeners put together living walls with soil hidden in the frame, but many designs involve either aeroponic or hydroponic design.  These methods differ from other small space gardening methods because unlike the containers that use soil to grow plants, they use water and/or air exclusively. Consequently, aeroponic and hydroponic gardening is quite clean, which can be helpful in keeping an outdoor space tidy. These methods are also more hands-off because of their automation, which works for busy urban lifestyles.

One of the pioneers in aeroponic vertical gardening is http://www.towergarden.com/.  Aeroponic design is similar to hydroponic design, but it uses a lot less water and involves oxygenation in its process.  The company sells towers made of UV stabilized, food grade plastic that work using a system that pushes a water and mineral based nutrient solution up through a central hose to the top of a tower.  The solution then drips back down over the plant roots and becomes oxygenated as it returns to the main reservoir. Their system can enable the gardener to grow up to 28 flower, vegetable or herb plants in one tower and save on water expenditure too.  Moreover, NASA research suggests that aeroponic growing takes about half the time of conventional growing methods.

Roof top gardens solve space issues for urban dwellers

Small space gardening can also include roof top gardens, and this is a great solution to obtaining space when land is sold at a premium in urban areas. Roof top gardens are basically garden beds that are set up on a roof area utilizing a protective membrane, however, it is a delicate process that should involve engineers. Some gardeners plant sedums and mosses, while others aim to grow food up high where it gets lots of sunlight.  I particularly like the design of the Mill Valley Cabins in San Francisco because their rooftop design is integrated into the surrounding environment so it doesn't look like an eyesore (http://www.designboom.com/architecture/feldman-architecture-mill-valley-cabins-in-san-francisco/).

Cityscapes should no longer be gray but green

With all these options for small space gardeners, we all can say "good-bye" to the concrete jungle.  More and more studies are finding how plants not only improve the air quality and cool temperatures of our surroundings, but our health is greatly improved when we are surrounded by nature.  So, it's time to move forward and seek a more green space and watch your plants grow along with your happiness.