by Chris Factor

Created on: July 10, 2008

You can grow vegetables without a vegetable garden. How you ask? Well, do you have plants in containers? Are they in full sun? Are they grouped to together to make it interesting? Are your containers in various sizes, shapes, and color? Well, this can be accomplished with what you have!

So picture last year's patio that was decked with different size containers. They were strategically placed to form a focal point for the various groupings of chairs and tables. The plants were covered with colorful blooms in containers and placed accordingly in full sun or partial shade. So this year growing some vegetables would be fun! To prepare and maintain a vegetable garden would require a lot effort and time is a rare commodity. So forget that and be creative. Who said that containers are only for flowering plants?

What do we do? Think of what was in one of the containers. There was always one in the middle that was taller, sort of the accent piece. So forget that and plant a vegetable in its place. We will combine your vegetables with your annuals. By adjusting and replace a flowering plant with a vegetable plant, you can still have the same number of containers. So you have not added containers; but substituted a vegetable instead of a flowering plant.

Look at the big picture as you do this! Instead of an accent plant in the middle, replace it by planting a green pepper plant or an eggplant, which will add height. Below, you can surround it with petunia wave or thyme. Plant cannas in the middle for height and color and surround it with greens, such as cilantro, parsley, or arugula.

You can even create an herb garden by grouping your containers filled with basils, parsley, cilantro, mint, rosemary, etc. For my pesto, I need lots of basils and parsley so I may have a few 8 inch containers that I sow the seed directly to the soil filled containers. In some instances, these containers can be brought in before the first frost sets in. You now have a year-round herb garden.

For a tomato plant you will need a deep container because of the roots. This is a must so this maybe the exception to purchase a bigger container. You will need to stake this to prevent it from falling over. Another option would be to buy patio tomatoes that are in hanging baskets. Preventing the roots from spread will stunt the size of the tomatoes so if you would plant it on the edge of the patio in ground and do a grouping of various containers. Basils, marigolds, salvia, or other herbs could be grouped around the tomato plant to create a focal point.

I have used lemon grass as my center piece for a tall spiked plant. In partial shade, you could plant variety of lettuce with your coleus to add depth and texture to your groupings.
As you plan your container groupings, think of the height and space needed for full grown vegetable and then fill with annuals between. Bean bush in a container can be combined with miniature dahlias. Pole beans can also be climbers along with your morning glory and other climbers.

Rule of thumb for this concept is Adjust and Substitute' to enjoy the fruits of your labor!

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