QuickTake:

Start small. You can always add more containers next season. And the plants in there might need more water than you realize.

I have a big yard with lots of soil and plenty of space. Not everyone does. If you live in a second-story apartment or a home with a mostly paved yard — but you still want to grow some vegetables — containers could be the answer.

While there are limitations, the same rules that apply to in-ground gardens also apply to container gardens: sufficient sunshine, adequate water and good soil.

Because you will have limited space, plant selection is more important. Corn takes a lot of space and is relatively inexpensive to buy at the store. Unless you just love fresh corn (the new super-sweet varieties hold their flavor well after picking), skip that crop, and potatoes, in favor of things like basil, salad greens and maybe some sweet onions. 

One of the classic container crops is a patio tomato. They are bred to do well in a container; even a 5-gallon bucket can do. Because the soil will warm up faster, a container-grown tomato often produces fruit before my in-ground plants, but it will almost always produce less. Peppers, both sweet and hot, can also benefit from the warm soil that a container provides and are good plants to grow.

Another classic is the strawberry. Pots that have holes on the side that accommodate a dozen or more strawberry plants. The foliage cascades down the side of the container, and the berries are beautiful and tasty, a great combination.

Raspberries and blackberries won’t do well in containers, but for all gardeners — in-ground and container — I encourage experimentation. I have a friend with a 10-year-old fig in a pot. Impossible, but productive.

I mentioned 5-gallon buckets. If you paint them, they can even look cute. Bigger pots are always better. I have seen some really nice gardens (even some corn) in small stock tanks made of galvanized metal.

Some things container gardeners have to be mindful of: The first is water. A large tomato in a 5-gallon bucket may need to be watered twice a day. If you use clay pots, you’ll need even more water because some will evaporate through the sides of the pots. If you take a trip, a good timer-based watering system will be needed. Experiment with it before you go. Better yet, have a trusted friend make sure your plants in containers enjoy your vacation as much as you do.

Pots in direct sunlight can get hot, especially black plastic containers. During a hot spell, you might need to put some cloth over the pot so the soil does not get so hot that the roots cook.

With less soil to grow in, plants will deplete the soil’s nutrients and fertility faster. You will see online recommendations for water-soluble 10-10-10 or even 20-20-20 (which I did not know existed). That high concentration promises adequate — overadequate, really — nutrition, but also assures that much of what you are feeding the plant will drain out the bottom of the pot.  Too much chemical fertilizer can also harm your plants. An organic fertilizer will produce slower growth but last much longer.

Finally, start small — just as you should with an in-ground garden. You can always add more containers next season. Or if you really get the growing bug, get a community garden plot.