If you live in a large city, you might not have space on your property for a garden. Even if you live in an apartment or condo, you can still grow your own food. Start a container garden on your balcony, deck, or patio to grow vegetables and herbs this summer.

Evaluate the Sunlight Before You Start a Container Garden

The first step to starting a container garden is to evaluate which spaces on your property get the most sunlight. Summer vegetables like tomatoes, pepper, and squash like full sun. If you only get partial sunlight, choose plants like greens, beets, and broccoli. Make note of how much sun the area where you want to put your container garden gets before you buy plant starts.

Make a List

Don’t go shopping at a greenhouse without making a list first. At home, plan out how many containers you will have and how many plants they can fit. Decide how many full sun plants you will have and how many will be in partial sun. Make a list before shopping for plant starts so that you buy the amount and types that will be appropriate for your space.

Save the Plant Labels

When you transfer the plant starts into larger containers, save the labels that came with them. If they came with signs sticking into the soil, move the signs to the containers. If not, label them with popsicle sticks so that you can remember what type of plants you have and how to take care of them.

Start a Container Garden With Companion Plants

If you have large containers, you can grow multiple plants together. Learn about which types of plants grow well together, which are called companion plants. For instance, tomatoes and basil are companion plants. Research ideal combinations for vegetables and herbs and plan your container garden accordingly.

Give Containers Plenty of Drainage

Having adequate drainage is important when you start a container garden. Be sure that the containers have holes in the bottom of them so that water can drain out. If water sits in the containers, the plants will not flourish. Read about how much water different types of plants require, and follow the instructions.

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