Apartment and condominium dwellers can’t very well dig up the grounds where they live, but they may still have an interest in growing their own fresh vegetables, savory herbs, and fragrant flowers. Many plants can be grown in containers that can be placed on sunny balconies or patios.

Like any garden, a container garden should contain plants that are either useful as food or as a means of beautifying your space. The very pot you plant in can add to the look of your container garden. Many planters are available in different shapes and sizes that will suit the taste of the grower. Containers with a 15-120 quart capacity work well in a container garden. Smaller containers will need to be watered several times a day in the heat of summer. The larger the plant, the larger the pot, so use common sense when choosing the right containers.

I find a soilless seed starting mixture is best for container gardening. You know it will be free of weeds and disease. Amending it with compost and organic fertilizer will be all you need to do to keep plants happy and healthy. I never recommend chemical fertilizers on plants that will produce food that will be eaten. Soilless seed starting mixtures are available at local garden stores. Use an organic fertilizer every third time you water and adjust accordingly.

Plants like tomatoes and peppers that are typically staked in the garden should also be staked or caged in a container. Stakes do not have to be unattractive pieces of wood anymore. Garden stores and catalogs have stakes that look good and still perform well.

Potatoes, carrots, radishes and other root vegetables can be grown in containers as well. You might be surprised at how lovely these plants can be even though the edible part is under the soil. Potato flowers are gorgeous in shades of white, pink and purple. The delicate foliage of carrots is stunning to look at while you wait for the root to develop. Root crops require deep pots to thrive.

Herbs are so easy to grow. Most require little care and can even tolerate a bit of abuse and neglect. Herbs are great to use in cooking, teas, potpourris and even beauty regimens. Start herbs from seed so you can try varieties that might not be readily available locally.

Basil comes in varieties that range from yellow to green to purple and all have a unique taste that is excellent in Mediterranean style cooking. Thyme is a low growing herb that comes in lemon, cinnamon and peppery varieties. Plant several herbs in one large pot and place it outside the kitchen door for easy access when cooking. You should always plant taller herbs in the center of the pot and the lower growing herbs near the edges.

Flowers look great, smell great and attract pollinators to your container garden. Flowers can be planted alone or right along with vegetables and herbs. Consider a variety of colors or perhaps pick a theme of all pinks, all reds or all purple.

If you have pillars or railings you can train plants to grow up just as you would a trellis in the garden. Beans, peas, cucumbers and zucchini are all easily grown in containers without taking over your limited floor space.

A container garden is only restricted by how much space you have and how much imagination you have. If you travel a lot, a container garden will have to be watered by a friend or family member while you are away. Unlike a traditional garden in the ground, a container garden dries out more quickly. Self watering pots are available and I recommend them.

To read more Avant Gardener, visit Kyle at www.TuscBargainHunter.com.