growing veg without a grass garden...

[Devaya]

...is it possible? I mean, I know theoretically it's possible to grow a lot of stuff in pots, but can anyone share their experience with this and how doable it is? Recommend any books?

I'm currently house-hunting,I live in a city where houses with proper grass gardens are few and far between (and often expensive and inconveniently located), so I'm looking at maybe getting a place with a paved-over or pebbled garden so that I can live in the kind of location I want to. DS (28 months) enjoyed last spring's planting and gardening when we used to have a proper garden, but then the snails demolished most of our green leafy veg. Only the courgettes and tomatoes were very successful. Snails are a big problem in gardens where i live (i'm told by more experienced gardeners) so I'm thinking it may not even make much difference....but growing our own and having DS involved in it is very important to me. Anyone have any thoughts?

[limette]

Check out yougrowgirl.com. There is also a book. She lives in an apartment in Toronto and grows everything in pots. She did end up with a community plot last year but if you go through her posts, most of them are regarding growing in pots.

[lakeruby]

I've had a lot of success with growing in Earth Boxes (containers for planting that you water from the bottom up). I only have a few and they were given to me as gifts, but I know I've seens some tutorials on the internet on how to make your own. I've grown tomatoes, onions, shallots, garlic, peppers, herbs, flowers, eggplant and celery in these boxes and never had any problems! Super easy to set up, maintain, and the plants seem to love them.

[Devaya]

Thank you, that's really helpful. Encouraging to hear that you can grow so much.

[TheGirls]

You can grow almost anything in a pot or raised bed or a planter box of some sort. I mean, maybe not a full sized tree, but veggies, herbs, flowers, definitely. Some things need deeper boxes than others, and most will need more watering than in the ground... I've known people with full veggie gardens in containers though - tomatoes, peppers, carrots, potatoes, etc.

Watch for sun in the yard though, that will limit you more than the lack of dirt. You want as much sun and as few obstructions as possible. A good southern exposure and a patio or deck to plant on would work just fine.