Tell me about container gardening

[AtYourCervices]

I would like to start container gardening. I'll be in zone 7B. I'll have a deck about 8'x10'. What would you suggest I grow? When would I start growing it? I'm a complete n00b when it comes to gardening.

[Mackenzie]

I have been working on planning this too

We are right near the 6a/6b line

[janasmama]

is it part sun? full sun?

You can grow just about anything in containers. for things like lettuce you would want shallower containers. herbs can use shallow containers too unless you are growing multiple plants in one container. Cabbages and broccoli can use a larger container. You can use empty containers to stack underneath small containers to raise them up creating a display of your containers so that they are more 3-dimensional.

Figuring out your container size for what you want to plant is the first step and will help you save money on soil, etc.

Are you interested in vegetables or ornamentals?

[AtYourCervices]

It will be vegetables/fruits. However I haven't seen the porch yet so I don't know whether it will be full or part sun.

[janasmama]

Well, it also doesn't have to be one or the other in regards to veggies and ornamentals. Consider getting some pots with a large opening so that you can fit several different plants of varying heights.

Kale and cabbage with pansies always looks nice. Cabbage with lavender could be pretty too. What you would plant really all depends on the amount of sun that you get there so that is good information to have. Do you know which direction the porch faces? Is it south facing? You could probably figure that out on a google map of the place....

[DesertFlower]

I'm growing some cilantro, cinnamon basil (it's a perennial basil), Mexican tarragon (also a perennial), mint, and parsley. I think I'm gonna grow some greens too