Frequent trips to the farmers market may have you dreaming of growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables, but without a big backyard (or even a small plot of dirt to call your own), those fantasies might seem far -removed from reality. But they don’t have to be! If you have a small balcony, deck, patio—or, heck, even a stoop—you can live the amateur farmer life.
“You can grow a lot of stuff in pots,” says Jarema Osofsky, a Brooklyn-based landscape designer and author of Moon Garden: A Guide to Creating An Evening Oasis, who has helped her urban clientele grow everything from lettuce to legumes.
With a little water, sun, and soil, you too can start a mini garden in a simple planter—but you’ll need to do some research first to pick plants that will thrive in your space.
Choosing the right plants
Before you even think about hovering your mouse over that cute little lemon tree and clicking “add to cart,” size up the space where you intend to put it. The most important question to ask: What kind of lighting are you working with? Proper lighting is crucial for growing success, so note whether your spot gets sun all day or if your plant will be lucky to get just an hour or two of daylight and choose plants that are best suited for your conditions. For instance, full sun will be friendliest for heartier items like tomatoes and rosemary, says Osofsky, while some shade is better for more delicate produce like lettuce.
It might sound obvious, but when picking your plants, you’ll also want to think about where, specifically, your mini garden will go. How exposed will your plant babies be to natural elements like wind and rain? If you live on the 22nd floor of a high-rise building, you’ll probably want to avoid placing a tall spindly plant like the olive tree on your balcony, as it will surely get beaten up by whipping winds.
And speaking of balconies: Watch the weight of your growing garden. Large pots full of planting soil can get heavy, and when you’re placing several on a rooftop or deck, you could run into structural integrity issues. (No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night to a basil plant crashing down.)
Once you have a full handle on your space constraints, it’s time to get shopping!
The best veggies, fruits, and herbs for pots
1. Tomatoes
Nothing screams summertime like a vine-ripened tomato, and the fruit (yes, fruit) is a particularly nice option to grow in a pot, says Osofsky. That said, you’ll need to be strategic about your plant’s accessories. Tomato roots like to grow deep, Osofsky notes, so a small terracotta planter isn’t going to cut it—you’ll need a tall vessel that’s also on the wider side so the tomato can really stretch out. As a vining plant, tomatoes also like to grow tall, so you’ll want a trellis to support it as it snakes towards the sun.
2. Basil
This leafy herb is not only the perfect complement to tomato (hello, caprese salads), but it’s also what’s known as a companion plant, according to Osofsky. Companion plants are often grown in the same space in a garden (or pot, for our purposes) and typically have a symbiotic relationship. In this case, basil acts as a pest deterrent for the tomato, while the tomato (and its many leaves) offers basil shade from too-harsh rays.
3. Meyer lemon tree
If you’re looking for a plant that can thrive outdoors in the summer and be brought indoors to continue growing in the winter, Osofsky recommends the Meyer lemon. (If you’ve never tasted this citrus varietal, it’s sweeter and less acidic than its conventional counterparts.) “They’re one of the easier plants to take care of,” Osofsky says. The tree can stay outside until the temperature drops below 55 degrees, then you’ll want to bring it in.
4. Olive tree
Another elegant outdoor-indoor option is the olive tree. “Olive trees are beautiful and bring a taste of the Mediterranean into your home,” says Osofsky. They are, however, a more fickle tree than the easy-to-grow Meyer lemon. Once brought inside, it’ll need to be placed near a bright window (likely south-facing) that provides at least six hours a day of direct light. Olive trees also require frequent watering and repotting, so only invest in this beaut if you have the time and energy for a high-maintenance foliage friend.
5. Rosemary
This fragrant evergreen shrub is a top pick for Osofsky for both its practicality and aesthetics. “Rosemary is very resilient and has really pretty icy blue flowers,” she says. “I usually put it in its own pot because it’s very decorative.” As an herb, rosemary is a tasty accompaniment to most meats (chicken, pork, lamb) as well as potatoes.
6. Mint
The perfect garnish for a refreshing summer cocktail, mint is another favorite of Osofsky’s, though she adds that it doesn’t always play nice with others. “Last year, I planted mint with five other types of herbs in a single planter in our co-op courtyard, and it took over the whole planter,” she says. “It’s prolific, so give it its own pot.”
7. Eggplant
A member of the nightshade family, eggplant (known as aubergine to our friends across the pond) requires similar growing accoutrements as the tomato, including a deep pot to accommodate roots and a trellis to support its bulbous purple produce. Another similarity to the tomato: Eggplant benefits from a companion plant, including oregano, dill, spinach, and hot peppers.
8. Green beans
The green bean is another companion plant to the eggplant. The legume adds extra nitrogen to the soil (which eggplants love), and depending on the variety, can also serve as a pest deterrent. “We did green beans for a client, and she was so happy with them,” Osofsky says. “They grew like a vine.”
9. Strawberries
Who wouldn’t want a hanging strawberry basket cheering up their balcony or patio? Double-check that the variety you choose is labeled either as a “day-neutral” or “ever-bearer,” as those are the ones that do best in a hanging basket. If you’re lucky, your plant should bear berries from June until late fall. (Guess who’ll be bringing strawberry shortcake to Thanksgiving dinner…)
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