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The 5 Best Fruits and Vegetables to Grow in Pots

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We all dream of eating the fruits of our own labor, but with smaller living spaces on the rise, a lack of a giant backyard may have you feeling shy about trying your hand at growing your own produce. While nurturing your indoor plants may have partially scratched the itch, it is definitely possible for some fruits and vegetables to thrive in pots, too! 

One of the best parts about creating an edible garden is that you can also easily get your kids involved in growing their own food and teaching healthy eating habits. We asked Angie Thomas, Horticulture Consultant at Yates, for her top fruits and vegetables that you can grow in pots — you’ll be eating your own produce in no time.

“Whether you live in an apartment or have limited space, there is no reason you can’t get the kids into gardening,” says Thomas. “Many plants thrive in pots and containers. It’s a joy for all the family including kids who just love to harvest and eat their own food”.

Lettuce

When planting in compact spaces such as a pot or trough, try planting loose leaf lettuces, baby leaf spinach, and Asian leafy greens like tatsoi. 

Ensure these are in either full sun or part shade for optimal growth and keep the potting mix consistently moist, feeding each week with a nitrogen-rich plant food.

Tomatoes

When planting in a pot or container ensure you purchase a compact variety of tomatoes. Make sure they get at least six hours of sunshine a day, in an airy, sunny spot outdoors. Moisture stress can lead to an unhealthy tomato patch so ensure the potting mix is constantly moist. 

Feed each week with tomato liquid plant food and pick tomatoes regularly once ripe.

Strawberries

Strawberries can easily be planted in a small space or special ‘strawberry pot’, just ensure they are positioned in full sun to get at least six hours of sunshine per day. 

The potting mix should stay consistently moist, feeding each week with a plant food specially produced for berries.

Herbs

Herbs tend to be easy to grow and can thrive in small pots and containers. Hardy herbs like rosemary, oregano, chives, sage, and thyme are particularly good candidates for this. These herbs will tolerate a slightly drier environment and will appreciate a monthly feed with a liquid plant food from spring to mid-autumn. 

Pick leaves regularly to encourage fresh new growth and to help keep the plants more compact.

Swiss Chard

Place compact varieties of Swiss chard in full sun or part shade for optimal growth. Ensure the soil is consistently moist and fed each week with a fast-acting plant food to promote lots of lush leaf growth.

It’s best to pick leaves regularly to promote fresh new leaf growth.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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