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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto:\u00a0Dan Randow\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Award-winning author Niki Jabbour<\/a> may have a sprawling backyard garden (she\u2019s got 20 raised planting beds and counting), but she still touts the benefits of growing herbs and vegetables in easy-to-access containers. \u201cIf I\u2019m cooking and and I realize I need some basil or parsley, I keep some of my most-used herbs and veggies right on my back deck in containers so I can grab them really quickly,\u201d says the author of <\/span>Veggie Garden Remix<\/span><\/i><\/a>, which recently picked up a 2019 American Horticultural Society Book Award. <\/span><\/p>\n According to Jabbour, the keys to a successful container garden are ample sunlight, proper drainage and high-quality potting mix (her secret is two thirds potting mix and one third compost). \u201cMy advice is to grow what you like to eat!\u201d says Jabbour. \u201cWhat do you use the most in your kitchen? Is it basil? Cherry tomatoes? Baby cucumbers? Pretty much every vegetable can be grown in a container, so don\u2019t be shy about experimenting.\u201d<\/p>\n Realizing that every growing situation is different, we asked Jabbour to give us her edible container gardening recommendations based on nine common scenarios. Here she shares her insights and introduces us to some wonderfully weird edible plant varieties.<\/p>\n\n Photo:\u00a0Maggie Hoffman\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI would first recommend a decent sized container because if you’re killing every plant, you\u2019re probably overwatering or underwatering,\u201d says Jabbour. \u201cThen I would look to your growing conditions. Is your space sunny or shady? I\u2019d match the plant to that.\u201d For those looking to green up their black thumb, Jabbour suggests herbs like parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano and chives. \u201cThey\u2019re very container-friendly, and you\u2019ll really have a hard time killing them.\u201d As for vegetables, her go-to\u2019s for beginners are leaf lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and bush varieties of cucumbers, beans and peas. \u201cBush varieties grow very compact,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0jeffreyw\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf you kind of know what you’re doing, why not experiment?\u201d asks Jabbour. \u201cTry some global veggies and herbs, like tomatillos or lemongrass.\u201d Other exciting edibles to grow in containers are bay leaves, fennel, large fruited tomatoes, eggplants and hot peppers. \u201cIt\u2019s not hard to do, but they just need a little more fussing,\u201d says Jabbour.<\/p>\n Photo: Protopian Pickle Jar\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSeed catalogues are always full of great ideas,\u201d says Jabbour. \u201cMy favorite thing to grow is the cucamelon<\/a>, which looks like a mini watermelon, but tastes like a cucumber with a hint of lime.\u201d Cucamelons can be grown vertically, and Jabbour recommends using netting or string to assist the crop. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019ll create a living wall \u2014 maybe use it to separate you from your neighbors if you\u2019re in a condo or apartment,\u201d she says. Jabbour is also fond of growing ground cherries in containers, which she describes as \u201clittle golden, cherry-size, tomato-y fruits that have a vanilla\/pineapple sort of flavor.\u201d Sounds delish!<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0Jorge Luis Zapico\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFor kids, it’s fun to pick a theme,\u201d says Jabbour. \u201cWhat do your kids like? If they love pizza, give them a container and let them grow a pizza garden.\u201d Help your little ones narrow down their favorite pizza toppings (sadly, cheese is not an option). Jabbour points to things like cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, oregano and baby bell peppers. \u201cKids can snack on them straight from the pot or they can cut them up and put them on a pizza with the help of an adult,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0Kristine Paulus\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis is where I like to look around and see where things can grow, even if it\u2019s not a \u2018normal\u2019 spot, like a wall or a railing,\u201d says Jabbour. Get creative by bringing in trellises, netting, railing planters, wall mounted planters, or ladder-style leaning plant stands. \u201cLeaf lettuce, culinary herbs, and even strawberries are perfect for wall planters,\u201d notes Jabbour. \u201cBut do check your bylaws if you\u2019re planting on a balcony, and ask about weight restrictions, too!\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0eren {sea+prairie}\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt is really easy to grow things indoors with the help of a grow light,\u201d suggests Jabbour. \u201cYou can grow things like micro greens or shoots and sprouts, which can be quite expensive when you buy them at the grocery store.\u201d Not only are they delicious, they\u2019re (almost) instantly gratifying, taking just two to three weeks to go from seed to harvest. \u201cAll of the culinary herbs will grow well inside, too, just make sure you have lots of light,\u201d says Jabbour.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0Luis Tamayo\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI would look at your favorite recipes and see if you can grow any ingredients from them,\u201d advises Jabbour. \u201cI grow lemongrass on my deck because I love it, and my husband is Lebanese so I always grow za’atar.\u201d If you\u2019re looking to add something unexpected to your dishes, Jabbour suggests Thai basil and Vietnamese coriander. \u201cThere are lots of flavorful herbs that are just a little bit different than what you\u2019d typically grow in your garden.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0anneheathen\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of leafy greens like leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula and Asian greens do okay in really low light conditions,\u201d notes Jabbour. Herbs such as parsley, thyme and oregano are also decent options if your outdoor space lacks consistent sunlight. \u201cJust avoid anything that has to produce a fruit, like tomatoes or cucumbers,\u201d warns Jabbour.<\/p>\n1. If you tend to kill every plant in sight…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n2. If you\u2019re a seasoned container gardener…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n3. If you\u2019re looking to grow something a little outside the box…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. If you\u2019re container gardening with children…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5. If you\u2019re working with a small outdoor space…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n6. If you lack any outdoor space whatsoever…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. If you\u2019re an avid home chef…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n8. If your outdoor space is a bit of a shady situation…<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n9. If your outdoor space receives direct sunlight throughout the day…<\/b><\/h2>\n