| Patio gardening is great way to grow garden | | | | handle some of the crops that produce 'fruit' and the |
| vegetables for the gardener who does not have a | | | | taller these crops get the more shade they will |
| yard for growing. Patio gardening is usually done on a | | | | provide for the gardener. |
| back doorstep, patio, balcony or a deck. Growing a | | | | Having a small back yard is only one reason for |
| container garden will eliminate the problems of poor | | | | starting a patio garden of vegetables; another is the |
| soil and soil-borne diseases as long as the soil that is | | | | convenience of placing the containers at a level |
| used is packaged potting soil. | | | | where they can be easily reached or an easy access |
| Growing certain fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, | | | | to the kitchen. Patio gardening is also easy for the |
| radishes, carrots, tomatoes, and carrots will not take | | | | handicapped gardener or for children wanting to learn |
| up a lot of space. The miniature and dwarf varieties | | | | how to grow vegetables. |
| will mature faster and produce fruit earlier than the | | | | Container vegetables need more attention than a |
| standard size varieties. There are a lot more people | | | | traditional vegetable garden. Container gardening |
| these days that are interested in patio vegetable | | | | vegetables dry out much quicker in hot weather and |
| gardening which is making plant breeders and seed | | | | their root systems are more restricted so they will |
| companies creating more crops that are specifically | | | | need to be well watered. Adding mulch to the top |
| bred for patio gardening. They are working on the | | | | layer will slow down the rate of evaporation and |
| seeds and plants to get them to produce the same | | | | keep the surface temperature cooler. The fibrous |
| quantities that the standard varieties do. | | | | roots of tomatoes can dry out and die if the soil |
| The amount of sun that your balcony or patio | | | | gets too hot so adding mulch will help. These |
| receives will determine the crops that you can grow. | | | | container plants will also need more fertilizer due to |
| The leaf crops and root crops such as lettuce and | | | | the addition of more water. The additional water that |
| carrots will be able to handle partial shade. The crops | | | | is needed for patio gardening washes the nutrients |
| that produce 'fruit' such as tomatoes and cucumbers, | | | | out of the soil so we need to fertilize more often. |
| need at least five hours a day of direct sun; they | | | | Some other vegetables that can be grown in |
| would prefer to have eight to ten hours daily. You | | | | containers are: beans, beets, peas, cabbage, broccoli, |
| can increase the light they receive by using reflective | | | | cauliflower, cucumber, and do not forget the herbs. |
| materials such as aluminum foil. | | | | The size of the containers will determine which fruits |
| The patio gardening ideas that you come up with can | | | | and vegetables can be grown. A patio garden can |
| create interesting plantscapes of unusual containers | | | | also be placed in a small yard that receives enough |
| or having a corner for root crops and another corner | | | | sunlight for survival. Wherever you decide to place |
| for leafy crops. Hanging pots are good for herbs or | | | | your container garden have an enjoyable time |
| hanging tomatoes upside down. A balcony patio | | | | working with it. |
| garden can utilize larger containers with trellises to | | | | |