Pots and containers are ideal for growing highly nutritious and flavourful herbs and salads. And growing food on your doorstep makes it so easy to eat what you grow.
I’ve had a “gentleman’s garden” (in the spirit of gentleman farmer) on my patio for 5+ years.
Discovered last couple of years (with almost no measurable harvest) that the pollinators are missing. What I took for granted (occasionally seeing a few bees) the first few years were no longer around. I added bee-attractor plants this year and can report seeing a few bees, and have harvested several handfuls of cherry tomatoes.
Hopefully we’re headed back on track, but I have no way to manifest the pollinators (condo, so I can’t set up a hive) and the new-development construction in my area is overwhelming. If I were a bee I wouldn’t set up shop here. I’m hopefully planting more (quantity & variety) but if push comes to shove we’ll starve.
Such a positive post and excellent photos too! Thank you - brilliant to see Vertical Veg on here! I grew Microgreens last year after doing your Microgreen course and the course was such a good thing to do. Great resource which I'll carry on using. Most of the seeds I tried worked pretty well but not everything and somehow that was fine too because I learnt from mistakes. And I enjoyed eating and sharing the food. It felt like having home grown classy salad packs. I'll have a go with more herbs and different salad leaves this year. And lovely to read everyone's comments too - there's a lot of growing energy around!
So happy you’ve enjoyed growing and sharing your microgreens Anne. In this day and age, a bag of delicious home grown salad makes such a lovely gift. Trying more herbs this year is a great idea - it can take a while to work out how to incorporate them into your daily meals but it is well worth it!
Feeling motivated for this year now, thanks! We’ve managed well with tomatoes and green beans in the past but I’ve found herbs a little more tricky (in Yorkshire, so similar climate to you) - hoping for some more expert tips!
Basil likes warmth and is tricky outside up here most of the year. Parsley is temperamental- it either grows like a weed or flounders. Coriander is also tricky but ok with a bit of practice (sow regularly). Rosemary is normally ok - so definitely try that again!
Thanks so much for your post, Mark! First, you inspire me to finally make my own first post here. Two, I am an avid gardener and especially enjoyed your content. Very nicely done.
Wonderful Nata! Looking forward to sharing more how it goes with you through the year (just need to learn a bit more about to use Substack to get the most out of it for everyone!).
Music to my heart, Lori! Containers are a great place to learn to grow - not least as you can start with as few or as many containers as you like. Any ideas yet on what you most want to grow first?
As a fellow keen container gardener, I could not agree more.
I now use lots more herbs, cook predominantly with what is in season, and have a freezer full of beans, tomatoes and blueberries for use throughout the winter. I also grow salad leaves and microgreens under grow lights on various bookshelves. It is amazing how much produce you can grow with a bit of practice and ingenuity!
This is wonderful Angie, and so glad to find another keen container gardener. Isn't it wonderful what we can grow in our small spaces? Our meals at home have been completely transformed - and it makes cooking so much more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
I was clearing my tiny veg plot yesterday and thinking ‘I don’t have enough room’ - now I feel inspired to get more troughs and containers and make better use of the space! Thank you.
You are doing good work and great service. Having just moved into a 235 foot tiny home with a very tiny deck (after Hurricane Helene hit Asheville NC) I look forward to following your words🌱🌿💚
Excellent article, we should all grow more herbs! I definitely notice eating more fresh fruit and veg when I grow them as I don't want them wasted after the effort Ive put in. I really like the blue shelves set up you have on one of the pictures, so good for saving space on the ground. Is that something you built yourself?
This is very true - when we grow something we really want to make the most of it and this helps take our cooking in new directions. I did make the blue shelves - one set from old scaffold boards, one from wood I found in a skip. A few places sell them but most models I've seen are a bit flimsy. Gap in the market for someone! The benefit of making your own is that you can make them the right size to fit your containers and a space on your balcony or patio. The ones in the photo are made of all wood, but last year I replaced them (they were over ten years old and starting to rot) with breeze blocks. You can see a video of that here: https://youtu.be/SUluHLhQgBU
Thank you for the link. Yes I thought they looked a lot sturdier than something you would usually find in the shops. Scaffold boards are great, I use them for building everything inside and out (or it will be fairer to say my OH does the building). I will think on it, I could definitely do with some shelves like that in the garden.
Oh thanks Kate..yes, herbs are the business. Random thought: an odd thing about living in a capitalist society is that I’ve seen hundreds of ads about why I should buy beef burgers or perfume, but never one about why we should all grow herbs. Strange world.
Southeast Florida USA here
I’ve had a “gentleman’s garden” (in the spirit of gentleman farmer) on my patio for 5+ years.
Discovered last couple of years (with almost no measurable harvest) that the pollinators are missing. What I took for granted (occasionally seeing a few bees) the first few years were no longer around. I added bee-attractor plants this year and can report seeing a few bees, and have harvested several handfuls of cherry tomatoes.
Hopefully we’re headed back on track, but I have no way to manifest the pollinators (condo, so I can’t set up a hive) and the new-development construction in my area is overwhelming. If I were a bee I wouldn’t set up shop here. I’m hopefully planting more (quantity & variety) but if push comes to shove we’ll starve.
Such a positive post and excellent photos too! Thank you - brilliant to see Vertical Veg on here! I grew Microgreens last year after doing your Microgreen course and the course was such a good thing to do. Great resource which I'll carry on using. Most of the seeds I tried worked pretty well but not everything and somehow that was fine too because I learnt from mistakes. And I enjoyed eating and sharing the food. It felt like having home grown classy salad packs. I'll have a go with more herbs and different salad leaves this year. And lovely to read everyone's comments too - there's a lot of growing energy around!
So happy you’ve enjoyed growing and sharing your microgreens Anne. In this day and age, a bag of delicious home grown salad makes such a lovely gift. Trying more herbs this year is a great idea - it can take a while to work out how to incorporate them into your daily meals but it is well worth it!
Feeling motivated for this year now, thanks! We’ve managed well with tomatoes and green beans in the past but I’ve found herbs a little more tricky (in Yorkshire, so similar climate to you) - hoping for some more expert tips!
I had success with sage, mint & thyme, but rosemary, parsley, coriander & basil were a fail!
Basil likes warmth and is tricky outside up here most of the year. Parsley is temperamental- it either grows like a weed or flounders. Coriander is also tricky but ok with a bit of practice (sow regularly). Rosemary is normally ok - so definitely try that again!
Thanks! I think basil might be a watering issue… I sway between not enough and too much and don’t seem to get it right!
Hello Rebecca, what herbs did you try?
Thanks so much for your post, Mark! First, you inspire me to finally make my own first post here. Two, I am an avid gardener and especially enjoyed your content. Very nicely done.
Such a great article many thanks for sharing love the photos too incredibly inspiring.
I’m definitely going to attempt growing leafy 🥬 greens and herbs this year
Wonderful Nata! Looking forward to sharing more how it goes with you through the year (just need to learn a bit more about to use Substack to get the most out of it for everyone!).
It’s a good way to begin the relationship
I’m upping my veg and herb growing this year. You’ve given me lots of ideas.
Excellent Lynn - good luck with your plans. Looking forward to sharing and exchanging more ideas on here as the season gets going!
That is completely my plan for this year. To start with containers!
Music to my heart, Lori! Containers are a great place to learn to grow - not least as you can start with as few or as many containers as you like. Any ideas yet on what you most want to grow first?
Herbs, lettuce and salsa ingredients.
Great choices!
As a fellow keen container gardener, I could not agree more.
I now use lots more herbs, cook predominantly with what is in season, and have a freezer full of beans, tomatoes and blueberries for use throughout the winter. I also grow salad leaves and microgreens under grow lights on various bookshelves. It is amazing how much produce you can grow with a bit of practice and ingenuity!
This is wonderful Angie, and so glad to find another keen container gardener. Isn't it wonderful what we can grow in our small spaces? Our meals at home have been completely transformed - and it makes cooking so much more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks - yes, and I have learned a lot more cooking techniques since I have been growing :-)
I was clearing my tiny veg plot yesterday and thinking ‘I don’t have enough room’ - now I feel inspired to get more troughs and containers and make better use of the space! Thank you.
Oh. that's excellent Clare. One of the unwritten rules of container gardening is there is (almost) always space to squeeze in another pot!
Thank you 🌱🌿💚
Thank YOU for stopping by Katharine and reading my first ever Substack post. Exciting to be here.
You are doing good work and great service. Having just moved into a 235 foot tiny home with a very tiny deck (after Hurricane Helene hit Asheville NC) I look forward to following your words🌱🌿💚
(You can find my work at Matters of Kinship.)
Excellent article, we should all grow more herbs! I definitely notice eating more fresh fruit and veg when I grow them as I don't want them wasted after the effort Ive put in. I really like the blue shelves set up you have on one of the pictures, so good for saving space on the ground. Is that something you built yourself?
This is very true - when we grow something we really want to make the most of it and this helps take our cooking in new directions. I did make the blue shelves - one set from old scaffold boards, one from wood I found in a skip. A few places sell them but most models I've seen are a bit flimsy. Gap in the market for someone! The benefit of making your own is that you can make them the right size to fit your containers and a space on your balcony or patio. The ones in the photo are made of all wood, but last year I replaced them (they were over ten years old and starting to rot) with breeze blocks. You can see a video of that here: https://youtu.be/SUluHLhQgBU
Thank you for the link. Yes I thought they looked a lot sturdier than something you would usually find in the shops. Scaffold boards are great, I use them for building everything inside and out (or it will be fairer to say my OH does the building). I will think on it, I could definitely do with some shelves like that in the garden.
A man after my own heart!! This is exactly what we all need to hear. Brilliant.
Looks like this is a good place to meet kindred spirits! Nice to meet you in New Zealand Cecelia
So happy to see you here, Mark!
Oh thank you Meg. Look forward to following you here, too!
Hello Mark. Glad to have another grower here on Substack - welcome!
Hi Ang, lovely to hear from you, thanks for following. I learnt to grow at hawkswood nursery which I guess is probably quite near your allotment.
Enjoyed this Mark. I need to up my herb game!
Oh thanks Kate..yes, herbs are the business. Random thought: an odd thing about living in a capitalist society is that I’ve seen hundreds of ads about why I should buy beef burgers or perfume, but never one about why we should all grow herbs. Strange world.