As long as you have sunlight, you can grow vegetables on a patio, balcony, or a doorstep. Some vegetables and herbs can even be grown inside by a bright window, or under grow lights. Three to six hours of full sunlight is enough to grow plants to eat their leaves (collards, kale, lettuce, mustards, spinach, Swiss chard, etc.). With five to six hours of sunlight, you can grow those leafy greens and also plants to eat the roots (carrots, beets, radishes, turnips). With six or more hours of sunlight, you can grow leafy greens, root crops, and plants to eat the fruit (beans, cucumber, eggplant, melons, peppers, tomatoes). For a plant to produce fruit, it must go through its entire life cycle: growth, flowering, and fruit set. They require a long season and a minimum of six hours of full sunlight.

Container gardens are a great strategy when space is limited, and the pots can add a splash of color, interest or elegance. The larger the container, the easier it is to grow vegetables, and drainage holes are essential. Consider the material, weight, color, drainage and size when selecting a container.

Window boxes are another option. In addition to their traditional uses and placement, consider using window boxes for vertical gardening by placing them at the base of a trellis or fence and training vining vegetables (peas, beans, cucumbers) to grow up.

Vertical gardening is a great way to grow lots of food with a small footprint. For example, grow fruiting vines on your fence. Fences are ideal for growing vining vegetables such as peas, beans, cucumbers and melons. Six to 8 ft along a fence could provide enough cucumbers to eat fresh and to pickle. If growing heavy fruit, like melons, tie a piece of hose or netting to the fence to create a hammock for each fruit to support the weight.

If you are growing in the ground, have your soil tested and follow the recommendations for amending. If you are growing in a container, purchase potting soil (do not use dirt from your garden, as it can bring weeds, insects and diseases).

To learn more about vegetable gardening in small spaces, see the Extension Gardener Handbook chapters on vegetable gardening and container gardening which have guidance on watering and fertilizing.

*Sp = Spring, Su = Summer, F = Fall ↲

** L = Low tolerance, susceptible to cold injury; plant only after average last frost date. M= Medium tolerance, withstands some but not severe cold; plant 1-3 weeks before last frost. H = High tolerance, withstands short periods of sub-freezing temperatures. ↲

*** FS = Full sun; PS = Partial shade. Vegetables indicated as growing in partial shade can also be grown in full light. When plants can only get light part of the day, such as beside a building, the morning sun exposure is preferred. ***All crops can be grown in ground beds. Where suitable for container culture, the size or depth of the container is indicated. ↲

The Author would like to thank Larry Bass, Extension Horticultural Specialist, who authored an earlier version of this publication and Emmanuel Torres Quezada and Julie Sherk for review of this edition.