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Keep it contained

You might be surprised at just how many vegetables can be grown in containers. In fact nearly everything grown in a vegetable garden can be grown in a container, but some varieties will do better than others. Look for those labelled ‘mini veg’, dwarf varieties or ones that don’t need wide spacing as these will do better in the confines of pots and troughs. Some varieties have been especially bred for containers: ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomatoes for instance can be grown in hanging basket, and bush or dwarf bush varieties will be more stable in pots than taller cordon tomatoes, so check packets for details of their habits.

Potatoes are excellent candidates for containers. They can be grown in any deep tub, a proprietary potato barrel, or even just in a bag of compost. Try ‘first early’ varieties such as ‘Orla’, ‘Arran Pilot’ or ‘Maris Bard' for a speedier crop that will make way for more veg as the growing season progresses.

Salad crops are perhaps the easiest to grow in pots. For a succession of baby leaves just sprinkle some mixed seed thinly over the soil in a 20-30cm pot, cover lightly with compost and keep watered. Alternatively for full size heads of lettuce, buy a tray of ‘plug plants’ and plant them up in window-box-style plastic troughs. ‘Little Gem’

You could also try carrots in a 30cm deep, straight-sided container filled with a sandy compost mix; leeks, again in a deep pot so you get a good length of blanched stem, and beetroot for sweet, tender golf-ball sized roots.

Finally, don’t forget fruit: strawberries thrive in pots as it keeps them well drained and allows their fruits to hang away from the ground; blueberries do particularly well, especially ‘half-high’ varieties like ‘Northcountry’ (remember to use ericaceous compost) and even tree fruits such as apples, pears and peaches can all be a great success – try varieties like ‘Pixie’, Concorde and ‘Duke of York’ respectively.

The only way is up

Of course when space is tight on the ground, you can always go upwards. Use walls and other sturdy vertical surfaces to attach troughs, hanging baskets and pots to grow herbs and mini veg, or plant up a special vertical-garden module containers to create an edible green wall.

You can also train runner beans and peas up trellis or wires, and of course a pergola is the perfect home for a vine.

Go ornamental

Finally, a great way of adding edibles to your garden is to mix them in with your ornamental shrubs and perennials.

Low-growing herbs look great at the front of a border or near a seating area where you can appreciate their aroma. Chives produce attractive pink pompom flower heads that mimic their bigger cousins (the ever-popular allium). Sage has soft grey-green leaves that will look great as part of a white and pink flower scheme. Thyme has a compact rounded habit that is a great gap filler, is evergreen and is covered in delicate pink flowers if left. And if you’ve got a hot, dry spot where nothing else will grow try tarragon as it thrives in poor conditions.

Chard is a tasty nutritious leaf vegetable that comes in gorgeous rainbow colours of orange, green, red and purple, and makes a really attractive addition to borders. Simply pick off leaves as needed and add to salads or served hot, wilted like spinach. Peas and runner beans can be grown up obelisks and trellis in much the same way as other climbers. Traditionally runner bean flowers are orange, but try ‘White Emergo’ if that doesn’t fit in with your scheme. Cabbages too can look attractive and are ideal for filling gaps in the border over winter when other annuals have been removed. Go for savoy types or red cabbage for most interest. And for a real statement try a globe artichoke with its grey-green deeply divided leaves and fascinating flower heads.

It’s best to start plants off in pots and transplant them out as direct-sown seeds may not establish. And don’t expect bumper crops as your veg will be competing with your other plants for moisture and nutrients, so remember to feed and water regularly.

Reading, resources and gardens to visit:

• Crops in Pots: 50 Great Container Projects Using Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs by Bob Purnell
• The Edible Balcony: Growing Fresh Produce in the Heart of the City by Alex Mitchell
• The Edible Container Garden: Fresh Food from Tiny Spaces by Carol Klein
• Creative Vegetable Gardening by Joy Larkcom