One of the best, and easiest, things a person can do for the environment is to grow some of their own food. Unfortunately this is not possible for many people who do not have access to a garden. If you are one of these people, and have access to a patio or balcony, the good news is that there are many plants you can grow. Growing some of your own food, also saves you money.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are probably one of the most commonly grown edible plants that people have on their balconies or patios. There are many smaller varieties that do well in pots. There are many varieties of tomatoes, including yellow ones. Your local gardening center will be able to recommend the best tomatoes for container growing. When selecting a tomato plant, pick one that is shorter, with a thick stem, rather than a tall lanky one. Tomatoes are pretty easy to grow, provide sun, regular watering, but do take care to keep their leaves dry.
Marigolds
Yes, they are edible. The flowers can be used as decorations on cakes, or in salads. Braver people might add them to sauces, but most often they are a garnish. One thing about growing them on your balcony or patio is they have a mosquito deterrent quality about them. You will need a few plants to get the full effect of this, but the fact is they look nice, are easy to grow, and have multiple uses, so are an excellent plant to grow on your limited space.
Squash
You might have heard that squashes require a lot of space, and in a way that is true, however the space is usually for the above ground portion, not the roots. You can grow squash in a pot on your deck, or balcony, easily enough. Children like watching the squashes themselves develop and grow. You will notice that squash plants have 2 different types of flowers, these are the male and female flowers. The female flowers have a small "baby" squash behind them, ready to grow if they get pollinated by a male flower.
The male flowers form first and you will have more of them than female flowers. You can remove these male flowers and pollinate the female flowers with them, or allow insects to do it for you. You can also eat the petals of the flowers.
There are many varieties of squash, I suggest starting with zucchini if you are new to this, they produce over and over throughout the summer. I recommend buying already started plants.
Lettuce
You will not have 1 pot per one plant, instead I suggest getting a long container and growing a row of lettuce, window boxes work excellent for this purpose. I have found I am rewarded best when I buy a mixed pack of lettuce seeds or mixed seeds on a strip, rather than only growing only one type of lettuce. Plus the variety of lettuce means a more interesting looking container, as well as a more diverse salad.
Peas
Peas are a natural idea if you have a trellis, or balcony railing, for them to climb on. Otherwise they will need to be provided with something appropriate. Once they have started to grow you cannot move them, so plan carefully where you want them. Select a variety that grows no more than your desired height. One advantage of peas is that they mature early so you can clean up the containers well before fall. Or perhaps can plant a row of lettuce when the peas have finished, and been cut back.
Strawberries
There are special pots for people who may wish to grow strawberries on their patio or balcony, or you can use any container, as they have rather shallow roots. Strawberries will grow bigger fruit when watered more, but most people find the bigger ones have less taste. For best results have at least 3 plants. With a little care, strawberries can be kept over winter for future years.
