Free guides
Grow food in pots, one question at a time.
Short, practical guides for beginners with a balcony, patio or windowsill. Every fact comes from U.S. university Extension services, and the sources are listed under each guide.
Getting started · 4 minHow many hours of sun do container vegetables need?Fruit, roots, leaves and herbs need different amounts of direct sun. Here is how much, and a one-day check to find out what your balcony gets.
Timing · 4 minWhen to plant: frost dates, not hardiness zonesYour USDA zone tells you which perennials survive winter. Your planting dates come from two frost dates. Here is what they mean and how to find yours.
Containers · 3 minPotting mix vs. garden soil: what to put in your potsWhy soil from the ground fails in a container, what to look for on the bag, and what to do with the mix next year.
Care · 4 minHow to water container plants (and tell too much from too little)More container plants die from watering mistakes than anything else. A ten-second test, how to water properly, and what wilting really means.
Plants · 4 minGrowing cherry tomatoes in a pot: an honest timelinePot size, sun, the right variety and how long it really takes, from university Extension figures. Worth the wait, but not a 60-day crop.
Indoors · 3 minGrowing herbs on a windowsill: light, warmth and the right potWhich kitchen herbs do well inside, which window to use, when a grow light helps, and how to bring outdoor herbs in for winter.