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Grow a Pizza Garden: Everything You Need for Homemade Toppings

If there’s one garden we’ve had the most fun with, it’s this one.

A colored pencil-style illustration of a slice of pizza with cherry tomatoes, basil

Our pizza garden started as a bit of an experiment.

I had a glut of cherry tomatoes one summer, too much basil (if that’s even a thing), and a craving for something homemade and a little bit special.

We rolled out some dough, scattered whatever toppings we had from the garden — and that was that. Now it’s a tradition.

Let me say this upfront — you absolutely don’t need to grow everything. We still buy the dough, the cheese, sometimes even the sauce. But when the herbs, tomatoes, or peppers come from right outside your back door? The whole thing feels different. Better. Like something you’ve made from scratch in the best possible way.

And if you’ve got an outdoor pizza oven — or even just a grill with a pizza stone — well, it’s honestly magic. The smell of tomatoes, garlic, and basil wafting through the air, birds singing, a glass in hand… summer doesn’t get better.

In this post, I’ll show you how to grow your own pizza garden — whether it’s one pot of oregano or a whole raised bed of toppings. It’s a playful, delicious way to grow, and a brilliant excuse to gather the family for pizza night with a little something homegrown on top.

What You Can Grow for Pizza Toppings

You don’t have to grow everything to enjoy a pizza garden. Even just one or two homegrown ingredients can add that extra bit of joy — and they taste better too. Start small, pick your favourites, and build from there if you fancy.

Here’s a list of easy-to-grow pizza toppings that do well in pots or raised beds:

The Sauce Stars

pizza toppings

Tomatoes
Cherry, plum, or San Marzano types are perfect. They’re sweet, juicy, and brilliant for fresh sauces. I grow mine in large containers or grow bags, usually with a few bamboo canes for support.

Garlic
Pop a few cloves in the soil in autumn or early spring, and by summer you’ll have your own bulbs. Homegrown garlic is punchy — in the best way.

Basil
The king of summer herbs. Grow it in a warm, sunny spot and keep pinching out the tips to encourage bushy growth. The smell alone is worth it.

The Cheesy Companions

herb toppings

Oregano
Strong, earthy, and essential. Grows happily in a pot and doesn’t need much fussing over.

Thyme
Great for roasted veg and lovely sprinkled over pizza. It’s low-growing and drought-tolerant — my kind of plant.

Chives
Adds a mild onion flavour and a pop of green. The purple flowers are edible too, and the bees adore them.

The Veggie Toppers

extra toppings

Sweet Peppers
Compact varieties grow well in large pots. They love warmth and reward you with glossy fruits that taste like sunshine.

Rocket (Arugula)
Quick to grow, easy to pick, and perfect for adding a peppery kick just before serving.

Red Onions or Spring Onions
Easy to tuck in wherever there’s space. I often grow spring onions in little troughs — they don’t ask for much.

Spinach
You can use it young and tender, or let it grow a bit for bigger leaves. Tucks into pizza beautifully, especially with garlic and feta.

Courgette (Zucchini)
If you’ve got the space, one plant will keep you well-fed. Thin slices on pizza are delicious grilled with a bit of oil and salt.

Bonus Flavour Boosters

Chillies
If you like a bit of heat, try one plant in a pot. They’re surprisingly ornamental too.

Marjoram
A gentler cousin to oregano, with a slightly sweeter, softer flavour.

Flat-Leaf Parsley
Bright, fresh, and perfect for sprinkling over pizza once it’s out of the oven.

Top tip: “We don’t try to grow everything every year — that would be a bit much. But there’s always a pot of basil, a tomato plant somewhere sunny, and a bit of oregano on the go. That’s more than enough to turn a store-bought base into something that tastes homegrown special.”

How to Grow a Pizza Garden in Pots or Beds

The great thing about a pizza garden is how flexible it is. You don’t need a big plot or a fancy setup. A few well-placed pots, a grow bag, or a raised bed can easily hold everything you need for a flavour-packed harvest.

Here’s how I make it work in our garden:

Choose a Sunny Spot

Tomatoes, peppers, basil — they all love warmth and need at least 6–8 hours of sunlight a day to thrive. A patio, balcony, or sunny windowsill will do just fine.

Use the Right Containers

  • Tomatoes and peppers need space — go for large pots, grow bags, or even a half-barrel if you’ve got one lying around.
  • Herbs like oregano, thyme, and chives do well in smaller pots or grouped together in a wide trough.
  • Greens like rocket and spinach can be grown in shallow planters or tucked into gaps wherever there’s room.

If you’re short on space, vertical stacking pots or even hanging baskets for trailing herbs can work a treat.

Good Soil Matters

Use a quality compost or potting mix, ideally with a slow-release fertiliser. Tomatoes and peppers are hungry — once they start fruiting, a weekly liquid tomato feed will give them the boost they need.

Watering

Pots dry out faster than raised beds, especially in warm weather. Try to keep watering consistent — tomatoes, in particular, don’t like drying out and then getting soaked. I water early in the morning so everything’s fresh before the heat hits.

Group Plants by Needs

It saves time and avoids confusion.

I keep my thirsty plants (tomatoes, basil, spinach) together, and my drought-tolerant herbs (thyme, oregano, chives) in a separate spot.

Top tip: “Last year, I had a grow bag of cherry tomatoes right beside a pot of basil and oregano. Some evenings, I’d nip out with a bowl and gather enough for two mini pizzas”

Easy Pizza Garden Layout Ideas

You don’t need a grand plan to grow your own pizza toppings — just a bit of sun and a few containers or raised beds. But if you like a visual starting point (and I do), here are a few easy layout ideas to get you going.

Patio or Balcony Container Layout

Ideal if you’re short on space but still want a mix of flavour.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 large pot or grow bag for tomatoes
  • 1 medium pot for sweet peppers
  • 1 small pot for basil
  • 1 trough planter for oregano, thyme, and chives
  • A shallow tray or window box for rocket or spinach

Group them in a sunny corner, and you’ll have your own little Mediterranean kitchen garden — perfect for picking as you cook.

Raised Bed Layout (Roughly 3×3 feet)

Great if you’ve got a bit more room and want to grow a bit of everything.

Bed layout idea:

  • Back row: tomatoes and peppers (staked or caged)
  • Middle row: basil, rocket, and spinach
  • Front row: thyme, oregano, and chives

You can pop in a chilli or a couple of marigolds too — they look good, help with pests, and keep things cheerful.

Mix-and-Match “Pizza Pot”

One of my favourites — especially for kids or beginners.

In one big pot (like a half barrel):

  • Centre: cherry tomato with a support cage
  • Around the edge: basil, oregano, and chives

It looks lovely and smells even better. Just keep it well-fed and watered, and it’ll reward you with plenty of homegrown flavour.

Tips for Growing and Harvesting

Growing a pizza garden is meant to be fun — not fussy. But a few simple habits can keep everything thriving and tasting its best right through summer.

Watering

Basil in a pot

Tomatoes, basil, and peppers like consistent moisture — especially when they’re fruiting.

Try not to let them dry out too much, or you’ll get split fruit or bitter leaves. I water in the morning, when things are calm and cool. It’s a nice moment to check in with the plants too.

Feeding

Once your tomatoes and peppers start flowering, a weekly feed with tomato fertiliser keeps them happy. Herbs generally don’t need much, but if they look pale or sluggish, a little liquid seaweed feed perks them up.

Pinching and Pruning

  • Tomatoes: Pinch off the side shoots (those little growths in the ‘V’ between the stem and branches). It helps the plant put more energy into fruit.
  • Basil: Regularly pinch the tips to keep it bushy and delay flowering.
  • Oregano and thyme: Snip often to encourage fresh growth and stop them going woody.

Harvesting

Pick herbs in the morning for the best flavour. If you’re growing rocket or spinach, keep harvesting the outer leaves so the plant keeps producing.

And don’t worry if something bolts or gets ahead of you — it happens. The great thing about this kind of garden is you can always start a fresh pot, or just let it go to flower for the bees.

Top tip: “If I see basil starting to flower, I pinch the top off and use it straight away. Nothing gets wasted — even the smallest sprig ends up in pasta, salad, or a sandwich.”

A Garden That’s as Tasty as It Is Fun

You don’t need to grow everything. You don’t need perfect rows or a greenhouse or even much space. Just a few pots of herbs, maybe a tomato plant or two, and a sunny spot to call your own — that’s more than enough for a pizza garden.

The real joy comes from the little moments: picking basil with floury hands while the dough rests, seeing your first cherry tomato ripen on the vine, or snipping oregano just before serving. It’s simple, satisfying, and something you can share — whether it’s with kids, friends, or just yourself on a quiet summer evening.

So if you’re tempted, give it a go. Grow one ingredient, grow ten — whatever fits your life. Your future self, mid-bite on a slice of homemade pizza, will thank you.

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See you in the garden,
—Tara 🌿

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