How to Grow a Veg Garden on Your Patio (No Lawn Needed!)

You don’t need a big garden—or even a patch of grass—to grow your own vegetables. Honestly, if you’ve got a patio, a balcony, or just a sunny doorstep, that’s plenty. Some of my best cherry tomatoes were grown in an old mop bucket by the kitchen door.

A few pots, a bit of sunshine, and we were harvesting salad by midsummer. It’s easier than you think, and once you taste your first homegrown lettuce, you’ll never look back.

Let’s get started.

Choosing the Right Containers

You don’t need a designer setup to grow veg—just something that holds compost and drains well. I’ve used everything from proper terracotta pots to an old laundry basket (lined with hessian and poked for drainage). If it can hold soil and let water out, it’ll work.

A few quick pointers:

• Drainage is key — always pop a few holes in the base if they’re not already there.
• Size matters — deeper pots for root veg, shallow ones for salad and herbs.
• Materials — plastic stays moist longer, terracotta dries quicker but looks lovely.

Here’s a rough guide I use when choosing pots:

• Leafy greens (like lettuce or spinach): 6–8 inches deep
• Root veg (like carrots or beetroot): 10–12 inches
• Tomatoes or beans: 12 inches or more
• Herbs: 4–6 inches is plenty

I once grew a whole batch of rocket in an old roasting tin. So don’t overthink it—just start with what you’ve got.

Light Matters (But Don’t Panic)

On our back step, the sun swings around late morning, so I group my sun-lovers—like tomatoes and basil—there. But in the shadier corner near the fence, I’ve had great luck with lettuce, chard, and mint. In fact, the lettuce did better in the shade.

If your space is part-shade:

And if in doubt, watch where the sun falls throughout the day. I sometimes scribble a little sun map in my notebook—it helps when I’m deciding where to tuck things next season.

What to Grow (Small-Space Winners)

If you’re short on space, the trick is to grow crops that give you the most bang for your buck—quick to grow, good yield, and suited to pots.

Here are some of my patio favourites:

• Lettuce – Cut-and-come-again types like ‘Salad Bowl’ or ‘Little Gem’ keep giving all season.
• Cherry tomatoes – Perfect in grow bags or big pots. Just add a stick or cage for support.
• Radishes – Quick, crunchy, and great fun to pull.
• Carrots – Go for short, stumpy varieties like ‘Paris Market’ in deeper pots.
• Beetroot – Grows well in a tub and the leaves are edible too.
• Dwarf beans or peas – Just give them something to climb, even if it’s just an old stick.
• Herbs – Mint, thyme, parsley, chives, and basil all do well in small containers.

Last spring, I tucked six little lettuce plants into an old drawer I found in the shed. I lined it with some weed barrier I had left over and it worked a treat.

Watering Without the Fuss

Pots dry out quicker than garden beds, especially in warm weather, so a little consistency goes a long way. But don’t let that put you off—once you get into a rhythm, it becomes second nature.

Here’s what works for me:

• I check the pots every morning while the kettle’s on. If the top inch of compost feels dry, I give them a drink.
• Early morning or late evening is best—less water lost to evaporation.
• Bigger pots hold moisture better, so if you’re forgetful (like me some days), go for larger containers when you can.

To help keep the compost moist:

• Mulch with grass clippings, straw, or even shredded paper.
• Group your pots together so they shade each other a bit—less evaporation that way.
• Pop a saucer or tray underneath to catch excess and slow the dry-out.

Some days I forget and the basil sulks, but it perks right up after a good soak. Plants are surprisingly forgiving when you’re doing your best.

Feeding Your Plants (Keep It Simple)

Here’s how I do it:

• Mix in a few slow-release pellets when planting. They feed gradually over time.
• Once the plants are growing well, give them a weekly boost with liquid seaweed or tomato feed.
• If you’re feeling thrifty, try homemade weed tea (I make mine with nettles). It stinks, but the plants love it.

Tips:
I pop a reminder on the fridge for my Sunday feed routine—otherwise, I completely forget. Think of it like a little top-up, not a full meal. Just enough to keep everything ticking along nicely.

And don’t overdo it. A hungry tomato will fruit better than one that’s been overfed and gone all leafy. Learned that one the hard way!

Max Your Space with Clever Layout

When space is tight, think up as well as out. I tried vertical growing on our patio—I can fit twice as much without cluttering the floor.

Simple ways to grow more in less space:

• Stacked pots or tiered plant stands
• Hanging baskets for trailing cherry tomatoes or strawberries
• Wall shelves or crate stacks for herbs and salad greens
• Trellis or netting for climbing beans and peas

I’ve got a tall wooden ladder shelf by the shed—cost me nothing but a coat of paint—and it now holds all my herbs and leafy bits. The top gets the sun, the bottom stays nice and cool. It’s like a little green tower.

Tips:
Group your plants by watering needs—thirsty ones together, drought-tolerant ones apart. Saves time and avoids overwatering the wrong ones.

You’d be amazed how much food you can grow in just a few square feet, once you start layering things properly.

Watch Out for Common Patio Problems

Even on a tidy little patio, the usual suspects still turn up—slugs, wind, and the odd spell of neglect (guilty). The trick is to spot problems early and not let them put you off.

Here’s what to keep an eye on:

• Slugs and snails – Yes, they can climb! Use copper tape, crushed eggshells, or try a shallow beer trap.
• Wind damage – Patios can be breezy. Tuck taller plants into corners or pop up a little windbreak. Even a bamboo screen or an old chair helps.
• Overcrowding – It’s tempting to squeeze in just one more lettuce, but give each plant space to grow and breathe.
• Under or overwatering – Easy mistake. I’ve drowned basil and dried out spinach more times than I care to admit.

Tip:
I use an old window frame as a mini windbreak for the tomato pots—it looks a bit rustic, but does the job perfectly. And if the slugs are bad, I just raise the pots up on bricks. Out of reach.

You don’t need to be perfect—I just pay attention. Plants are good at telling you when something’s not right.

Tara’s Patio Veg Growing Secrets

• Start small – even three pots is a great start.
• Use what you have – buckets, crates, old tins… if it holds soil and drains, it’ll work.
• Pick easy wins – like lettuce, herbs, and cherry tomatoes.
• Water daily, feed weekly – but don’t stress if you miss a day.
• Go vertical – shelves, hangers, and anything stackable are your best friends.
• Notice what’s working – and don’t be afraid to change things up next season.

Growing your own food—right outside the back door—feels brilliant. And when you nip out in your slippers to pick a handful of mint for your tea or a tomato for your sandwich, you’ll see exactly why it’s worth it.

Want More Down-to-Earth Garden Tips?

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See you in the garden,
—Tara 🌿