These Are the Perfect Patio Plants for Small Spaces

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a total newbie hoping to develop a green thumb, you can easily set up a container garden and soon have plants thriving on a patio or in a small backyard—yes, even here in the rainy Pacific Northwest. And if another heat dome or snowmageddon does make an unwelcome appearance, then the containers can be moved inside temporarily until the weather improves.

It should go without saying, but we’re saying it anyway: In your container garden, grow only plants you enjoy, whether that means to look at, to eat or to smell. There’s little reason to grow petunias if you dislike their sweet scent, and even less reason to grow cilantro if the herb tastes like soap to you (as it does for up to one-fifth of the world’s population). Instead, choose plants you appreciate.

The following plants are excellent choices for container gardens in British Columbia.

Herbs

Fresh herbs elevate even the simplest of meals, but seeing the prices that grocery stores charge for those little plastic clamshell containers can cause sticker shock. Fortunately, basil, dill, parsley, cilantro (also known as coriander) and other annuals do well in pots, as do perennials such as rosemary, thyme, mint, chives, fennel, sage and oregano, which come back year after year.

Each herb can be grown in its own pot, or herbs that have similar requirements for sun and water can share a container. However, mint and oregano should each get their own separate pots, since they grow quickly and can spread aggressively. Mint also needs a lot of water.

Cherry Tomatoes

It can be difficult for cherry tomatoes planted in the ground to get enough warmth here on the West Coast. The solution? Growing them in a pot or a hanging planter, and perhaps starting the seeds indoors under lights. Most cherry tomatoes are indeterminate—which means they produce fruit throughout the season, instead of just within a short span of time—so salads all summer long can benefit.

Annual Flowers

In our climate, many annual flowers do well in containers. A few to try: petunias, impatiens and dahlias. Petunias and impatiens are excellent options for hanging baskets, while dahlias need to be planted in large pots.

Brassicas

Kale, brussels sprouts, radishes and cabbage all thrive in pots almost all year round in the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes referred to as cole crops, these cruciferous vegetables are part of the Brassica genus. They’re nutritional powerhouses, packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Brassicas should be planted in large containers, and they must be protected from pests such as aphids.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas

When rhododendrons and azaleas are planted in partial shade using a slightly acidic potting mix, they can thrive in pots. These vibrant plants provide lively pops of colour in any container garden.

4 Tips for a Healthy Container Garden

We spoke to Seattle-based plant pathologist Abby Beissinger, founder of Sick Plants, which helps growers understand their plant-health problems. Beissinger provided us with four helpful tips for growing a healthy container garden in our region.

1. Have good drainage

Good drainage is vitally important to helping container plants thrive in the Pacific Northwest’s rainy winters and dry, sunny summers. “Having good drainage means ensuring your pot has one or more drainage holes that allow water to flow out of your pot,” Beissinger explains. It also means using a “potting mix that was made for container gardens or making your own potting mix. These mixes are specially designed to help excess water flow out of the pot.”

2. Consider your plant’s sun requirements.

One of the main benefits of a container garden is that each pot can be shifted around so that the plant growing inside can experience its ideal sun conditions. Beissinger recommends learning the sun requirements of each plant you’re trying to grow, studying the sun conditions on your patio or in your backyard, and moving your pots around as necessary to meet each plant’s specific sun requirements.

3. Fertilize

Don’t skip fertilizing your container garden. “Water and nutrients flow from containers at a faster rate than in-ground gardens,” Beissinger points out. “Apply a slow-release or water-soluble fertilizer one time per month during the growing season to help ensure your plants continue to produce all season long.”

4. Plant in an appropriate-sized container

When it comes to a container garden, choosing the right pots for your plants is surprisingly important. “A pot that is too small can inhibit growth, and a pot too large can inadvertently cause root rot,” Beissinger says. “If planting an established shrub, choose a pot that is one to two inches larger than the rootball of the shrub. If planting annual transplants or seeds, follow the spacing guidelines on the plant label or seed packet, and choose a pot that will accommodate the number of plants you want to grow.”

There’s simply no reason to let a small patio or yard—or the endless rainy weather here—stop you from having a successful container garden.