I just moved into an apartment with a tiny little patio in Zone 9. It's very shady, but shows a lot of promise!
Does anyone have any suggestions to help me with: companion planting and/or good varieties for container gardening in such conditions? I'd like to grow cut-again lettuce, tomatoes, shell peas/soybeans up a fence, herbs (basil, thyme, garlic chives, sage, oregano, etc.) and strawberries.
What varieties taste best? I know to grow borage with strawberries...but what kind of strawberries? Which herbs grow best together?
I'm having a similar problem in zone 5. For compainion planting the Irish eyes and Garden City seed catalog lists them with the plants as well as great growing suggestion so you'll know before ordering. Let me know how things go for you. I've never tried pure container gardening before and I'm worried I'll end up with a lot of dead plants.
I guess the key word here is "shady". My herb beds are in partial shade and that's stunted the growth of most of them. I still grow parsley well, sage and basil, though basil grows MUCH better in the main, sunny garden. I'd say the beans and peas are pretty much a waste of time, and strawberries really require a good deal of sun, too. Tomatoes have a really long root, so they'll take a serious pot, but a cherry tomato will grow anywhere; you just won't get much in the way of a juicy crop. . I've seen lettuce mixes at the store. That will give you a really good test plot. Next year you can concentrate on what does well.
