Tried-and-true (and 10 new) vegetables for container gardening

So as I wrote in my previous post, on new programs and lines for small-space vegetable gardening, I’m planning on growing veggies in containers this summer out on my deck.

In the last post, I wrote about all the new marketing programs and product lines I found revolving around this trend. Today, I’m sharing the information I dug up on tried-and-true vegetables for containers, and some new patio vegetable"varieties for 2010.

What veggies - and specific varieties - work best?

First of all, say AgriLife Extension agents working out of Texas A& M’s Department of Horticultural Services, veggies ideally suited for containers include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash, radishes and parsley. Pole beans and cucumbers also do well in this type of garden, but require considerably more space because of their vining growth habit.

“Variety selection is of extreme importance,” said the agents, providing this list of varieties for containers:

Tomatoes. Patio Pixie. Tiny Tim, Saladette, Toy Boy, Spring Giant, Tumbling Tom and Small Fry.

Peppers. Yolo Wonder, Keystone Resistant Giant, Canape, (hot) red cherry and jalapeno.

Eggplant. Florida Market, Black Beauty and Long Tom.

Squash. Dixie, Gold Neck, Early Prolific Straightneck, (green) Zucco, Diplomat and Senator.

Leaf lettuce. Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, dark green Boston, Ruby and Bibb

Green onion. Beltsville bunching, Crysal Wax, Evergreen bunching.

Green beans. Topcrop, Greencrop, Contender, (pole) Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder.

Radishes. Cherry Belle, Scarlet Globe, (white) Icicle.

Parsley. Evergreen, Moss Curled.

Cucumbers. Burpless, Liberty, Early Pik, Crispy, Salty.

By the way, I found great info on growing strawberries in containers from DoItYourself.com.  They say any variety will grow well in containers, although the Brighton variety of everbearing strawberries does well in hanging baskets. Alpine strawberries - another everbearer - can even be grown inside!

What’s new for 2010?

Patio & Small Space Garden (pictured). $22.95 through Burpee.

Cherry tomato ‘Sweetheart of the Patio.’ $4.95 per seed packet or $12.50 for three plants through Burpee.

Spinach ‘Space Hybrid.’ $1.95 through Jung Seed.

Hot Pepper Pinata Mix. $4.75 per seed packet through Burpee.

Dwarf Bean ‘Concador.’ $2.95 per seed packet through Thompson and Morgan.

Tomato ‘Venus.’ $3.95 per seed packet through Thompson and Morgan.

Romaine lettuce ‘Sweetie Baby.’ $2.79 per seed packet through Renee’s Garden.

Broad Bean ‘Crimson Flowered.’ $2.95 per seed packet through Thompson and Morgan.

Eggplant ‘Calliope’ F1 hybrid. $2.95 per seed packet through Thompson and Morgan.

Green onion ‘Guardsman.’ $2.95 per seed packet through Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

For more information on growing veggies in containers, check out these garden blogs: EasyGardenTips, NoDigGarden and Kerry’s Container Gardening Blog at About.com.

Or, visit the Comments section here and let me know what container veggie varieties have worked best for you!