By Lottie Dalziel
Newsflash: Green thumbs aren't genetic, the secret to mastering gardening lies in practice and patience. Even without a garden, you can grow your own delicious vegetables in pots, planter boxes and old bits and pieces. Here are some of my favourites.
1. Lettuce
The more you pick the more you grow! Lettuce is a great place for people to start, they grow relatively quickly and depending on the variety add a splash of colour. You can grow them from scraps, simply cut off the bottom of your cos and leave it in water for a week or so before you see roots forming or grow from seeds. Don't be afraid to tuck in, the more leaves you pick the more growth you will get!
2. Potato
Plant potatoes in a pot with plenty of soil, they are part of the tuber family so grow under the ground. They take their time but are worth the wait.
3. Radish
Spice up your garden with a pot of radishes. Growing radishes from seeds is relatively foolproof! They grow like crazy, so make sure you have a pickling recipe on hand so none go to waste.
4. Beans
If you've got plenty of sun and can build something for these to climb they'll be happy. Birds love beans so keep a watchful eye over these.
5. Cabbage
If you've got a big pot these guys are for you! Pests love to chomp on cabbage leaves so make up a big dose of this natural bug spray.
6. Strawberries
Yes, you can grow them in pots, they also look great in hanging baskets. Generally speaking, strawberries in pots will bear smaller fruit but they still taste deliciously sweet. As soon as you see little white flowers coming through you are weeks away from fruit! Pests and critters also love strawberries, so keep an eye on them or cover with some bug netting.
7. Blueberries
A colourful and fun addition to your small space, blueberries thrive in pots. Trim them back, the bushier the better!
8. Carrots
When it comes to growing carrots make sure your pot is deep enough that they can grow nice and long! Patience is key, dust around the green stems to see how big your carrots are getting but wait until about the size of a 20 cent piece before picking. Don't plant seeds too close together otherwise they'll get tangled and strangle each other.
9. Tomato
Give them something to climb and watch them takeover! Tomatoes thrive in warm sunny spots and are relatively hardy, they don't like getting their leaves wet but give the base of the plant a good soaking every couple of days.
About the author
Lottie Dalziel is the founder and editor in chief of Banish. She has a passion for the environment and wants to help educate and inspire individuals to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Stay up to date with her latest challenges on Instagram @banish.au.