Vegetable Container Gardening

We use Square Foot Gardening, usually with great results. It's rooftop, so is there enough room for a small box or two? We've got 3 boxes built and putting setting them in with our compost mix this coming weekend.

We have a pretty big area...probably 100 sq. ft. or so to work with, so we'll be doing the fake clay pots, rather than the boxes.

I did about 20 containers in addition to my boxes last year.... It was a PITA.

The constant watering and occasional summer thunder/wind storm that knocked them over was just a hassle.  On the other hand, it was a banner year for my hot peppers.  So there was some good with the bad.

And as for websites with pointers... google up an extension service of a University near you that has a good ag program.  I sort of mash the one's from Mississippi State and Louisiana State up to get my info.

Last year was our first year in our own home and my husband was all over 'Square foot gardening' to maxime the yield for small areas. We had mixed results but will probably try again this year since he's pretty sure it was a watering issue.  His brother uses it and loves it.  Built containers in his yard and has a number of veggies and fruits.  

To the OP, I recommend getting the 'Square Foot Gardening' book and see if that might work for your containers.

Our cherry tomatoes grew like weeds - it was awesome.   

Either plan on watering every day and fertilize often, or use very deep planters that hold a lot of dirt.  Remember that the plants need the nutrients in the dirt to grow healthy.  I have great black Iowa soil in my gardens and depending upon the plant, I plant them the distance shown on the tags of the plant or seed.  You can do a tomato plant in 5 gallon bucket, but make sure it is full of good dirt to the top and keep it watered and plan on good fertilizer to make a decent plant and have good results.  I did a side by side comparison of the same type plant from the same nursery in my garden.  The results were amazing.  We got way over 50% more from our normal garden than the 5 gallon bucket plant which basically received the same amount of sunlight and temperature changes.  We had to water the 5 gallon bucket plant every other day at a minimum, and could actually see the leaves drooping in less than 24 hours in some cases.

Maybe the best tip of all.  In raised boxes or containers you gotta feed, feed, feed.