threnodyjones has inspired me with lettuce.

I've wanted to grow potted herbs and vegetables for years now.

Yes, I'm in Seattle. Yes, I'm in a tiny apartment. But we get a tremendous amount of sun (granted, this apartment gets very hot and dry). Now I'm reading about rising food prices and thinking, "Well, that's mostly because we're buying our food from Timbuktu. If people would just grow a little of their own veggies and whatnot, this problem would be considerably improved."

Well, why not? I used to grow roses.

I'm thinking... a tomato plant (

threnodyjones says they're easy to grow in those 16" pots and I eat a lot of tomatoes), some basil, and some cilantro. Maybe some peppers. Buying organic seeds seems the way to go, especially since I don't have to worry about the fauna of the garden plot and those fancy hybrids often don't produce viable seeds. Nuh. Not good for the environment.

What does it take to grow these things? How does one grow these things in pots? Hmm. How about some all-purpose fertilizer?

Time needed

10 minutes for each container

What you need

A selection of pots 20-45cm (8-17cm, I think this is supposed to inches) diameter
Multi-purpose compost
Water-retaining crystals
Vegetable, fruit or herb plants
Watering can
Label and pencil

Here's a bit on growing basil. Planetnatural.com has the goods on basil.

Growing Basil

Native to Mediterranean climates, herb gardeners are growing basil (Ocimum basilicum)for its spicy flavor and wonderful aroma. Excellent fresh or dried, the classic large-leaved variety is a favorite in Asian and Italian cuisine. Fragrant plants grow 18-24 inches and are very productive. Annual.

Site Preparation:
Basil grows well in gardens or containers. It prefers full sun, regular water and fast draining, rich soil. Work in plenty of aged animal manure or compost prior to planting.

How to Plant:
Sow seeds outdoors when the soil is warm and the temperature does not drop below 65 degrees F. Can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Space plants 4-6inches apart in all directions. Plant seeds just beneath the surface. Seeds germinate in 5-30 days, so keep moist. An application of organic fertilizer once or twice during the growing season will help promote sturdy growth. At the end of summer, allow the plants to go to seed to attract beneficial insects and bees.

Note: You must keep the flower spikes pinched back to promote bushiness and to prevent plants from becoming woody.

Tip: Make successive sowings for continuous summer supplies and freeze any excess for later use in winter.

Harvesting:
Basil is ready to pick when it gets to be about 6 inches tall. Cut in the morning after the dew has dried just above a leaf node. Do not wash the leaves or aromatic oils will be lost. Basil is best used fresh but can be stored frozen in plastic bags. Dry basil by hanging it upside down in a dark, dry, well ventilated room and store in air-tight containers.

Tip: Harvest frequently to encourage plants to produce new growth (and more basil).

Insects and Disease:
Some common insect pests found on basil are aphids, slugs and Japanese beetle. Watch closely and use natural controls when necessary.

To prevent many fungal diseases, choose a site with good air circulation and apply organic fungicides (copper, sulfur) early, when symptoms first appear.

Seed Saving Instructions:
Basil willcross-pollinate with other varieties of basil and must be separated by 150 feet while flowering. Plants form seed capsules containing four seeds. Allow seed capsules to dry, then harvest and separate by hand.

Here's what I've found on growing cilantro. Gourmet sleuth tells about growing cilantro. The site where I found the link says, "Lots of water and sun." Good. I can do that.

Grow Your Own Cilantro
Cilantro, is a fast growing annual reaching 12 - 24 inches tall. The entire plant including the leaves, the seeds and roots are all edible. Coriander can easily be grown in pots. Simply pick or trim fresh leaves of whole stalks as required. The leaves get a stronger and sometimes disagreeable flavor as they get older and larger. If you want to harvest seed for your next crop, do so after the leaves and flowers turn brown.

How to Grow
Look for seed varieties are slower growing and thus take longer to bolt. (Bolting is when the plant prematurely produces flower stalks and begins to produce flowers and seed). Flower stalks are thickened stems that eventually produce flowers and seeds. Grow in full sun. The soil should be kept moist but well drained. But all things considering the plant is not fussy about soil conditions. Plant seeds in mid to late Spring. Plant in 2 -3 week intervals for harvest all season long.

TOP EIGHT REASONS FOR GROWING HERBS
1.) Herbs are "designed" to repel pests making them "low-maintenance."
2.) Fresh herbs that you've grown are more flavorful than the dried herbs you can buy at the supermarket.
3.) Most are easy to grow and require organic fertilizers in relatively small amounts.
4.) Herbs add color and fragrance to your garden.
5.) They require little space and can be grown indoors, in fact, some herbs prefer the indoors.
6.) They can improve your health.
7.) They taste good and jazz up your meals.
8.) Their fragrance can make you smell good.

And here's the word on Tomatoes. If you're interested in a similar experiment, come and explore. This is all very basic information.

Grow Your Own Tomatoes
You can get tomatoes in a huge range of colours and shapes.

In a greenhouse you want to grow cordon types that are trained into an upright plant, rather than bush types that sprawl on the ground. (Note:

roaringmice recommends cherry tomatoes.)

Sow individual tomato seeds into 7.5cm (3in) pots in mid-March, and transplant to 30cm (12in) pots in May.

When transplanting, put in a bamboo cane and train the plant to it as it grows.

Pinch out all the sideshootsthat appear between leaf and stem when 2.5cm (1in) long, and once five or six trusses of fruit have begun to set, pinch out the main stem so that they develop fully.

Tomatoes thrive on a regular feed of tomato food, which is high in potassium. (Read more about nutrients in Module 5.)

I also like the idea of growing peppers. Theoretically. BBC also has the word on peppers.

Grow Your Own Peppers
You can grow several different types of pepper in the greenhouse, including chilli peppers and sweet peppers.

Peppers need a minimum temperature of 12°C (54°F) to grow properly. So while they can be grown outside, you’re more likely to succeed if you grow them undercover.

Pepper seeds should be sown indoors in April. It’s easiest to sow the seed directly into 7.5cm (3in) pots, and then transplant into 20cm (8in) pots.

Water regularly. As sweet peppers ripen they change colour from green to red, yellow, orange or dark purple, and become sweeter.

Let hot chilli peppers ripen fully before harvesting. Mature fruits are red.

(I understand that when a plant is fruiting, you want to water it religiously so the fruit is plump and sweet. Who knows? I'll try these one at a time, and maybe eventually do strawberries. :)