Never done this before! Advice appreciated :) (Porch garden)

I've never personally gardened before, though I've helped my parents in the past. I am living in an apartment, so I am obviously limited on space. I have a small plastic pool that I am hoping to make into a little garden! I've looked up tutorials on drilling holes in the pool, lining it, adding my soil, and so on. I have no idea WHEN to start with this (It's March 1st and I live in Virginia, so it's weird temperature-wise), and I have no idea WHAT to plant!

I know that I need very shallow-rooted plants, and from what little I've found, I think I can grow some spinach. I'd really love to grow a tomato plant too, but I think I might have to do that one in a deeper pot. I'm wondering if I could do some green onions and basil - I don't know what the root depth requirements for those are!

I have no idea what type of soil and fertilizer I'll be looking for... I'm really pretty clueless. Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Also, I'm HOPING to avoid using seeds and instead plant plants b/c I'm obviously so new and think I might have a better chance going that route. Does that sound right? Thanks! :)

Hiya Lisa, welcome!! I'm guessing from your location you're probably in zone.. 7a or 7b? I'm really darned close-ish zone-wise, so I think I can help you out some. First off, I'm guessing that your pool garden is going to be out on a balcony or something? Oh wait, you said 'porch', heh heh. The first thing to consider is how much sun you get in that area, and what time of day it's sunny there. That will play a big part in determining what you can plant there. As for when, ... well, I'm pretty sure right now in our zone area(s), we're sort of at an in-between place in time as far as planting goes, 'cause it's too late to start Winter Sowing (check out the "Winter Sowing" forums to learn about that when you have the time), and a bit too early probably for many nurseries to have a lot of new Spring stock in. If you get good sunlight there, at least 6 hours per day, and preferably mid-day to afternoon, then you should have no problems with herbs and tomatoes... and yes, you'll need at least a 3-gallon sized container to grow a tomato plant in. Believe it or not, a 5-gallon bucket (like the Home Despot Specials!) works really well for that! True, not attractive, but functional... unless you actually really LIKE Home Despot Orange. ;) Oh by the way, how deep is that pool/garden? NOW would be a great time to start spinach, peas, lettuces, celery. That's all that comes to me at the moment.

Next, soil. Well, since chances are you won't be moving it, we won't have to worry too much about weight, so I'm thinking, like 50-60% compost, 30-35% Peat, and the rest Perlite or Vermiculite. What sort of surface will your garden be sitting on? If it's gonna be sitting directly on the ground (ie: cement), then I would suggest cutting/drilling some drainage holes in the SIDES of the bottom... like you see on nurseries' growers' pots. (check out the photo attached to see what I mean)

As for fertilizers, my personal feeling is to go organic, for several reasons. Mainly though, with organic you don't have to apply it as often as chemical, (I detest chemical fertilizers!!!), and if you're going to be eating the stuff that you grow, it'll be healthier if it's not chemicalized. ;) We don't want you getting sick!

If you're a little nervous about beginning, then you just may have better luck, and/or feel more secure starting out with starter plants, so by all means, have fun with that!

Please please please come back often and ask LOADS of every sort of question you can think of so we can help you!! =D

Very happy gardening to you,

Susan

Here's old, but helpful information regarding how deep roots go

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010137veg.roots/010137toc.html

Wow Honeybee, what a wonderfully helpful site, thank you!

OOOOPS!! I just realized that I forgot to attach that photo that I mentioned in my first post, I'm so sorry!!! Here it is!

You surely can grow tomatoes on your porch/patio! Use the biggest pot you can -- preferable 5 gallons or more. Here's a link with lots of information: http://www.tomatodirt.com/growing-tomatoes-in-pots.html

There are lots of plants (veg) you can grow in containers (Pots) on your porch, anything from potato's, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, beens, peppers, cucumbers, the list is endless, I would be more inclined to use your pool like a large saucer and put as many large pots into the pool and add water to the bottom every few days to let the plants take UP water instead of top watering, you can add feed to the water too, failing that, sit your pots on saucers so the water cant run right through the soil when it's hot and the soil does dry out very fast in all containers, the trick with container gardening is to pick when the crops are still small and tasty, I grow about half dozen lettuce in a tray and pick it constantly just enough for the salad bowl for the one meal, they are fast growing, easy to grow another half doz seeds several weeks apart, so fresh salad leaves on tap. make sure you use GOOD quality compost for your containers and add some chicken manure to the soul as you mix it, I like to add several handfuls of Vermiculite as this helps retain moisture and air around the roots,
In deeper containers you can grow carrots, beetroot, parsnips etc the depth is required as these all have long tap roots. hope you give it all a go as there is nothing more satisfying than going outside to gather nice food for the table.
Good luck. Weenel.