Sure you can plant in containers. It may be a bit late for slicing tomatoes but you should have success with cherry tomatoes. You will need a large container and that will take alot of potting soil (I assume you will use bagged soil). I use the large colored plastic storage tubs like you get at Wal-Mart, drill holes in the bottoms, and fill first with a layer of styrofoam beads or peanuts. You could get by with a smaller "pot" but then you will have to water 2x a day with the heat and fertilize quite a bit. You also could try zucchini, squash vines may take up too much room. This may discolor the cement so you should plan to power wash the area when done. If you can, plant next to the patio. Try it! Try herbs, too.

Chard does well in containers, too, and you'll get a lot of food out of that small space. If you built a little tuteur (teepee) of sticks, you could get cucumbers growing vertically in a container. I get loads of tomatoes off yellow pear and all of the currant tomato plants. The yellow pear will become huge and will need trimming and/or a cage or other support. The currant tomato plants don't get as large, and they do really well in full sun even in the middle of summer. Stick the guts of a diaper or something else to help with moisture in with the soil, and you won't be out there watering twice a day in july and august. And yes, peppers will do great in a big container.

If you prop the bottom of the pot up...like with bricks or use a tray or something....you are less likely to get discoloration that might require a power wash.

I used large pots to grow Patio tomatoes when I lived in an apartment. It is a bit late for that. If you choose a cherry tomato (which will set fruit even when it's hot as long as the moisture is consistent)--be sure to use that storage container and be prepared to stake. My last one reached six feet pretty quickly.

If you like chile peppers (like jalapenos)..they are pretty easy to grow and like heat (with the exception of bell peppers, which I have never had luck with). There are also herbs you could grow in pots. If you like pesto, basil is fun.

And don't forget fruit--there are several citrus varieties that are suited to pots. Or you could try starting an avocado pit (admittedly they are slow to get going, though). I have also heard of people planting pineapple tops--those are bromeliads, and I'm not certain of the culture.

You are probably getting the bare minimum of sun that tomatoes need to thrive..so be sure and stick them in the sunniest possible part of the porch.

Have fun!

It's worth planting anything! I agree, the chard does well. If you can find a tomato that's big enough, it might work. They require a lot of sun though. I think basil will do great as well as the citrus. You can also plant some caladiums or elephant ears now for that tropical effect on your patio. Even a palm would look cool as they grow great in containers.

Violet, where do you live? There may be public land where you can garden.

I don't know why you wouldn't be able to plant in containers. Last year I grew both peppers and tomato's in containers. They did very well despite me doing many things wrong. I would suggest looking at the container forum. I am trying some new things this year with Self watering containers. You should still have time to grow peppers or tomato's I would think.

Here is a link that might be useful: My attempts

Yes you can plant veggies in pot. I live in a rent house and I have to do the same thing. I am growing beefsteak, cherry, grape and several types of tomatoes that came in a variety pack. I am also growing California Wonder Bells, Sweet Banana, Hungarian hot peppers, and several other hot peppers. We are also doing cucumbers, winter squash, and sweet potatoes(20+ gallon rubermade container.)

Tomatoes and peppers are in 4 gallon and 5 gallon nursery pots. The 4 gallon is smaller than I would like for the beefsteaks, but they will work but I will have to water 2 or 3 times a day. 18 gallon container would work the best. But if you have a good supply of 5 gallon buckets those work great as well. I am slowly replacing all my nursery pots w/ gallon buckets. I have my plants placed where they get sun from early morning until about 4PM. If my plants need more sun I just have to move them over 5 feet and they will have sun until 6PM. I have several cherries that I haven't planted yet and I was thinking about purchasing a coupling of 18 gallon totes and see how they do this year.

Just remember to use a good soiless potting mix. I usually mix my own and I never use anything but organic fertilizer on my veggies.

Thanks for the suggestions! I went ahead and got two tomato plants...I'm thinking my pots aren't big enough, but I will go ahead and try it. I put mulch down to try to alleviate some of the moisture loss.

Prairiepaintbrush...I live in the Bryan/College Station area.

I grow a bunch in containers cause my backyard is taken up by a pool, I mean money pit. You HAVE to grow cukes! They are an easy warm weather crop. It is really too late to get tomatoes going now. If you do next year do tomatoes, look for determinate types as they will grow shorter/bushier. Drive up to Martha's Bloomers andthey will help you.You can grow bell peppers too. grow cukes from seed or peat pots as they dont like roots messed with.

Here is a link that might be useful: in my backyard