It is certainly time to start some seeds indoors. Let's look at growing specialty mixes of vegetables in containers. Most of these containers should measure about 24 inches or 65 centimetres across. It’s a good idea to get as tall, or as deep, a planter as you reckon you can carry safely with the resources at hand. Gentle Reader, you are the primary resource at hand; secondary resources are anyone else you can inveigle to shift them about for you. Actually, if you set them in place before you fill them with a growing medium you will reduce the strength requirements. Also, you can purchase little plant casters, trucks, dollies or whatever phrase suits you. Think of it as a tray with wheels upon which you set your container. This affair will came in handy for moving the veggie plot across the deck or balcony to chase the sun, or hide from it, as the day progresses.

The deeper the soil in the pot the better. remember that even though we are growing delicious vegetables, we are container gardening and must take into account some of the cultural needs. The deep soil will act as a temperature buffer and a moisture conserver, especially if you purchase specialty mixes with water conservation technology included. deep soil means good anchors for roots of top heavy plants such as tomatoes and peppers, and it means a place for your root crops to burrow into. Fertilise every 2 to 3 weeks unless you add a time release product to soil; very important especially during flowering times of tomatoes, beans and peppers. Harvest ripe fruits immediately to encourage continue production. You will read more about container gardening later, right now, it is time to sow some seeds.

These container vegetable combinations are promulgated by the National Garden Bureau of America.

Salsa garden Bush type tomato, jalapeno or hotter pepper, cilantro.

Sow cilantro seeds around the edge of the container. If you want onion in your salsa plant them in a separate deep planter. (Dan's note: match containers up, maybe add another bit of hardscape to make decorative grouping. Maybe repaint some of those ugly garden gnomes as Italian chefs)

Pesto Pot Basil, garlic and parsley (optional)

Rainbow Patterns Any red patio tomato, purple or white eggplant, a couple of green, orange, red or yellow sweet peppers, green and purple-leaved basils around the edge.

Fines Herbs Box Tarragon, chives parsley and chervil. Set the first two perennials at the rear of the pot so you wont disturb their roots at the end of the season when you pull up the other plants.

Bouquet Garni Bonanza Chervil, or parsley, thyme and marjoram around a centred sweet bay tree.

Stir-Fry Selection Chives (narrow) eggplant, any hot pepper, snow peas, and bok choy. Sow snow peas and bok choy in early spring and again in mid to late summer for a fall harvest.

Salad Bowl Patio tomato and sweet pepper ( in centre of round container) or at each end or a rectangular one, one or two cucumber plants near edge - let them spill over sides, without support, radishes, and red and green lettuces to fill the other spaces.

Soup Mix Lemon grass, thyme, parsley chives chervil and scallions.

Pizza Sauce Bush tomatoes, sweet green pepper, onion or scallions and oregano

Seasonal Garden Spring leaf lettuce followed by summer beans on a tepee succeeded by fall peas. Set up tepee when you plant lettuce seedlings. Sow beans while lettuce is still growing. Plants provide lettuce with a of shade from hot sun. Sow peas in late summer where lettuce was and while beans continue to produce.

Kids corner Radishes, tomato plant, bush beans basil and carrots. Alternate clumps of basil and bean seeds in a circle around tomato. Mix seed of radishes and carrots together radishes will be pulled before carrots need space to spread out.

A gentle reminder folks, hunger is an insidious and invisible presence in our community. When you grow food, think of slipping some of your harvested bounty to those in need.