What are some vegetables that are easy to grow in pots and tubs?

I live in a cool, temperate, alpine region. The soil is too poor and rocky for a vegetable garden (I grow herbs in that bed instead).

I have a large verandah that gets full sun for most of the day and is very sheltered, so I was hoping to grow some vegetables in big tubs and planters along it.

Any suggestions from experienced gardeners? Most vegetables will grow here, unless they are tropical or subtropical.

You can grow virtually any veggie in a big enough pot or container. I grow a tangerine tree in a very large pot so I can move it to shelter when it gets cold. It grows very good quality, tasty tangerines. Obviously that’s a fruit, not a veggie, but I use it as an example of how you can use a pot to grow a large plant that would usually be planted in the ground.

Since you live in a cool climate, you should be able to grow all sorts of salad greens – lettuce, arugula, spinach, chard, cabbage, etc. You can also grow broccoli and cauliflower. If you have a deep pot or container, you can grow root vegetables and tubers such as carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, and garlic. Peas also like cool weather – you might want to look for ones that are labelled “dwarf” or “self-supporting” – or you could put a trellis in a large container and let the standard type of pea vine grow up it. I especially like snow peas, since you can eat the pod as well as the peas.

Be sure that the pot has enough room for the root ball to develop, and keep it well-watered (but not soggy.) Use a good quality potting soil. You will have to give the plants some kind of fertilizer, too, since the roots can’t seek out soil nutrients as they would if they were planted in the ground. Just experiment – if it grows well in the ground in your area, you should be able to grow it in a pot.