If you have a flat roof, balcony, small backyard or just a few window ledges, then container gardening is for you. No matter how small the space available, there is nearly always a container that will fit and an abundant choice of plants to grow in them. We are not just talking pelargoniums and pansies - herbs, dwarf vegetables and some fruits can all be grown in this way and often more easily than in beds, since soil conditions and pest control are far easier to manage in a small defined area.

Lack of shade and wind are possible problems on balconies, roofs and ledges, so it is best to choose low-growing plants and/or plants that will thrive in the sun, such as Mediterranean herbs, vines, tomatoes, shallots and peppers. Wooden trellises can also act as windbreaks.

Another consideration in these areas is the weight of your container - growing a miniature fruit tree may prove too much for your balcony to bear. But you can still cultivate some herbs in a small pot.

TIPS

• Avoid buying new, plastic containers and try to make your own using old car tyres, a tree stump, an old sink, a chimney pot, ceramic bowls, a toilet cistern or an old wheelbarrow. Be sure to drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

• You can ‘age’ containers by coating them in yogurt to promote the growth of lichen.

• Look for organic growing bags instead of the conventional ones. These should contain organic materials, peat from sustainable sources only (if at all), and are reputed to require less feeding and watering. Or try making your own using a sealed strong plastic bag filled with home-made compost, using composted bark instead of peat.

• Growing bags can be recycled. You can use them for potting bulbs or growing hardy annual flowers once your tomatoes and cucumbers have had their go. Or use the contents as mulch, add it to the soil on seedbeds or in seed trays, or add it to your compost heap.

• Avoid using sphagnum moss as a liner in your hanging baskets. Try lining them in recycled wool, coconut fibre or hemp (burlap) fibre instead of moss. These are often biodegradable, from sustainable sources, and hold water well, so reducing the need for watering.

• Be adventurous. Try baby tomatoes; herbs such as sage, chives, parsley and thyme; or strawberries in your hanging baskets. Fig trees, peach trees, dwarf apple trees and grapevines can all be grown in large tubs or pots, while lettuces, oriental greens, chard, spinach and trailing cucumber can thrive on ledges.

• Remember to use your home-made compost in containers. It will enrich the soil and help it retain moisture - a particular problem with container gardening.

• Use a container to make a water feature -attracting useful garden helpers such as frogs and toads and providing valuable water for birds and insects.

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