I was over at Kingman's this week and saw he has a rear deck in full Sun. Growing things on a deck is difficult unless you have the time to water a couple times a day. Once will not be enough for vegetables in the South. You can put a water timer that comes on a couple times a day, but that wastes a lot of water.
A few years back I bought a couple of these - http://www.amazon.com/EarthBox-10100...9680911&sr=8-1
They work. My problem is lack of Sun, but if you have it, these work.
You can build your own. http://www.seattleoil.com/Flyers/Earthbox.pdf
I moved mine into a deck flower bed, and bought some bigger ones like this - http://www.gardeners.com/Organic-Tom...efault,cp.html
These are pricey, but just great. Plus they come with a really useful frame for tomatoes. Right now I have cabbage, parsley and leaf lettuce growing in them. Yes, right now in Feb.
Last fall on sale I bought some bigger ones that seem to not be available right now but they are similar to this, but narrow and cost me less, but if I had the room --> http://www.gardeners.com/Self-Wateri...efault,cp.htmlI have spinach growing in mine right now and recommend this big one if you have the room - I don't.
At the end of the day, these things really will grow things for you with little effort on your part. The pre made ones cost, but all I have mentioned above are tried and true - by me. Others are out there and may be better. The trick is to look for (or build) the ones with as big a water reservoir as possible. Watering is not the same as constant moisture for vegetables.
I have 3 raised beds in the yard that are about 4X10 with good dirt I hauled in. I add cow crap every year in the Spring. I grow a lot in them. Watering them in this on going Summer drought is a problem. At the end of the day, due to no rain, the deck planters produce more for the space and better quality stuff. One box can produce enough lettuce type things for a couple people as the more you take, the faster it grows. In Summer, tomatoes grow best with constant moisture and these do that. Throw in a couple Basil plants and - good eating! :smiley_simmons: Add a few Marigolds (also great in salads) to pretty it all up for the Bride.
If you are lazy, or not, these are great because they work and you don't have to.
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