Apartment living - what to grow?

[CraKaJaX]

I moved into a new apartment at the very end of summer last year. My new apartment is the first one I've actually had with an outdoor patio (balcony? - I'm on the second floor). Anyways, in the past I've been pretty successful growing basil, parsley and cilantro in the windows of my previous apartments. I want to try something new this year since I have plenty of space on the patio - maybe some fruits and veggies? of course they will need to all be grown in pots as I do not have access to a lawn on the second floor. I've heard jalapenos and tomatoes are pretty simple to grow, but I'm not sure as to what type of tomatoes/size pot to put them in. I've been looking around on Google, but we all know AT is a lot better than any search result :awe:
Any recommendations, links, tips, etc are appreciated!

 

[cabri]

Purchase starting seedlings and put in a 6-8" pot.
Or use a peat moss type starter cup.

Most anything for your climate can be put into a 8-12" pot with potting/garden soil.

Some should require a stick for the vine or support.
Others a lattice to expand to, horizontally or vertical.

 

[mizzou]

Kind of depends on your sunlight access too

 

[CraKaJaX]

Kind of depends on your sunlight access too

All my windows/doors/patio face directly east. With the sun directly above at noon, I would say my patio is completely in the shade by ~230PM? I'm assuming I would put the plants out at the end of the patio and not against the siding where it'd be shadier earlier.

 

[DrPizza]

Maybe 2 or 3 pots with tomato plants, 1 pot with cherry tomatoes at the other end of the patio, 1 very large pot with a trio of zucchini plants in the center. Then a long planter with lettuce, and maybe some small pots with herbs that you like. If I had to live in an apartment, I'd probably have a pot of chives - those are great diced up in many foods. I particularly like to stir fry some coarsely diced yellow potatoes in a bit of olive oil, and toss in some chives, chili powder, and paprika.
Zucchini plants remain relatively confined, though it's going to be a BIG plant. You could also try a climbing cucumber if there's some sort of thing that could act as a trellis.

 

[tsiunltdus]

Really you can plant just about anything in a pot. It just depends on your liking. If you want veggies like radishes, carrots, your under ground veggies then put them in a deeper pot for room to grow under the dirt. My sister planted all kinds of veggies in flower pots for years cause she didn't want to turn her back yard into a garden.