We all love fresh food. Most of us wish we could actually grow something now and then ourselves. But many people lack a backyard big enough for a patio, much less a full-scale garden. There is a solution, though. Start a container garden.

What if you could grow your favorite vegetables in your home with just a few simple pots around your home. All you need is a sunny window. Don't have a sunny window? A lamp works wonders for that problem. Container gardens offer a great alternative for those of us who live in the city or in an apartment. Heck, maybe you just don't like the idea of working outside in the heat. Whatever keeps you from starting a garden outside, container gardening provides a simple and easy way to have a garden that grows with your needs.

Container gardens are nothing more than vegetables planted in their own pot. The vegetables grow just as well as in the ground, sometimes even better. When you grow in containers, your garden doesn't need to grow in one place. You can place your potted garden throughout your house in front of windows. They can grow right along other plants just fine. Container plants also give you the ability to actually use them for aesthetic appeal in the rooms where they live.

One of my favorite things about container gardening is the ability to grow indoors in a controlled environment. I don't have to deal with as many pests or diseases that commonly afflict outdoor gardens. I use less water and best of all, I can grow my garden in an apartment or office.

Container gardens grow year-round too. Imagine having fresh fruit or veggies in the dead of winter while everyone else eats produce that was likely imported from halfway around the world. Do you really enjoy eating that stuff? I guess it's better than starving but that's about it.

Some quick ideas for container garden vegetables are tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, squash, herbs, garlic, peppers of all varieties, and even dwarf fruit trees. Really, any vegetable that you grow outdoors can grow inside with a container garden. They are great for patios and balconies as well.

You can use just about any type of pot or bucket for you containers by the way. That's a nice little perk too. Five gallon buckets work well for deep-rooted plants like tomatoes or potatoes. You can also make your containers self-watering if you have a busy schedule. There are some wonderful self-watering containers on the market that are beautifully designed or you can make your own on a budget.

So, don't let the lack of yard space keep you from growing your own vegetables. Grab a bucket, some dirt, some seeds, and get started on your container garden today.