Q: I am raising tomatos, and peppers. What is your recommendation on container size for these plants on one’s deck. Also soil mixture.

A: Patio container size is important for two reasons: to conserve soil moisture and to moderate soil temperature. In my experience you’ll need a container with at least a twenty four inch diameter. A wooden half barrel works very well. A container of this size will support one or two moderately-sized tomato plants or a half-dozen pepper plants. On the recommendation of Daryl Pulis (www.mrsgreenthumb.com), I’m experimenting with dwarf tomatoes this year. I’m starting the seed of ‘Red Robin’, ‘Florida Petite’ and ‘Micro-Tom’. All produce multitudes of small fruit, about the size of the end of your thumb. Seeds are available from Tomato Growers Supply (www.tomatogrowers.com).