• Container plants add flexibility to your garden plans.summer container image by Tom Curtis from Fotolia.com
  
  Growing plants in pots makes them movable and does not require garden space. A large variety of flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables thrive in sunny locations. Potted plants add beauty, color, texture and sometimes fragrance to decks, balconies, patios and other areas with full sun exposure. Plants are a source of enjoyment and may last for many months. Perennial plants that don't grow large will live in containers for years.
  
  

Geraniums

• Geraniums put a lovely flower high above their foliage.geranium image by szildy from Fotolia.com
  
  Geraniums are one of the most poplar plants to grow in pots because of their big, colorful flowers. Geraniums love full sun and will tolerate poor soils that are mixed with compost and fertilizer. They grow well in a sunny window or outdoors. Geraniums like temperatures that do not go above 70 degrees F. The lifespan of the geranium is about 18 months, so when the weather turns colder bring the geraniums indoors and put them in a sunny location. Pinch faded blooms to encourage more blooms.
  
  

Tomatoes

• Choose tomato varieties that do well in pots.tomatoes image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Store-bought tomatoes just cannot compare to the taste of homegrown. Many people live in places with limited or no garden space, so growing tomatoes in pots is a wonderful solution. If starting your tomatoes from seed, read the seed packet to be sure the variety is suitable for growing in a pot. Use a mixture of 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 peat moss for the soil. Select a location that receives a minimum eight hours of sun per day. Plant the seeds indoors in late February or early March and move the pot outside when all danger of frost is gone. Do not allow soil to dry out. In just a few short months you will be enjoying the unbeatable taste of homegrown tomatoes.
  
  

Herbs

• Try herbs in pots to get flavorful additions for your meals.lovely potted plants image by Ritu Jethani from Fotolia.com
  
  Herbs are excellent for growing in pots. They are not fussy, and herbs like thyme, sage, rosemary and basil give a wonderful fragrance to the area where they are grown. They are flavorful and fresh additions to pasta sauce, entrees and salads. Later in the season you may dry them and use them for cooking throughout the winter months. Plant several varieties of herbs in the same container. Once they fill out the pot, clip some daily to add flavor to your food and to keep them from crowding each other. Transplant exceptionally vigorous plants to their own container. Many herbs are perennials and will last for years. Most herbs grow well in just about any type of soil. Some garden centers have herb kits available that are already in pots. All you need to do is water them and place in a sunny location.