These can be anything from a window box or large flowerpot to a half-barrel or full-on raised bed, says Riggs. Decide what you have both room and time for, and make sure it has drainage holes in the bottom.

If it's deeper than a foot, fill the extra space with a layer of empty soda cans standing upside down, or with Styrofoam packing peanuts. If your container is light enough, says Riggs, move it around the yard or patio to take advantage of sunlight and shade -- this can help wilting lettuces when the weather heats up!

Soil

"Don't use dirt from the yard," advises Riggs. "It doesn't drain well and could come with pests or fungus." A good option is organic potting soil that has had compost added for extra nutrients. Timed-release fertilizer is fine, Riggs adds, "but make sure it's organic or labeled OK for growing edible plants!" Just shovel the soil into your container to an inch or two from the top, pat it down and water a little before you add plants.

Plants

"Save days of growing time by skipping seeds and buying baby plants that the garden center has started for you," Riggs suggests. Avoid "head" lettuces like Boston or iceberg -- you can't cut them till they're fully grown and then they're gone. The best for your container garden are loose leaf, the "cut-and-come-again" type -- varieties such as oak leaf, salad bowl, red sails, as well as tasty greens like arugula or Swiss chard -- from which you can just pull a few leaves for dinner while leaving the rest growing.

As for other veggies, take your pick! Cherry tomatoes are great for fast gardening, Riggs says -- they mature quickly and will keep fruiting as you pick until chilly weather sets in. "Always get 'patio-size,'" she recommends, so they don't take over.

Care

"The larger the pot, the less watering you have to do," says Riggs. A large flowerpot may need it only once a week if there's rain, but as often as every day in dry weather. "Water thoroughly until the soil is just damp, then water again. Never let it get bone-dry!" If your container is set against a wall, put tall plants, like tomatoes, in the back, with shorter greens or herbs in front; if it stands on its own, plant the lettuces in circles with the taller stuff in the middle. Either way, your plants will look as yummy as those refreshing salads taste!