Container gardening

[elspeth]

I want to get my garden sorted this year... but I'm a novice, so I need ideas and advice!

It's only a tiny bit of garden, about ten feet by six with the path to my front door right through the middle, and what isn't path is gravelled. As with all new-build flats, there's no topsoil under the gravel, just the debris left from when the building was put up.

So, everything's got to be in containers, and as it's a small plot and I don't want to block the light to my windows, anything that will measure more than about a metre and a half from ground to top, including pot and plant, is bad. As I live in Yorkshire, the climate tends to be wet, cold and windy most of the time. Oh, and sometimes it snows... so I need plants that aren't scared of a bit of weather and can be left out throughout the year.

I'm a keen cook so fruit/veg/herbs would be especially good... what can I grow in pots that's not likely to die in these circumstances?

[pianistimo]

hmm.  instead of worrying about them dying - i'd build a little greenhouse to shelter them from the wind - or a close-down lid that the sun can filter through.  then, you could definately plant herbs and whatever you have a mind to.  probably those little cherry tomatoes would grow - wouldn't they.  some squash/pumpkin.  they have nice yellow flowers.  and maybe something else fragrant - since it's near the door.  jasmine or something?  strawberries do well in colder weather.

i found a 'super 7 propigator'  at this place for 29 pounds. 
https://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/category/category.asp?ctgry=Greenhouse%20Equipment_Propagation&cookie%5Ftest=1