On a first date over the winter, he asked me, “So do you have any plants?”

I said yes, and then he asked, “are they alive?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer. Some of my plants appeared to be more brown than green while others had what some call a “wilted look.”

I had two problems. I didn’t want to leave the heat on in my house, which was a hazard for the banana plant trying to survive in my living room. The other problem was that my deck, which housed my herbs and veggies, was not getting enough sun.

So I told my date, “yes, my plants are alive.”

But the conversation made me wonder, what do plants say about a person?

Now that I live in an apartment located in a sunnier area, my once straggly looking plants in pots have truly blossomed, making me look like I may have a green thumb hidden somewhere way beneath the skin.

So I thought I would reach out to Weekly readers and see what advice they would have on growing a potted garden.

Lopez resident Becki Maxson lives in a condo in town with a small yard that has motivated her to “get creative.”

She said going vertical can help to utilize a small space and railings on a deck can make a perfect opportunity for boxes to grow vegetables like lettuce that have short roots. She also has a row of white buckets with holes on the bottom that allow her plants to suck up water from a trough below. She fills the water below at least once a week.

“Everything is an experiment,” she says as she gives me a tour of her garden.

She also recommends Guerrilla gardening, meaning you find someone with property that has room and see if you can borrow some space.

Other pointers for a container garden:

A plus of having a potted garden, like mine, is that it keeps the soil nice and warm. Some of the plants that seem extra happy in containers are oregano, thyme, kale, spicy basil, swiss chard, chives, parsley, peas and tomatoes.

You have to really watch your watering because soil in smaller containers dry out much more quickly.

Make sure the container has drain holes on the bottom or is filled almost halfway with rocks to drain the excess water.

You do have to start worrying about bringing pots indoors when winter comes around because they will freeze and crack.

Throughout my gardening experiences I have also learned that you have to be creative, persistent  and patient.

So, if you’re looking for a long-lasting relationship, it turns out that asking about plants on a first date may make perfect sense.

For more info about gardening, visit the Master Gardeners’ Program’s  Information Table set up from 10 a.m-12 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Sunset Builders to answer your gardening questions. Bring samples in a sealed plastic bag of unknown plants, plant problems or pests for identification and recommendations.