So I've had this idea for more than a year now! I'm thinking of putting a smaller type of marigold, a micro tomato, and some type of basil, on the back deck. The area gets full sun, and the container they would live in is 21 inches in length, 11 inches in width, and 5-7 inches in depth. I've grown purple basil with mint and petunias in it succesfully before. Will this new plan work? What types of marigold and basil should I look for? Thanks!

I'm not familiar with micro tomatoes but tomatoes do like a lot of root space. I'm not sure you have enough. In full sun, you may need to water that container every day since tomatoes like even moisture.

Tomatoes need moist soil? I had no idea! I thought they prefered a thorough watering, but to be dried out between them. In that case, I may need to get a larger pot since I'm pretty sure basil does not like moist soil. The micro tomato (also known as the teacup tomato), gets just 6-10 inches tall, and produces small, grape-sized fruits!

Not consistently moist soil but usually tomatoes don't like getting too wet or too dry. To me, basil does like a break from the heat but should get adequate water if in the sun all day.

Marigolds want less watering thn tomatoes, and basil likes to dry out while tomatoes don't. Basically, you are trying to grow a dry-tolerant flower with a tropical vine and an herb accustumed to irregular moisture.

It doesn't sound promising. But give the tomato a larger pot, the marigold its own and the Basil a small one and shove them all together. You should get the same effect.