Container Gardening

Container gardening refers to growing plants in containers or pots of any type. It can be a method of starting plants that will be transplanted into the ground later, or can be a complete mode of gardening itself. There are many options for containers depending on your space and budget: window boxes, barrels, baskets, flower pots, glazed ceramic pots, and wooden containers made of untreated redwood or cedar are the best options.

For all containers, adequate drainage is important. There should be large holes that allow plans to drain, and setting pots or boxes up on bricks can help them drain more easily than setting them on concrete or wood directly.

Plants will only survive in containers large enough to retain moisture and allow their root systems adequate space. To know what size container is appropriate for the vegetables you want to grow, use this table. If unsure, always go with a larger pot.

An attractive option for a deck is to grow tomatoes or beans, vegetables that can attach themselves to trellises or siding for support. There are so many different options for containers, they can work for indoor or outdoor, no space or lots of space, and can add some artwork to your home as well as the flowers, herbs, or vegetables they produce.

Once you have the right pots for your space and what you want to grow, you'll need to buy potting soil, or you can use your own compost as potting soil. It is important to fertilize your pots occasionally, since drainage will wash some of the nutrients in the soil away. Good organic fertilizers include lime, seaweed, and fish emulsion, which are available for purchase online and in garden centers.

Pots need to be in an area where they receive at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Leafy vegetables can do well in the shade, but root vegetables need more sun and fruiting vegetables need the most.

Besides vegetables, herbs can also easily be grown in containers on a window sill or porch. A wide variety of herb kits are available for sale in garden centers.

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compost