What is Container Gardening?
Container gardening is simply growing plants in pots; many vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers thrive in containers.
ItтАЩs perfect for those who lack gardening space or have a patio, balcony, or terrace. ItтАЩs also a great solution for those with poor or tricky soil.
In addition, gardening in containers is easier to tend and less intimidating for new growers.
Benefits of Container Gardening
- The great thing about growing in containers is being able to pick up pots and move them where you know theyтАЩll thrive.┬аEven if itтАЩs only one or two pots on the side of your driveway or in the corner of your balcony, gardening in containers allows you to maximize all of your available┬аspace.┬а
- Containers can be placed close to your back or side door; if you can easily access your plants, you are more likely to take care of them and harvest them in a timely manner,┬аtoo.
- Container gardening also gives you much more control over your growing. Not only do you avoid poor soil, but also you can have an ideal growing medium with the right amount of nutrients. You can also tailor the potting mix to special┬аcrops.
- YouтАЩll certainly have fewer weeds or none at all, and you can streamline your gardening tasks. Harvesting is much cleaner and easier,┬аtoo.
- Another benefit of containers is that they raise plants above the ground, so your vegetables avoid being shadowed by other┬аcrops.┬а
Of course, the one thing to know about containers is that they usually need more watering than a plant in the ground. This relates to the location that you choose for your containers.
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Similar to a regular garden in the ground, itтАЩs important to determine where to put your containers, and consider things such as sunlight exposure, water accessibility, and protection from┬аwind.
- To maximize your veggie harvest, youтАЩll want to place your pots in an area that gets full sun (i.e., 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day).┬аLettuce, spinach, and other greens can grow well in less sunlight (3 to 5 hours per day), but for fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, or eggplant, full sun should be the goal. Southern and western exposures will provide the most sunlight and warmth, while northern and eastern exposures will be shadier and┬аcooler.
- ItтАЩs also a good idea to put your pots somewhere that you can reach with a watering hose.┬аKeep in mind that container gardens tend to need more water than standard in-ground gardens, and thereтАЩs nothing worse than having to lug a gardening can across your yard a dozen times every morningтАФand then having to do it again in the evening! Having an easily accessible source of water nearby will save you a lot of time and┬аeffort.
- Protecting containers from direct wind keeps them from drying out as much and prevents accidental tipping over.┬аDepending on the size of your containers and the plants youтАЩre growing, they may get top-heavy as the season goes on, which makes them more vulnerable to tipping over in strong winds. Place containers in sheltered locations or plan to secure them (e.g., with cinderblocks, stones, or┬аropes).
Finally, think about the┬аmicroclimates┬аthat exist on your property. Microclimates are small pockets of space in which the climate of the immediate area doesnтАЩt match the broader climate of your location. For example, an asphalt driveway will hold onto warmth longer than a patch of grass will, so any pots placed on the driveway will be exposed to that extra warmth. On the one hand, this could mean that the pots dry out more quickly, but on the other hand, the plants may grow better thanks to the warmer┬аsoil.
Lazy Guide To Container Gardens
Types Of Container Gardens
Planning Your Container Garden
Container Size
Make sure to pick the right container size!┬а In general, the more space you can offer your plantsтАЩ roots, the better they will grow. Most vegetables need at least 12 inches of soil to grow well, but larger vegetables will require more space.┬а
A 5-gallon container is a good size for growing something like a tomato or squash plant, while a smaller container would be perfectly fine for shallow-rooted plants such as lettuce or other┬аgreens.
Bear in mind that larger containers will be heavier and harder to move and may be too heavy for somewhere like a balcony.┬аOn the other hand, small containers are easier to move and more versatile but tend to dry out faster, requiring more attention on hot days.
Container Type
From plastic pots and cinderblocks to whiskey barrels and wheelbarrows, almost anything that holds soil can be gardened in. The final important factor to consider is what the container is made out of.┬а
These days, containers come in all sorts of types, each with its upsides and downsides.┬аHanging baskets make good use of extra space. Use whiskey barrels (a wooden half-barrel can yield an amazing amount of food), buckets, baskets, boxes, bath- and other tubs, window boxes, and troughsтАФanything that holds soil.
Just be sure that it has drainage holes in the bottom and is a size that you can manage. Cherry tomatoes,┬аherbs, and┬аstrawberries┬аgrown at eye level can be easily tended and┬аharvested.┬а
Here are a few of the most popular container materials:
- Plastic:┬аPlastic pots come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes, which makes them one of the most popular choices for container gardening. Plastic pots also tend to be the cheapest option. They are relatively lightweight, hold in moisture well, and are easy to clean and reuse for many gardening seasons down the line. If youтАЩre growing edibles, be sure to choose pots made out of food-grade plastic so that chemicals wonтАЩt leach into the soil.┬а
- Ceramic (terra-cotta):┬аCeramic pots are another popular choice. They tend to be more decorative than plastic pots but are also quite a bit heavierтАФespecially when filled with soil. Ceramic pots come in glazed or unglazed styles; the main difference is that glazed pots hold in more moisture than unglazed pots. The great thing about ceramic pots is that the clay is porous, which allows some level of air and water to flow through it. This ensures that soil doesnтАЩt get overly wet, but it also means that soil in (unglazed) clay pots will dry out more quickly than in plastic pots. Additionally, ceramic pots are susceptible to cracking in cold weather, so they should be emptied and stored in a sheltered area through the winter.┬а
- Fabric:┬аFabric pots have become more popular in recent years thanks to their lightweight nature and breathability. They often come with handles, too, which makes moving them around very easy. Plus, they can be washed and reused fairly easily. The fabric allows air and water to flow easily through the pot, which is beneficial to plantsтАЩ roots, as they are encouraged to become more fibrous and, therefore, more efficient at taking in water and nutrients. One downside to fabric pots is that they dry out rather quickly, so consistent watering will be┬аrequired.
Container Support
Support tall or climbing vegetables with trellises, stakes, netting, twine, or cages. HereтАЩs how to build your own trellis or wooden┬аsupports.┬а
A teepee of bamboo stakes will hold┬аpole beans┬аor┬аsnap peas┬аwell.┬аCucumbers┬аtrained to climb up a nylon mesh fence will develop fruit that hang down and grow straight. To avoid damaging the plants or their roots, put supports in place at the time of┬аplanting.┬а
Planting Tips for Containers
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- To maximize space and thus your harvest, try planting low-growers and tall climbers together in the same container. – The climbers will eagerly scramble up a trellis. And The small plants spread around their┬аbase.
- YouтАЩll hardly need to weed because there wonтАЩt be any room for weeds to gain a foothold, and during the height of summer, some low-growers (leafy greens, for example) will thrive in the shade provided by the taller┬аplants.
- Mix quick-maturing plants, such as lettuce or radishes, with longer-growing ones, like tomatoes or broccoli.
- Group plants with similar sun and water needs, such as pole beans, radishes, and lettuce; cucumbers, bush beans, and beets; tomatoes, basil, and onions; and peas and┬аcarrots.
In order to grow healthy plants, you need healthy soil. Plants in containers need the best possible nutrients, aeration, and drainage in order to encourage healthy root growth and to produce a good┬аharvest.
Do not use soil from the garden!┬аMost garden soils are too heavy, can become easily waterlogged and compacted, and harbor disease and insects. Instead, use a тАЬsoillessтАЭ potting mix thatтАЩs specifically formulated for use in containers. It will be quick-draining and lightweight and shouldnтАЩt contain any diseases or┬аpests.┬а
Soilless potting mixes tend to consist of some combination of peat (or coconut coir), perlite, and vermiculite, as well as other additives such as ground limestone and granulated fertilizers to provide nutrients.┬аHereтАЩs how to make your own soilless mix at home.
Got compost? Humus is a fantastic material to add to your container mix, as it contains plenty of nutrients and loosens the media.┬аRead all about making compost!
Containers tend to dry out more quickly. Many plants grown in pots might need to be watered twice a day when it gets really hot.
Watering pointers:
- Water in the morning (or as early as possible). Watering early in the day provides plants with enough moisture to get them through the hotter midday hours. It also ensures that their leaves dry off by the time that night falls; having moisture on leaves at night can encourage the spread of disease.
- Water deeply. Plants need water at their roots, so simply spraying the surface of the soil with the hose isnтАЩt enough. Water plantsтАФespecially those in containersтАФdeeply and thoroughly to ensure that water reaches down to their roots. After a watering, the soil should be saturated and water should run out the bottom of the pot.
- Try watering from the bottom: Place a tray under the pot and fill it with water. The soil will absorb the water through the drainage hole(s). Repeat until no more water is absorbed, then dump out any excess water from the tray.
- DonтАЩt water too frequently! Watering a plant with a small amount of water very frequently is worse than watering with a large amount infrequently. Frequent, shallow waterings encourage plants to develop weak, shallow roots, while infrequent, deep waterings encourage them to put down deeper, healthier roots.┬а
Other key things to keep in mind are the┬аsize of the pot┬аand the┬аweather.
- Smaller pots will dry out a lot more quickly than larger pots and will require more frequent waterings. Pay attention to the speed at which your container soil dries out as well as how your plants react; you will soon get a sense for how often you need to water!
- One way to keep container plants adequately cool and moist during hot summer days is to double-pot them: Place a small pot inside a larger one and fill the space between them with sphagnum moss or crumpled newspaper. When watering the plant, also soak the filler between the pots. Caution: be sure to check your double-potted plants often, as the extra layer can also be a nice spot for pests to hide!
Water flows through containers quickly, flushing nutrients out with it. This can be a good thing, as it will flush out any buildup of salts in the soil. However, this also means that itтАЩs necessary to replenish those nutrients by feeding container plants more regularly than those grown in the┬аground.
In general, we recommend┬аadding a slow-release fertilizer to your potting mix┬аat the start of the gardening season. This can be done by either mixing it into your potting mix at planting, or by sprinkling fertilizer on top of the potting mix (i.e., тАЬtop-dressingтАЭ) right after planting. This will give your plants a good head start on┬аgrowth.┬а
While theyтАЩre actively growing, flowering, and fruiting,┬аuse a liquid fertilizer to feed container plants┬аat least twice a month, following the instructions on the label. ItтАЩs always a good idea to test your soil first, if possible, to gauge whether or not additional fertilizer is necessary. An occasional application of fish emulsion or compost will add trace elements to container soil as┬аwell.
To keep vegetable plants growing, feed them┬аorganic soil amendments, like┬аliquid seaweed, fish emulsion, or┬аmanure tea.┬аRead more about fertilizing container plants here!
Vegetables for Containers
Some veggies do better than others when grown in containers.┬аVegetables that can be easily transplanted are typically great candidates; transplants can be purchased from local nurseries or started from seed at┬аhome.
In general, gravitate toward vegetable varieties that are considered тАЬdwarfтАЭ or тАЬcontainer,тАЭ as they tend to stay smaller and are better suited to the container lifestyle.┬аCheck out┬аseed catalogs┬аfor varieties that do best in┬аpots.
Got compost? Humus is a fantastic material to add to your container mix, as it contains plenty of nutrients and loosens the media.┬аRead all about making compost!
Among tomatoes, for example, choose тАЬbushтАЭ or тАЬdeterminateтАЭ varieties, as they will grow to a set height and wonтАЩt get unwieldy in a┬аcontainer.
Beans, snap
Container: 5-gallon window box
Varieties:┬аBush тАШBlue LakeтАЩ, Bush тАШRomanoтАЩ, тАШTender┬аCropтАЩ
Broccoli
Container:┬а1 plant per 5-gallon pot, 3 plants per 15-gallon tub
Varieties:┬атАШDeCiccoтАЩ, тАШGreen┬аCometтАЩ
Carrots
Container:┬а5-gallon window box at least 12 inches deep
Varieties:┬атАШDanvers Half LongтАЩ, тАШShort тАШn SweetтАЩ, тАШTiny┬аSweetтАЩ
Cucumbers
Container:┬а1 plant per 1-gallon pot
Varieties:┬атАШPatio PikтАЩ, тАШPot LuckтАЩ,┬атАШSpacemasterтАЩ
Eggplant
Container:┬а1 plant per 5-gallon pot
Varieties:┬атАШBlack BeautyтАЩ, тАШIchibanтАЩ, тАШSlim┬аJimтАЩ
Lettuce
Container:┬а5-gallon window box
Varieties:┬атАШRubyтАЩ, тАШSalad┬аBowlтАЩ
Onions
Container:┬а5-gallon window box
Varieties:┬атАШWhite Sweet SpanishтАЩ, тАШYellow Sweet┬аSpanishтАЩ
Peppers
Container:┬а1 plant per 3-gallon pot, 5 plants per 15-gallon tub
Varieties:┬атАШCayenneтАЩ, тАШLong RedтАЩ, тАШSweet BananaтАЩ, тАШWonderтАЩ,┬атАШYoloтАЩ
Radishes
Container:┬а5-gallon window box
Varieties:┬атАШCherry BelleтАЩ,┬атАШIcicleтАЩ
Tomatoes
Container:┬а1 plant per 5-gallon pot
Varieties:┬атАШEarly GirlтАЩ, тАШPatioтАЩ, тАШSmall FryтАЩ, тАШSweet 100тАЩ, тАШTiny┬аTimтАЩ