Container gardening is the solution to a lot of gardening problems. Is your soil poor? Are you a new gardener? Maybe moles are eating everything? Or maybe your plants need to be moved every now and then? In all of these cases (and many others), growing flowers or vegetables in containers can solve your problem. Once you get the basics down, Pros and cons of growing plants in containersIt’s easy to see why it has such appeal.
For many city dwellers and novice gardeners, a vegetable garden seems like an impossible dream. For those without large properties and ample space, there really isn’t a sub-40-degree field to till. But container gardens—for herbs, vegetables, or flowers—can be done almost anywhere. And since they’re portable, you can move them around to make the most of the weather throughout the growing season and beyond.
Benefits of Container Gardening
The benefits of growing plants in containers instead of in-ground garden beds start here: you can have a container garden on a small, sunny balcony, backyard, or even a fire escape. Containers are also suitable for people with rocky, sandy, silty, or highly acidic soil, as potting soil is suitable for potted plants.
While you may worry about made a mistake with the containersContainer gardening is often easier than growing in the ground. By adding a little creativity to the mix, you can grow vegetables and flowers in the same container, and time your plantings to create a garden throughout the season. There are three main steps to starting a container garden: choosing a container, soil, and plants. Once you have these selected, you’re ready to begin.
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Choose your container
Anything from empty bean cans to bathtubs can be used as plant containers, and trust me, I’ve seen some pretty strange plant containers. When it comes to design a vegetable garden in containersAnything will do: I even grew strawberries in an old shoe hanger! The classics, though, are pots, planters, and hanging baskets. Get creative if you like, but avoid anything that could be toxic, including plastic or chemically treated wood.
Your containers need to drain, so make sure they have adequate drainage holes. Almost nothing will grow well in waterlogged soil. Size matters too. The more impressive the mature root structure of the plant you choose, the larger the pot you will need. Plants like lettuce do not need very deep soil.
TruDrop Rim Modern Self Watering Round Planter
These planters from Crescent Garden are ideal for the first-time gardener or the seasoned enthusiast. The TruDrop system produces healthy plants and efficient gardening.
Choosing a soil mix
Don’t stress about soil. Buy quality potting soil from a garden store, ideally one that contains compost to provide nutrients for growing plants. There are plenty of peat-free options, mixed with ingredients like coconut coir or composted bark. Buying potting soil ensures that it is disease-free. Avoid using soil straight from the garden, as it may contain weed seeds.
It’s wise to consider the types of plants you’ll be growing. If you’re growing Mediterranean plants (for example, herbs like lavender, rosemary, or thyme), it may be beneficial to amend your potting soil with more sand. This can help with drainage and prevent compaction. Also, if you’re growing acid-loving plants like azaleas or blueberries, make sure you use an ericaceous mix.
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Choose your potted plants
Container gardening is a fun and practical way to maximize your growing potential, so there’s nothing stopping you from getting creative with your planting options. If you’re starting out in containers, consider growing strawberries in containers or compact cherry tomatoesor other small fruits and vegetables. Edible greens such as lettuce or spinach can work well. Peppers grow well in pots and are very pretty. Climbing plants like beans are also fun if you have a trellis for your pots.
If you like flowers and bright decorations, try potted geraniumcoral bells, sedum, or taro. Or if you prefer something fragrant, most herbs are easy to start. Perennial herbs like lavender, thyme, or chives will grow year-round. You can even grow larger flowering plants like hydrangeas, azaleas, and hellebores, as long as your pot is large, well-drained, and carefully placed.
As for which plants grow best in pots, the only limitation will be whether you want to plant them in a sunny or shady spot. In this regard, your choices are pretty much the same as those for growing them in the ground. With the right sized pot, the right soil, and the right care, the rest is a fun exploration!
Self-watering rolling tomato planter with trellis
Providing support for container plants as well as a hassle-free water supply. Available in sage green, cream and grey, this Vego Garden container works effectively throughout the growing and fruiting season.
How to care for your container garden
Whether you are developing hot weather potted plants or shade based optionsGrowing a container garden is fairly simple. You can buy seeds or, to get your garden started faster, you can plant seedlings or cuttings. You can even buy small potted herbs (like basil) from the grocery store and transplant them into your container garden. Container gardening for beginners doesn’t require a lot of expertise. You just need to keep a few things in mind when growing.
Because the space (and therefore soil) is limited in a pot, the amount of water and nutrients available to potted plants is also limited. This means that you will need to water and fertilize potted plants more frequently than plants grown in raised beds. Here are some key factors to consider as you do this.
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- Sprinklers: Potted plants need to be watered weekly, bi-weekly, or even daily, depending on the size of the pot and the weather. The more sun, heat, or wind a plant gets, the more water it needs. Check the soil daily and water when it feels dry. When watering, water heavily, holding it until water runs out of the drainage holes. Conversely, reduce watering when the weather is wetter. Plants can become stressed by overwatering, which can make them more susceptible to container problem like fungal problems.
- Fertilizer: Any nutrients in the potting soil will be washed away relatively quickly when you water frequently. You will need to keep feed potted plants by fertilizing regularly. You can do this by applying a dry, slow-release fertilizer to the soil every month or by using a water-soluble fertilizer in reduced amounts with each watering. Make sure you know whether your soil contains fertilizer before you start adding it.
- winter hide: If you’re only growing annuals like California poppies or lettuce, you don’t need to think about winterizing. When the season is over, you harvest the vegetables or say goodbye to the flowers. But if you’re growing perennials like hydrangeas or perennial fruit trees like rosemary, it’s important to extend the life of your plants during the colder months. Basically, container gardening in winter There’s nothing to be afraid of – just consider your tolerance zone.
Compare your zone to the plant’s hardiness. For example, if you live in USDA hardiness zone 8, any plant that is hardy to zone 8 can be left outside in the winter. However, if your zone is colder than the plant can tolerate (for example, if you live in zone 8 and the plant is only hardy to zone 9), you will need to overwinter the plant indoors as a houseplant, moving it outside the following spring.
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frequently asked Questions
Which vegetables are best suited for growing in containers?
It’s best to plant vegetables that are suited to the container you’re using. For example, strawberries are easier to grow than melons, or lettuce is easier to grow than pumpkins. Root vegetables like potatoes may not be ideal. Cherry tomatoes and bush beans are great starter projects for beginners. Whether you’re planting fruits and vegetables in the spring or start growing potted plants in falI always think about seasonality, light needs and hardiness zones.
What are the disadvantages of container gardening?
There are some inherent limitations to container gardening. Obviously, you will have to limit what you grow to the size of the container. Another disadvantage is the increased need for irrigation and fertilization. Plants grown in raised beds can take up more water and nutrients from the soil because they have access to more soil. But other than that, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
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