Vegetable Container Gardening for Beginners
It’s time to spring forward this weekend, and that means Home Depot and Lowe’s will soon be full of throngs of backyard green thumbs ready for spring gardens.
I have planted container gardens with various levels of success for the past five or six years, mostly focusing on herbs and vegetables. Flowers are nice and all, but not as good as eating what you grow!
This year, with food getting more expensive and the growing local food movement spurring me on, I am planning on growing even more, maybe even an in-ground garden (more on that next week).
But if you’re new to gardening and don’t know how time and energy much you want to commit, a container garden is a great place to start. There are really only five things you need to get going: containers, plants/seeds, a sunny spot, soil and water. Here’s how to get started.
How to Choose Your Containers
• Make sure they have plenty of drainage. Optimally, you want large drainage holes of at least an inch in diameter. Rocks are cheap and plentiful to put at the bottom of your containers, but you still need drainage holes. Water can accumulate quickly, and without an easy way for it to escape your plants will eventually be floating/rotting in water. Not good.
• Bigger is better – in general, choose the largest containers you are comfortable with. Bigger containers will be slower to dry out, and will give veggies more room to grow. Multiple plants can be grown in each container if you have the space (although some plants, like mint, are more aggressive growers and need a pot of their own).
• 4-6 inch containers are best for most herbs.
• 6-10 inch containers: best for beets, lettuce, radishes, spinach, and onions.
• 16 inch containers: best for peppers, chard and smaller tomatoes varieties.
• 20-22 inch containers: best for larger tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and eggplants.
• Greens like lettuce and spinach do well in containers that are broader and shallower than the standard flower pot shape.
What to Plant
This is the fun part. Grow things you’d like to eat, obviously, but be realistic about what you can handle and what works best in your area.
• Vegetables that generally grow well in container gardens include beets, bush beans, carrots, chard, green onions, peppers, salad greens, spinach, radish, summer squash, tomatoes cabbage, peas and peppers. Pretty much all herbs will grow beautifully in containers. Cucumber, cauliflower, broccoli, corn, potatoes, and vine fruits are harder to grow in containers.
• Select plants that are compatible in terms of light, water, growth and the conditions in your area. Look for dwarf or compact/bush varieties that are bred for growing in containers.
• If you start from seed, be prepared to plant lots and thin out as they get going. You’ll spend a little more on the front end if you start from a plant, but then you just have to keep them alive.
How to Choose Your Spot
Choose a patio, deck, or corner that gets at least six hours of full sun a day. Done!
How to Prepare Your Soil
Go for the good potting soil. Container gardens require well aerated, well drained, and lightweight soil to allow the veggies to get all of the water and nutrients they need. Look for “professional” on the label. Yes, it makes a difference.
How Often to Water
Container plants are more susceptible to drying out on a regular basis than in-ground plants.
• Plan to check for water at least once a day, maybe even twice on very hot days. Smaller pots will require more frequent watering.
• Stick your finger in the soil. If the soil sticks to your finger, no need to water. Otherwise…
• Water slowly until water begins to drain out the bottom of the container.
7 Comments to “Vegetable Container Gardening for Beginners”
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This is very good information. Last year I grew all my veggies and herbs in containers. I made them from large plastic storage tubs that I bought at Wal-Mart, drilled drain holes and put in trellis for tomatoes. I actually grew tomatoes, basil and a squash in one container! http://kathysgardenandart.blogspot.com/2010/04/fool-proof-vegetable-gardening-in.html
Thanks, Kathy! Your garden looks gorgeous–I love the red!
I too grow a lot of veggies in containers, great tips here.
Thanks, Darla! I got started planting this weekend. Thank goodness for spring.
Hi Courtney,
I saw your Container Gardening article. I haven’t had a garden since my son was a teen, but I miss it now that he’s grown. We used to grow tomatoes and beans.
Since you’ve written about containers, I wonder if your readers may like to see a video about container gardening:
http://www.plantersplace.com/Resources/VideoGallery.aspx?v=20
My name is Ed Hill and I write a marketing blog called http://tabletquest.com. I work with the Engauge Marketing agency in Atlanta. Right now I’m working with PlantersPlace.com gardening community to share links to their gardening videos.
Plus, here’s a link to a 3 minute video about starting onions from seeds. You’re welcome to use this video in your blog, if you like: How to Grow Onions from Seeds http://www.plantersplace.com/resources/VideoGallery.aspx?v=64
Write me if you have any questions about the video. If you’re able to use this video, please let me know. My email is ehill@engauge.com.
Thanks,
Ed Hill
Such a wonderful post and very helpful to us as a beginners..I will take your advice on the above article on how to choose your containers. Thanks
I’m getting excited to start my seeds! Good article on containers.
http://www.sistersplayinghouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-start-seeds-in-your-home-part-2.html