Container Vegetable Gardening

There are several advantages to growing vegetables in containers. First, it allows you to grow them in the house, on the porch or in a greenhouse. In addition to this, it’s easier to care for the soil and control harmful pests. It also allows you to have more control over lighting and temperature.

Many vegetables can grow as well in containers as they do outdoors. Some, however, require more space, such as pumpkins and cucumbers. Tomatoes, peas, peppers and carrots are all examples of veggies that do well, and in some cases better, in containers.

When choosing a container, make sure it will be big enough to house the plant when it’s full-grown. The proper concentration of fertilizer should be added to your weed free soil before you begin planting. There are some synthetic soil materials available as well. Some species will also do very well in mixtures of peat moss, perlite and wood chips.

Another advantage to preparing the soil before you plant, as well as synthetic mediums, is that it gives you better water control. One of the keys to container growing is keeping a good balance between water retention and proper drainage. Commercial soil prep can be used to break down clay in the soil. To prevent the holes in the bottom of the container from getting plugged, place a layer of marbles under the soil.

Even the best prepared soil requires careful watering. Depending on the location of the container, the soil could quickly dry out. Try to keep track of when you have watered the plants. On the other hand, root rot can result from too much moisture. A handy tool to have around is a soil moisture tester.

If possible, avoid using soil from outside in your containers. This can magnify the effects of clay in your soil. Clay has a natural tendency to retain water. Likewise, soil that has a high sand content will need to be built up. Instead of spending so much time adjusting the soil, you’re probably better off going with specially formulated media.

Most vegetable species thrive in plenty of sunlight. Your tomato plants will yield an abundant crop if placed on a windowsill that sees several hours of sunlight each day. These plants can also handle quite a bit of heat. Lettuce, on the other hand, isn’t quite as fond of the sunlight. Place them in an area that’s a little shadier. The ability to move your plants around is another advantage of container growing.

Even when container growing, insects can become an issue. Although they may not be as bad as outside, there are many small pests that can access your plants inside as well. Unfortunately, larvae may develop due to eggs being laid before you've even planted. There are a number of insecticide soaps and things available that will not harm the plant and are safe for human consumption as well.

The advantages of container growing your vegetables are well worth the effort you put in. it’s also nice to have fresh vegetables to add to your diet.

         

Introduction to Vegetable Gardening