If you live in an apartment, condo or your backyard simply doesn’t have enough space, container vegetable gardening may be the solution for you. Everyone can have their own vegetable garden, even those of us with balconies instead of yards. Even those who do have the space turn to container gardening for many reasons.
Advantages of Container Gardening
Container gardening allows for a lesser instance of plant disease and root rot if done properly, as well as virtually eliminating weed infestation. It also gives you heightened control over moisture and sun exposure. Because you can move your container anywhere you choose, you can correct sun exposure on extremely hot and dry days by simply relocating your garden.
Container gardening allows for a lesser instance of plant disease and root rot if done properly, as well as virtually eliminating weed infestation. It also gives you heightened control over moisture and sun exposure. Because you can move your container anywhere you choose, you can correct sun exposure on extremely hot and dry days by simply relocating your garden.
How to Start Your Container Garden
First, you’ll need to decide what you’ll be growing in your small space. If you’ve decided on herbs or vegetables, choose something that you like to eat frequently and that will work with the amount of space you have available.
First, you’ll need to decide what you’ll be growing in your small space. If you’ve decided on herbs or vegetables, choose something that you like to eat frequently and that will work with the amount of space you have available.
After you’ve chosen your veggies, you can decide on the type of container that will best suit your gardening needs. There are many different types of containers: planter boxes, large plastic pots, hanging baskets, growbags, barrels, etc. Here are some important factors to consider:
· If you are growing root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, you will need a very deep container.
· Wood containers may rot unless you use a more expensive wood like cedar. Do not use treated wood as the chemical will leech into your yummy veggies.
· Plastic containers can break down pretty quickly due to the constant barrage of water, UV rays and fertilizer.
· Clay pots tend to dry out very quickly as they are extremely porous and absorb water.
Whichever container you purchase from the green house should allow for drainage; if there are no holes, be sure to drill some that are about ½” across and then layer a bit of newspaper or landscaping cloth on the bottom before you start planting. This will keep soil in while allowing excess water to escape. Also, your container should have a nice wide opening – narrow openings are not conducicve to proper aeration or easy harvesting.
Care for Your Container Garden
Depending on which vegetables you have chosen, pick the location that’s best for proper sun exposure on a normal basis. As stated before, you can move your container if absolutely necessary but you won’t want to do that all the time. The soil you choose for planting must contain an even mixture of peat moss, soil, sand and compost. Before you fill your container, wash it with a biodegradable or natural cleaning agent, rinse, drain completely and then dry it. After the initial planting, be sure to water your new garden on a regular basis and fertilize each time you water. (Container gardens often need a bit more watering than an in-ground garden simply because of the efficient drainage system.) Be careful not to use chemical fertilizers, but rather natural means such as manure. It is usually readily available at your local greenhouse and will ensure excellent plant growth.
Depending on which vegetables you have chosen, pick the location that’s best for proper sun exposure on a normal basis. As stated before, you can move your container if absolutely necessary but you won’t want to do that all the time. The soil you choose for planting must contain an even mixture of peat moss, soil, sand and compost. Before you fill your container, wash it with a biodegradable or natural cleaning agent, rinse, drain completely and then dry it. After the initial planting, be sure to water your new garden on a regular basis and fertilize each time you water. (Container gardens often need a bit more watering than an in-ground garden simply because of the efficient drainage system.) Be careful not to use chemical fertilizers, but rather natural means such as manure. It is usually readily available at your local greenhouse and will ensure excellent plant growth.
No matter how small the space you too can have your own delicious, convenient and weed-free vegetable garden.
Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. She is currently researching Edmonton Greenhouses.
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