A Beginner’s Guide To Container Vegetable Gardening

^{Photo by Karolina Grabowska}

Container gardening is perfect for people who don’t have spacious yards. Growing your produce is now possible even if you only have a small patio, balcony, or rooftop.

Container gardening is done in containers like pots instead of plants in the soil. This method is highly prevalent in urban areas, where medium to large-scale gardening is impossible. Because of its efficiency and mobility, you can arrange everything as you see fit. Having no room for planting vegetables may be a hassle, but growing your food doesn’t have to be impossible.

What Do You Gain From Container Gardening?

Being able to move from one place to another is part of the benefits of container gardening. Because you don’t have to haul out plants and uproot them, they won’t be at risk of withering. You can move your potted plants to where they’ll thrive. And though you might have a few at home, they still maximize your space since container gardening lets you take advantage of space-saving solutions.

Another benefit of container gardening is the sense of control over how the plants will grow. There are better chances of achieving the ideal height and size, which affects the number of nutrients in the plant. You won’t have to endure weeding, as the small ground area lessens their rapid propagation. You still have to pull weeds out, but it won’t be as hard as the ones in more significant soil areas. Harvesting will also be more streamlined, and container gardening makes the task easier.

Things You Need To Know Before Starting

It would help if you still considered typical considerations like sunlight, water, and weather conditions before starting your container vegetable garden. Those factors play out in the way your vegetable plants potentially grow. So here are some things you need to jot down before you start gardening.

1 – Sunlight Exposure

Place your veggie pots in an area with total sun exposure. Your plants need six to eight hours a day, especially for fruity plants like the following:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Squash
• Eggplant

Leafy greens can still thrive under less sunlight, but that doesn’t mean they should not be exposed to the sun. They need at least three to five hours daily. Your location is also a significant factor in the sunlight exposure requirement of your plant. For instance, Southern and Western areas have the warmest climates, thus more sunlight. As for the Northern and Eastern regions, they have shadier and cooler temperatures.

2 – Water Source

Your potted plants still need a sufficient amount of water for them to grow correctly. Always remember that container gardens need more water than typical ground ones. You know what happens when they don’t receive enough watering. Therefore, put them someplace with good water access so you can save lots of time and effort running back and forth to water your potted plants.

3 – Protection From The Wind

Certain weather conditions may cause the top part of your plants to tip over, so keep in mind that container plants are vulnerable to strong winds. It is ideal for placing your plants in a sheltered place. And even if they’re sheltered, secure them somewhere with good water access and sunlight. Use natural materials like stone, cinderblocks, or ropes to ensure your plants’ safety.

Another thing you need to remember is the microclimate in your area. It’s a small space where various climates aren’t precisely the same as the climate that exists on a larger scale. An example would be your asphalt driveway, which tends to warm up more than your lawn. Your pots adapt to the microclimate surrounding them, so it’s best to keep that in mind.

The Right Size For Your Pots

Picking a suitable container for your planned vegetable garden is fundamental. They need a lot of space, especially the roots, and a smaller pot without room will shorten the plant’s lifespan. Vegetables require at least 12 inches of soil to thrive, but larger ones need more. Remember that large containers are heavier and will be challenging to move around, and are unfit for specific locations like the terrace. The advantage that smaller containers have is that they are mobile and versatile. However, water tends to dry out faster, so pay attention to your small, potted plants daily.

What Type Of Pot Should You Use?

Plant containers come in a wide variety these days and the material where it’s made of matters a lot. These are some of the materials commonly made for plant containers:

Plastic

This material is a super popular choice for gardening. It is lightweight and comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors, so you have a lot to choose from. Plastic pots hold moisture well, and they are relatively cheap. Ensure that you use eco-friendly plastic pots so chemicals won’t seep into the ground.

Ceramic

They can be more decorative or painted over compared to plastic pots. With ceramic ones, you can choose between glazed or unglazed styles. However, glazed ceramic pots can hold more moisture than unglazed. The clay material is also porous, allowing more air and water. Ceramic pots are susceptible to cracking in cold climates, so store them in sheltered areas, especially during winter.

Other Types Of Pots You Can Try

Halloween is here, and your squash garden might be ripe for the occasion! If you want to grow more pumpkins in your container garden, try the special edition Bobs with custom décor like ‘BatBob.’ They are cute and fun-looking 3D-printed figure pots by Casa Z Décor, which are the best planters for indoor plants. Trying out these pots will add charm to your tiny veggie garden if you want to grow your first vegetable garden.