The Container Garden

Container gardening is convenient for several reasons. If you have little or no yard space you can still enjoy having flowers and vegetables. It will all but eliminate weeding, and watering takes less time.

The container choice is key to optimum performance. The main requirement of any pot you choose to plant in it must have drainage holes. A pot of at least 5 gallons will support a variety of plants. If you are having custom boxes made to line a deck, they need to be 12 inches wide and 15 inches deep.

A good quality potting mixture is important. Making your own mixture is very easy. You will need equal parts of sand, peat moss and a loamy garden soil.

Sunlight is another part of the growing process. The amount of direct sunlight that you have available is also a factor. Most plants need a minimum 5 hours of direct sunlight each day; others will do best with 8 hours of light a day.

Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage will tolerate the most shade. Root crops such as radishes and carrots will need more sun. The fruiting vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes need the most sun.  Don’t overcrowd vegetables when planting. There are many plants now being produced for container gardening.

Container plants lose moisture quickly. Plants might need to be watered daily, during hot and dry weather, but not as often when nature is watering for you. It would also be a good idea to provide your plants with a liquid fertilizer on a weekly basis.

The convenience of container gardening is why this is a good choice. The few minutes a day it takes to produce results will make it satisfying and enjoyable.