Container gardening is the ideal solution for anybody who loves the taste of fresh vegetables but lacks the space for a vegetable garden. As long as you get at least six hours of sunlight each day, you can be successful raising vegetables plants in containers. This guide will teach you the basics of growing vegetables in pots, from preparing the soil to the final harvest.
How to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Many gardeners have been growing flowers in containers for years, but did you know that you can successfully raise vegetables in containers as well? As long as you get at least six hours of sunlight each day, you can raise your own vegetables on the patio or balcony and get a surprisingly large crop. You just need to be aware of a few basics before you start.
First, you must choose the right sort of container. Although you may be tempted to use any sort of container that is big enough, it is important to choose one that has good drainage at the bottom and that is not made from any toxic materials. You wouldn’t want your vegetables to absorb any toxins, would you? If the container you choose does not have drainage holes at the bottom, you can remedy this with a drill.
Next, you need to get some good soil. You might want to use soil that comes straight out of the garden, but this is not a good idea. Garden soil often has various insect pests and micro-organisms that can cause problems for your plants. In addition, garden soil will become compacted when used in a container, because of the frequent watering that plants in containers require. It is far better to start out with sterilized potting soil purchased from a garden center. Commercial potting soil will be a lot lighter and provide better drainage than dirt from your garden. You can improve the potting soil even more by adding peat moss and compost to it.
When you grow vegetables in containers, you will have to fertilize them. Plants grown in containers need to be watered frequently, and the frequent (more…)