Growing Edibles by Container Gardening

With container gardening, you get all the benefits of a traditional garden, but instead of cultivating a bunch of tiny little plants in a small pot, you’re growing hundreds of thousands of plants in a relatively small space. This is a great way to expand your home garden and add some instant extra square feet to your yard. Container plants are easier to care for than those in the ground since they don’t have to deal with weeds, insects, rot, and all the other issues that an outdoor garden has to deal with. Here are a few tips on growing edible plants by container gardening.

Selecting Containers for Edible

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting which container to use for which edibles. If you’re growing a lot of leafy greens, go with a plastic pot or one of the Terra cotta varieties. These won’t be eaten by the plant, but they’ll hold the moisture from the soil and keep the pests out.

Don’t Use Plastic Containers

For growing herbs or edible plants do not use plastic containers, unless they are for consumption. A simple solution is to use a hanging container that has holes in it. You can also use a number of different pots, ranging from three to five gallon sizes. Just make sure the potting materials aren’t toxic. Many people use these types of containers for container gardening to grow herbs, and you can too.

Selecting Location for Edible Plants

If you’re a beginner at container gardening, don’t worry. You can easily get by with a few common plants and some easy to grow vegetables. All you really need is a sunny location. Some herbs like a darker environment so if you’re growing a number of plants, it’s good to give them about two weeks to adjust to the light. Most plants like moist soil. Most of the time you can tell whether the soil is dry or wet just by touching it.

Benefit of Growing Edible plants by Container Gardening

Edibles like raisins, onions, garlic and cucumbers will grow quite well as long as you provide a rich soil and plenty of water. Almost any other vegetable or fruit tree will do as long as you’re consistent. Growing edibles by container gardening is a fun way to grow your favorite vegetables all year round. It’s also a great way to teach kids about gardening and about the importance of soil.

Selecting Hardy Plants

The plants that do well in container gardening are easy to grow and yield good quality leaves. Try and pick a variety that’s hardy in your area. Hardy plants mean that they will survive in moderate temperatures and not go dormant during cold months. One of the worst things that can happen to an edible plant is to go dormant and not be renewed. Container plants such as these should be potted in the spring and left in the ground for a month or two before taking cuttings and spreading out to get new life.

Best Vegetables to Grow in Containers

There are some vegetables that work better than others in container gardening. Tomatoes and squash are at the top of the list. These plants will grow well if you allow them plenty of room to grow up. If you have a greenhouse you can place these plants in individual trays and keep them inside the greenhouse during cold months and then move them to a warmer part of your home during warm months. Plants that like the sun better, however, will do better if you plant them farther away from the sunlight. Just be sure to provide them with indirect sunlight during the hottest part of the day when the sun is at its strongest.

Best Thing about Growing Edibles In Containers

One of the best things about growing edibles in containers is that you can move them around as often as you like without fear of losing any of the nutrients contained within them. This is not something you can expect from most vegetables that are grown in the ground. Vegetables kept in pots will generally stay the same size no matter what Mother Nature decides to do. If you are having problems with your plants, you might consider reporting them at least every other year or so.