Container Gardens
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Do you live in an apartment or some other place where you don't have space for a traditional garden? Is
your soil so rocky it's nearly unworkable, or does it drain poorly and remain waterlogged into May? That's
no reason you can't enjoy a few home-grown vegetables or brighten your home with colorful flowers. Many
vegetables, flowers, and herbs can be grown in pots on a deck or patio. Even if you have a thriving
garden in your native soil, there are reasons to give container gardening a try.
your soil so rocky it's nearly unworkable, or does it drain poorly and remain waterlogged into May? That's
no reason you can't enjoy a few home-grown vegetables or brighten your home with colorful flowers. Many
vegetables, flowers, and herbs can be grown in pots on a deck or patio. Even if you have a thriving
garden in your native soil, there are reasons to give container gardening a try.
Advantages of Container Gardening
As mentioned above, a container garden can fit in places where traditional gardening is not possible.
Planting in containers may also allow you to plant earlier. There's no waiting for the soil to warm in the
spring, and a dark-colored container will absorb the sun's heat, keeping your planting mix and the roots
of your plants warm. If your pots aren't too heavy, they may also be moved into a garage or shed when
frost or foul weather threatens tender plants, or moved during the day to catch the most sun.
Heat-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers thrive in dark-colored pots.
By using potting mix instead of garden soil, you avoid the problems of poor drainage, soil compaction,
weed seeds, and soil-borne plant diseases. Spreading weeds are excluded, and the few weeds that do
germinate from seed drifting in on the air can be quickly and easily removed.
Crops that need different soil conditions from your native soil can be grown in the micro-environment of
a container. Conditions such as the acidity or alkalinity (pH) of the soil can be controlled more easily.
Planting in containers may also allow you to plant earlier. There's no waiting for the soil to warm in the
spring, and a dark-colored container will absorb the sun's heat, keeping your planting mix and the roots
of your plants warm. If your pots aren't too heavy, they may also be moved into a garage or shed when
frost or foul weather threatens tender plants, or moved during the day to catch the most sun.
Heat-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers thrive in dark-colored pots.
By using potting mix instead of garden soil, you avoid the problems of poor drainage, soil compaction,
weed seeds, and soil-borne plant diseases. Spreading weeds are excluded, and the few weeds that do
germinate from seed drifting in on the air can be quickly and easily removed.
Crops that need different soil conditions from your native soil can be grown in the micro-environment of
a container. Conditions such as the acidity or alkalinity (pH) of the soil can be controlled more easily.
Special Considerations
Container gardens also have a few special needs and limitations.
The most important are related to water and drainage. Because potting soil is relatively light and loose,
water drains through it easily. While this is good in that it keeps plants from drowning in standing water,
it also means that container gardens dry out much more quickly than gardens planted directly in the
ground. Nutrients also leach out more rapidly. Because of this, you'll need to keep a closer eye on the
moisture level in your container garden, and fertilize more often but in smaller amounts than an
in-ground garden.
The size of your containers will limit the kinds of plants that can comfortably grow in them. A container
must be large and deep enough to accommodate the plant's fully grown root system without crowding.
The most important are related to water and drainage. Because potting soil is relatively light and loose,
water drains through it easily. While this is good in that it keeps plants from drowning in standing water,
it also means that container gardens dry out much more quickly than gardens planted directly in the
ground. Nutrients also leach out more rapidly. Because of this, you'll need to keep a closer eye on the
moisture level in your container garden, and fertilize more often but in smaller amounts than an
in-ground garden.
The size of your containers will limit the kinds of plants that can comfortably grow in them. A container
must be large and deep enough to accommodate the plant's fully grown root system without crowding.
Choosing Containers
A container of just about any material can be used for a container garden. Plastic, wood, ceramic or
terracotta, metal, and even concrete or stone are all possibilities. A wooden half-barrel or galvanized
washtub converts easily into a planter by drilling drainage holes in the bottom. Wooden planter boxes
can easily be constructed from 2x4 or 2x6 lumber. Terracotta and ceramic are attractive but are heavy
and difficult to move when full of soil and plants, and can also be expensive. Plastic, while not the most
glamorous, is inexpensive, lightweight, and durable - probably the most practical material for garden
containers.
A container needs to meet only a few requirements. It must be large enough for whatever you plan to
plant in it, it must have adequate drainage holes, and it should fit in the space you've set aside for your
container garden.
terracotta, metal, and even concrete or stone are all possibilities. A wooden half-barrel or galvanized
washtub converts easily into a planter by drilling drainage holes in the bottom. Wooden planter boxes
can easily be constructed from 2x4 or 2x6 lumber. Terracotta and ceramic are attractive but are heavy
and difficult to move when full of soil and plants, and can also be expensive. Plastic, while not the most
glamorous, is inexpensive, lightweight, and durable - probably the most practical material for garden
containers.
A container needs to meet only a few requirements. It must be large enough for whatever you plan to
plant in it, it must have adequate drainage holes, and it should fit in the space you've set aside for your
container garden.
Planting Medium
Use potting soil for your container garden. Don't use garden soil, as it is much too dense and doesn't
drain adequately. It can also introduce soil-borne diseases into your containers.
For more on planting mix, see the next page.
drain adequately. It can also introduce soil-borne diseases into your containers.
For more on planting mix, see the next page.
Plants for Container Gardening
A wide variety of edible and ornamental plants adapt easily to container gardening. Whenever possible,
choose bush, dwarf, or compact varieties.
choose bush, dwarf, or compact varieties.
Tomatoes (especially determinate varieties)
Potatoes: Start with the container about a
third full of soil, and fill it as the vines grow.
Cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash:
Provide a trellis or tomato cage for vines to
climb.
Peppers
Eggplant
Root Crops: Carrots, beets, radishes, and
others do well in light, loose potting mixes
that allow them to grow unhindered by heavy
clay.
Lettuce and salad greens
Peas and beans: Use a trellis or tomato
cage for pole varieties.
Strawberries: Adapt readily to containers.
There are even planters designed for
strawberries.
Blueberries: Not only produce berries, but
make attractive shrubs.
Herbs
Potatoes: Start with the container about a
third full of soil, and fill it as the vines grow.
Cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash:
Provide a trellis or tomato cage for vines to
climb.
Peppers
Eggplant
Root Crops: Carrots, beets, radishes, and
others do well in light, loose potting mixes
that allow them to grow unhindered by heavy
clay.
Lettuce and salad greens
Peas and beans: Use a trellis or tomato
cage for pole varieties.
Strawberries: Adapt readily to containers.
There are even planters designed for
strawberries.
Blueberries: Not only produce berries, but
make attractive shrubs.
Herbs
A Few Container Garden Ideas
Salad garden: Plant lettuce, spinach,
cabbage, chard, mesclun, and other salad
greens. Different colored lettuces planted
together make a display that's pleasing to the
eye as well.
Salsa garden: Grow everything you need for
a batch of fresh salsa - tomatoes or tomatillos,
chilis, onions, and herbs.
Herb garden: Perfect for patio or for indoors,
a garden of mixed herbs is attractive, fragrant,
and useful in the kitchen. Chives, sage,
thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, catnip, and
other herbs thrive in containers.
Hummingbird/butterfly garden: Plant
flowers to attract these nectar-sipping visitors
to your container garden. Butterfly bush,
cosmos, heliotropes, red sage, salvia, and
zinnia are just a few of the plants known to
appeal to hummers and butterflies.
cabbage, chard, mesclun, and other salad
greens. Different colored lettuces planted
together make a display that's pleasing to the
eye as well.
Salsa garden: Grow everything you need for
a batch of fresh salsa - tomatoes or tomatillos,
chilis, onions, and herbs.
Herb garden: Perfect for patio or for indoors,
a garden of mixed herbs is attractive, fragrant,
and useful in the kitchen. Chives, sage,
thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, catnip, and
other herbs thrive in containers.
Hummingbird/butterfly garden: Plant
flowers to attract these nectar-sipping visitors
to your container garden. Butterfly bush,
cosmos, heliotropes, red sage, salvia, and
zinnia are just a few of the plants known to
appeal to hummers and butterflies.