If you are looking for an easier way to control the process of growing vegetables, then perhaps you should move your garden into a container. The advantages of planting in containers are many, including easier control of pests, maintenance of soil, and adjustment of light and temperature.
Most vegetables that can be grown outdoors will do well in containers. Pumpkins and cucumbers, both of which take considerable space, might not be great choices. But tomatoes, peas, peppers, carrots and many others will do just as well (sometimes better) in a container.
Be sure to select a container that is large enough to accommodate the full grown plant at harvesting time. Use weed free soil and add the right amount of fertilizer even before you plant. Synthetic soil-like media are an option. Mixtures of peat moss, perlite, wood chips and others can be a good choice for a variety of species.
For easiest water control, prepare the soil before planting, or use a synthetic medium. To grow the healthiest plants possible, it is necessary that there is the right balance of drainage and moisture retention. If the soil is full of clay particles, they can be broken up by using commercial soil. In addition, putting marbles at the bottom of the container allows the water to drain out through the bottom by not letting the holes be blocked by soil.
The key to growing a healthy plant is by carefully watching its water intake. If a plant is placed near a window, the soil can dry out quickly. Over hydrating can cause root rot, and forgetting if they have even watered the plants that day so it is best to keep a soil tester on hand to ensure proper moisture levels.
In most cases, soil straight from the outdoors isn’t a good choice for containers. Very clay-like soil outdoors can be compensated for somewhat by natural features that drain the water away. In a container, the strong ability of clay to retain water is exaggerated. Very sandy soil will need to be built up. If that much effort is required to adjust outdoor soil, it’s easier just to buy professionally prepared media.
A good long day of sunlight is what most vegetables usually thrive under. Tomatoes, for example, do best in windows that face south, and they handle the heat well. More delicate vegetables, such as lettuce, need to be places where there is less direct sunlight and more shade. If you need a little more or less sun, all you have to do is pick up the pot and go!
The need for pest control is vital in container gardening. Many think that as long as their plants are not outside, that they are safe; However, this is not the truth. Insects can get in through small cracks, screen doors, or even in the soil itself. For that reason it is important to use insecticide soap, or other commercial mixtures. This keeps the plants, the crops, and you safe.
Growing vegetables in containers may require a bit more work, but the produce is definitely worth the effort. In addition, the health benefits that fresh vegetables offer help to complete a well rounded diet.
1 response so far ↓
1 Brian // Jul 12, 2009 at 7:04 am
Containers are often a good idea, I like raised beds as well for all the same reasons.
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