#9.Container Gardening for Vegetables
Container gardens are a great way for novices wanting to grow their own vegetables to get started. All you really need for container gardening is to get some pots, potting soil, compost and the seeds or seedlings.
Container gardening is economical, unless you choose designer pots. Just about anything from an old bucket to toy bins, bright plastic tubs and beyond will do for your container garden. This is for people who really prefer not to invest any money in growing vegetables until they are sure they know what they are doing.
If you decide to make-do with stuff from your home, you will need to drill holes in the bottom of each container for drainage. Make a big one in the center and a few smaller ones outside of it.
Most any vegetable will grow just as well in a container garden as it would in a traditional backyard garden. You can choose vegetables that take up little space like lettuce, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, peppers and more.
The amount of sunlight your vegetables get is very important. Depending on where you have to put your container garden, will determine the crops you can grow. Some root crops and leaf crops are shade tolerant, but most vegetables require 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily. You can increase the available light with the use of reflective materials like aluminum foil.
When selecting containers for the garden remember you can choose from plastic, clay, wood or metal. The things to keep in mind when making your selections include: containers big enough to support the plant when it is fully grown; ones that hold soil without spilling; adequate drainage and have never been used to store toxic products.
Soil taken directly from the garden cannot be used in container gardens. You need a lightweight potting mix because the soil in containers needs to be porous to support the plants. The roots need water and air. Local garden stores sell packaged potting soil that is very good for this purpose. Soilless mixes are extra lightweight and do not contain sufficient nutrients, hence are not suitable.
There is no difference in planting when it comes to container gardens. You need to plant as you would normally in a regular garden. Fill a container to within an inch of the top with the soil mixture; damp it slightly first. Follow seed planting instructions given on the package.
Two things to avoid when watering, too little or too much – either can put an end to your container garden very quickly.