How to Grow Veggies in Containers

If you don’t have a lot of land, or live in an apartment – you can still grow veggies and herbs! It’s time for container planting! You can even grow full size veggies if your planter is big enough and you have plenty of soil and water. Some vegetables that take up less space are carrots, lettuce, fruit trees, peppers, tomatoes and radishes.

Make sure you start out your new vegetable plant buddies with enough space for them to grow into, and be mindful of the soil and planting site.

Let’s get started!

Selecting containers – you can purchase new planting pots, upcycle pails, baskets, wine boxes, large food cans, etc.

Sun – The majority of vegetables grown in containers do the best in full sun or at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

Drainage – whatever the type of container you use, make sure it has holes in the bottom so it can drain excess water properly. You don’t want to drown your plants or have them sit in soggy soil. It’s also a great idea to elevate your pots or set them up on something so they don’t get plugged up against a flat surface.

Dark Colored Pots – Sometimes dark colored containers can absorb more heat and this could possibly be damaging to vegetable roots.

Size does matter – For vegetables like eggplants and tomatoes, you should use a five-gallon container for each plant. They can grow in two gallon containers, however, they will need more attention and water.

Soil & Fertilizer- We recommend using potting mixes vs. average soil. There are also peat-based mixes that contain peat and vermiculite which are pH adjusted already. This will help the plants get enough air and water.

Watering – pots and containers will always require more watering vs. plants that are in the ground. As your new friends grow, their roots will expand, requiring even more water. Make sure to check your containers daily to judge how much water your plants will need. Terra-cotta pots traditionally need more water as well since they are very porous.

Wind- Place your vegetables in an area that gets a breeze so it can get proper circulation. Too much wind can topple plants and containers over, especially fruit bearing plants. Tomatoes, peppers, and other plants can easily get diseases so it’s best to put these in an open spot with good air circulation.

Some easy veggies to get started with:

• Tomatoes

• Potatoes

• Carrots

• Radishes

• Eggplant

• Cucumber

• Peas

• Zucchini

 Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

Tips for Growing Organic

Why You Should Wash Your Fruits & Veggies

10 Foods You Can Regrow from Scraps

Sources Used –

https://www.thespruce.com/container-vegetable-gardening-1403396

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/growing-vegetables-in-containers/

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