Container Gardening
Vegetable Container Gardening
Great results can be obtained from container gardening. Just about all vegetables and herbs can be grown in containers. Planters often called flower pots, window boxes. can be made
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Where to use containers
Containers can be used anywhere there is sunlight available, window sill, porch, patio, rooftop or in the yard. With daylight lamps you can even use containers where there is no sunlight available. Some aggressive crops such as mint are preferable to grow in containers as they tend to take over the garden.
What to use for containers
Many different materials can be used for containers, including wood, plastic, pottery, clay, concrete, clay, terra cotta, and metal.
Wood
Any natural wood can be used for containers, however some are better than others for rot and insect resistance. Cedar, cypress, redwood, and teak are some of the best for rot and insect resistance, however these woods can be expensive. Less expensive woods like pine or poplar will work fine , however they will not last as long due and are more susceptible to rot and insect damage. Never use pressure treated lumber for vegetable or herb containers as they contain chemicals which could leach into your crops.
Use fasteners made for decking or outdoor use.
Be sure to add holes for drainage so you do not drown your plants.
Plastic
Plastic and polycarbonate containers for raising vegetables and herbs should be either containers made for planting or containers made for food or food grade containers. Often good containers can be obtained from restaurants, They often get cooking oil in 3 and 5 gallon containers that make excellent planters with little modification.
Do not use containers that were not designed for planting or for food products, for growing tomatoes, vegetables or herbs. Old paint buckets may be fine for growing flowers etc, however they should not be used to grow produce that will be eaten. The manufacturer did not intend for the vessels to be used for products that will be consumed by humans and they should not be used for such.
Ceramic
Ceramic and terracotta containers that are designed for plants will be fine. Terracotta will be a little dryer due to its permeable nature, they will have to be watered more often.
Basket style containers
Many basket style planters are of natural materials like coconut coir and will wick water away quicker, keeping plants dryer and thus needing to be watered more often.
Advantages of containers
Can be used just about anywhere, can be moved as conditions change, example brought inside for relief from cold or moved to catch more sun.
Disadvantages of containers
Tend to dry out easier, watering must be maintained with regularity
Soil mix
There are many ready made potting soil mixes that will work just fine in your container garden. Be sure to purchase potting soil and not top soil or regular garden soil as these do not have the properties required for container gardening.
The best soil for containers is one that is light and drains well, yet needs to have structure to hold oxygen from say Sphagnum peat moss or coir (coconut husk fiber) and hold water with vermiculite, perlite or soilmoist. Potting soil mix should also contain nutrients from compost , like composted manure, humus or Vermicast.
When filling the pot with the potting mix be sure to leave some room at the top, otherwise water will drain off the side when watering.
Watering
It is important to monitor closely the watering of plants in containers. A good soil mix with vermiculite, perlite or soilmoist will retain water much better than just soil alone. Most potting soils will contain at least one of these ingredients.
There are some pots commercially available that have water retention systems built in that require much less attention to watering. There are also vertical stackable potting systems where you only have to water the top pot and the water flows down the the lower pots.
There are also containers that are “self watering” such as the “Balconera Self Watering Planter” By Burpee.
Be sure to leave some room at the top of the pot for watering, do not fill soil all the way to the top or water will drain off and not reach the plant.
Hydroponics and Aquaponics
Are specialized versions of container gardening that do not require any soil at all. They use a growing medium like coir, rockwool, or rocks for the roots to cling to and a nutrient rich water is circulated over or around the roots.
