9 Tips for Container Gardening

Container gardening is a great way to grow vegetables, fruit, and other plants if your backyard is too small or nonexistent. You could also grow plants that wouldn’t survive in your climate by keeping them indoors during the cold season. Plus, you would be able to move your plants without digging up anything, making it a great option for renters. Here are 9 tips for container gardening!

1. Choose the right container for your plants. Pay attention to the size and type of your pots for successful container gardening. Generally, larger plants, such as summer squash, need larger containers, while smaller plants, like annuals and small herbs, will do well in 10-inch containers.

 

2. You don’t have to completely fill a large container with soil, which can get expensive and will make your container garden very heavy. Use a lighter filler material, like packing peanuts, soda cans, or pine cones, to fill out the pot. You could also create a false bottom. However, if you live in a windy area, you want it heavy so it doesn’t fall over. Add rock or gravel to keep it grounded.

 

3. You can grow large plants and trees in containers, but be sure to transfer them to bigger containers or the ground when they become root-bound. This means that the roots of your plant has grown so much that there is no more room in the container, leading to stunted growth and eventually death. If your tree stops growing vertically, even if it continues to produce fruit and leaves, it’s probably root-bound and needs a larger container. Roots might grow through drainage holes and over the lip of the pot.

 

 4. Grow trees in containers and put them around your patio or porch for added beauty until they become root-bound. Then you can plant them in your land and then switch it up with a new tree or plant for your containers. Just make sure to break up some of the roots before planting it into the ground.

 

5. Love fruit trees but don’t have the space or a permanent home? Container gardening is the perfect way to enjoy a fruit tree, such as a citrus tree, banana plant, or fig tree, without having to plant it in your land. Start out with a 5- or 7-gallon container and move the tree to a 10- to 15-gallon container when it grows and becomes root-bound.

 

6. Always ensure that your container gardens have adequate drainage. There should be holes in the bottom and/or sides of the container. This helps excess water to drain out and allows air to access the soil. Diseases can occur if there isn’t enough drainage.

 

7. Another way to achieve optimal drainage in container gardening is to use quality potting soil. A potting mix will give you good drainage and will have no weeds or pests.

 

8. Yes, you can actually grow vegetables in a container. Here is a great article on growing broccoli in containers.  Read to the end, where you’ll find links to tutorials on growing more vegetables in containers, including beets, cherry tomatoes, arugula, jalapenos, and radishes. And check out this post that recommends five vegetables that grow well in containers.  You could have a whole vegetable garden on your patio, all in pretty containers, even if you live on the 15th floor in an apartment building!

 

9. Planting all of your herbs in one container is a great way to streamline your gardening AND cooking. You’ll be able to easily grab the herbs you want, all at the same time, as you cook. Put your herb container on casters so you can bring it in to the kitchen when you need it and move it under the shade when it’s hot outside.

Container gardening is definitely something that anyone can do, no matter where they live! I seriously want a herb garden in a cute container right now. How about you, are you interested in container gardening? Do you have any container gardening tips to add to this list?

 

Looking for more gardening tips? Don’t miss 10 Edible Plants to Grow Indoors and 30 Sweet and Simple Succulent DIYs.

 

Sources:

Container Gardening 101…a la Helen Weis with Unique by Design

https://www.starkbros.com/blog/fruit-trees-in-containers-pt1/
https://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Projects/Prepping-Design-Planting-Harvest/Harvesting/Root-bound-Plants#.VVIlU2Zxtl8
https://acultivatednest.com/2014/05/my-tips-for-planting-a-one-pot-container-herb-garden/

 

I’m Elisa and I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two little girls. I used to teach reading and writing, but now I stay at home with my two kiddos and read and write in my spare time. I also love to undertake DIY projects, find new recipes on Pinterest, and dream about someday finally completing our home. Above all, I love to learn about new things and sharing my new-found knowledge with others.”