How to Plant Vegetables in a Pot

Planting vegetables in a pot is a fun task but one that requires your utmost care and attention. It gives easy access to a home- grown harvest, which is fresh and free from industrial chemical sprays. Follow these steps to successfully plant your favorite vegetables in a pot.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Vegetable seeds
• Potting soil
• Fiberglass sheet

Instructions

1. Visit your local hardware store and choose from a variety of vegetables that can be grown in a pot or a container. Read the tags on the vegetable seed packets to learn the requirements or ask an employee to help you find the correct seeds.

2. Buy a large container to facilitate the easy growth of the vegetables. Small containers tend to constrict the plant and it dies quickly. Choose from a variety of clay, wooden or plastic pots. It is advisable to use a plastic pot with small holes for adequate drainage and root growth. Other pots tend to dry out quickly, whereas a plastic pot retains moisture and is considered a good medium for homegrown vegetables.

3. Purchase a mixture of good quality pot soil, vermiculite, sphagnum peat moss, compost bark, perlite and a fertilizer. Do not use garden soil as it usually contains insects and small pests that eat away the vegetable sprouts.

4. Put the soil in the pot and bury the vegetable seeds inside. Press down the soil and sprinkle water on top. Place a fiberglass sheet underneath the pot to keep insects and bugs away from the vegetables. This also prevents the soil from spilling out of the pot.

5. Place the planted pots on a stand or hang them on your patio wall so they receive an adequate amount of sunlight. Remove the vegetables once they are ripe.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the plant two times a day and add water if it looks dry.

• Remove unnecessary weeds from the pot.

• Place summer vegetables in an area with a temperature between 65 to 95 degrees F. If you decide to plant vegetables in the winter, keep the pot inside where the temperature is between 55 to 75 degrees F.

• Do not use dark colored pots. They absorb large amounts of heat, which is harmful to young budding plants.