How to Grow a Container Garden

You can grow a garden even if you don't have alot of room. Grow plants in pots and containers on your patio, windowsills and hanging baskets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Suitable containers and pots.
• Plants, potting soil, and fertilizer as needed.
• Small stones for bottom of pots and containers for drainage.

1. Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. The container gardener is limited only by your imagination. Consider the following guidelines when choosing your container.
2. Plant Mixture
   
   Make sure you have a plant mixture that will drain well and keeps the moisture in so the roots will stay damp. You should use common compost or a good potting soil. Check requirements of plant you want to grow. If compost is unavailable use equal parts of sand, garden soil, and peat moss, you may want to add lime if your soil is acidic. Add soil to container between the top of soil and container top, leave a 2 inch space. Add half inch much later on.
3. container gardening on porch Plenty of Sunlight
   
   You will need at least 5 hours or more of sunlight daily to accommodate you container garden. Cabbage and lettuce tolerates shade more, beets and carrots need lots of sun. Tomatoes and cucumbers which are considered fruits need more sun, dependent on the variety.
4. Fertilizer & Watering
   
   Water often, especially during hot weather and fertilize often. Fish fertilizer is excellent giving plant boosting capabilities, as well as balanced vitamins and nutrients solution.
5. Annuals
   
   You can grow a wide variety of annuals: Pansies, Marigolds, Nasturtiums, snapdragons, periwinkle, and lobelia are just a few suitable to grow in your favorite container. You’ll be amazed at how much you can actually grow in containers even in the tightest areas.
6. Vegetables
   
   Vegetables that mature early are ideal for containers are leafy lettuce, mustard cress or silver beets make the perfect summer salad. You can use 5 gallon containers for the vegetables that are going to be big or bulky, carrots, radishes or herbs can be grown in the window sill. With the right plan you may be able to have several crops from you container garden. Easy to grow and root are cherry tomatoes, peppers, baby carrots or spring onions. You can plant herbs around leafy lettuce and veggies which grow quickly.
7. Seeds
   
   In conclusion, you can start a lot of flowers and vegetables from seed early, give them a head start. Remember you can save your seeds from flowers and vegetables to use for next season. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are great for starting indoors. Be sure you don’t over water them, and put them in a sunny window.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant your container garden in a sunny area.
• Water frequently, and remember to fertilize.
• Keep plant insecticides away from children and pets.