How To Plant Container Gardens

Vegetables that you grow yourself are a treat. However, not everyone has enough room or time to plant and care for a full garden. Container gardens are the solution; they allow you to enjoy the harvest of a few chosen vegetables without too much work or garden space.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seeds or seedlings
• Containers, each at least 15 quarts
• Soil
• Gravel

1. Evaluate your container garden area. Measure the space and decide what type and size containers you will use and what plants you will grow. The best seeds to grow in containers are: beans, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, pole beans, radishes and herbs.Make sure your containers have adequate drainage.

2. Preplant your seeds 4 to 8 weeks before you plan to plant your patio garden so that you will have seedlings for your garden. Start the seeds on your windowsill or in another well-lit, warm area of your home.

3. When it's time to plant your container garden, place a layer of gravel on the bottom of the container, allowing for drainage. Pour in the soil to about 1-inch from the top of the container.

4. Plant your vegetables in the soil, bearing in mind that each type of vegetable will require a different distance between plants and a different depth into the soil.

Tips & Warnings

• Move containers of plants that appear spindly to an area that receives more light. Water your container plants more often than you would a traditional vegetable garden. .

References

• Garden Guides
• Agrilife Extension

Resources

• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map