How to Grow Vegetables in Boxes

Planting a vegetable garden in boxes can be easy and rewarding if you don't have the space for a full backyard garden. Boxes can be made out of wood, metal, plastic or many other sturdy materials. For small boxes, miniature dwarf varieties bred from larger vegetables work best. Plenty of water, sufficient sunlight and proper soil are the key ingredients for a boxed vegetable garden. You can begin your garden in either spring or midsummer to ensure a bountiful summer or fall harvest.

Things You'll Need

• Boxes
• Garden soil
• Fertilizer
• Vegetable seeds or plants and bulbs

Instructions

1. Prepare your boxes. You can use a variety of materials to construct your boxes, including plastic, wood, stone or even metal. Plastic and metal boxes work best for containing water, requiring less frequent watering on your part. Though using wood boxes requires more care in watering, they offer better insulation against the cold than other materials. Each has its merits, therefore use whatever you have on hand, just make sure there are proper drainage holes in the bottom.

2. Select a planting soil. When choosing a potting soil for vegetables, it is best to steer toward those labeled as "premium," which not only contain added fertilizers, but also additives that help the soil retain water longer. This is important for vegetables because they require continually moist soil. Even if using a premium potting soil, you should incorporate a fertilizer into the mix. Use either a commercial fertilizer or organic compost or manure. If using a commercial fertilizer, follow the instruction on the package. If using your own, keep to a 3:1 soil-to-fertilizer ratio.

3. Choose the vegetables. A boxed vegetable garden can contain any variety of vegetable that you fancy. Lettuce, cucumber, eggplant, beets, zucchini, peas, cabbage, carrots, peppers, squash and more all can be grown inside of a box. However, due to the size, the possibility of overcrowding is likely. Most vegetables produce significant amounts of foliage, and therefore you will be able to plant only a certain amount in the space available. Instead, consider using miniature versions of your favorite vegetables that are bred to be small. They will fall under the titles of "dwarf," "midget," "compact" and "baby." Plant baby corn instead of full size stalks, or cherry tomatoes in lieu of regular tomatoes.

4. Plant your box garden. Before planting, give the soil a good soak. For transplants, plant the bulbs or roots about 1 inch from the surface. If using seeds, the depth will depend on the variety of vegetable. Refer to the planting depth instructions on the back of your seed packet. When to plant also will depend on what vegetable you are planting: If you're planning a summer harvest, plant in the early spring; for a fall harvest, plant in the middle of the summer.

5. Keep the soil well watered. Check the moisture level in the boxes daily. Depending on the nature of your climate, you will need to water your vegetables every day or two. If using wooden boxes, you will need to water more often than plastic or clay boxes. Vegetables need about six hours of direct sunlight per day. If your boxes are mobile, you can chase the sun around the yard. Harvest the vegetables as they grow: If you harvest the vegetables while they are young, the plant will continue to produce fruit throughout the season.

References

• My Great Home: Growing Your Own Vegetables
• The Garden Helper: Vegetable Gardening Basics