Directions for Container Gardening

Use a container that has drainage holes at least one-half inch in diameter.

Container gardening allows you to grow flowers, ornamental trees and vegetables in small spaces if your yard has unsuitable soil. In fact, gardeners plagued by soil diseases can plant in containers without losing their vegetable crop, according to Texas A&M University. Throwing plants in pots will not produce a luxurious garden. Take into consideration planting location and types of containers to achieve gardening success.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Peat moss
• Perlite
• Container
• Bottled water
• Saucer
• Pea gravel
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Mix one-third finished compost, one-third peat moss and one-third perlite to make your own potting soil. Avoid using soil from your garden, since it has not been sterilized and may contain weed seeds or disease.

2. Remove nursery plants from containers. Prepare new pots at least two inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. Fill the new container with potting mixture.

3. Create a hole in the center of the potting mixture, twice the size of the plant's root ball. Place the plant in the hole at the same depth as the plant was in the nursery container, and pack soil around the base.

4. Pour bottled water around plant until the water drains from the bottom holes. Bottled water will prevent salt build-up in the soil.

5. Set the container on a saucer filled with one-half inch of pea gravel, to aid drainage. Place the container in a location that meets the plant's growing requirements for sunlight and temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Fertilize your container plants with a10-10-10 all-purpose fertilizer, following package directions.

• Avoid crowding too many plants into one container. Lack of air circulation increases the risk of disease.

References

• Texas A&M University Extension; Vegetable Gardening in Containers; Joseph G. Masabni;
• Oregon State University; Make Your Own Potting Soil; Peg Herring;
• The University of Arizona; Containers