| An attractive and thriving container vegetable garden | | | | all times. When the seeds sprout, remove the plastic |
| can be yours. In this container gardening guide I'll give | | | | cover but continue to water very gently - remember |
| you all the information and tips you need to get | | | | they are baby veggies and need loving care. |
| started now. It's fun, it's easy. So let's go... | | | | Other information about the plant's requirements |
| Step 1 - Choose Your Veggies (Note: Use this guide | | | | (spacing, etc..) can be found on the seed package. |
| to grow herbs, strawberries and flowers in your | | | | Try to give each plant the conditions that they |
| container garden too.) | | | | prefer. This is easy to do with container gardening - |
| What do you want to grow in your container veggie | | | | you control all of the environmental factors (soil, sun, |
| garden? The only rule is to choose vegetables that | | | | water etc...). |
| you actually like to eat - it's one of the benefits of | | | | Tip: Remember to add your favorite herbs, small |
| being a grown-up. There are many varieties of | | | | fruits (like strawberries) and flowers (nasturtiums and |
| vegetables that have been developed especially for | | | | dwarf marigolds are nice) to your veggie planters. |
| container gardening. Look for descriptive words like | | | | Bonus tip: Plant salad greens around the base of your |
| "bush," "compact" or "dwarf" when buying vegetable | | | | tomato plant. By the time the tomato plant in the |
| seeds or transplants (small plants ready to put | | | | center needs the space you will have harvested the |
| directly into the garden). It's fun to start seeds | | | | greens. |
| indoors yourself (or in a mini greenhouse) about 8 | | | | Step 5 - Fertilize and Water Veggies |
| weeks before it is expected to be warm enough to | | | | Your veggies need to be watered daily and fertilized |
| transplant them outside into your containers. | | | | on a regular basis. Fertilizer is the key to abundant |
| Tip: Plan to plant an extra pot or two of veggies to | | | | produce and healthy plants. Fertilizer replenishes the |
| share with your friends. | | | | nutrients that plants need and that are washed away |
| Step 2 - Choose Your Veggie Planters | | | | every time you water your containers. For best |
| Gardening in containers is easy (you don't need a PhD | | | | results look for complete organic fertilizers that are |
| from a horticulture university to be successful - all | | | | recommended especially for container gardening and |
| you need is a little basic knowledge) but one of the | | | | fertilize according to the package directions. |
| most important factors in your gardening success is | | | | Avoid using liquid fish emulsion fertilizer - cats and |
| choosing appropriate garden planters. Nearly all | | | | raccoons love the smell. (A special note about herbs: |
| vegetables and herbs will do well in a 5-gallon pot (12" | | | | Herbs need less fertilizer than vegetables. So after |
| diameter and 12" depth) but plants with shallow | | | | the initial planting, you will not need to add fertilizer |
| roots, like salad greens, will grow well in 6-8 inches of | | | | again.) |
| depth. | | | | Watering must be done daily and more often on |
| Use light colored pots for veggies that prefer cool | | | | extremely hot summer days when the planter soil is |
| temperatures (like lettuce and cabbage) and dark | | | | likely to dry out quickly. Be sure you have free |
| colored planters for heat loving plants (like tomatoes). | | | | flowing drainage holes in your garden planter. Elevate |
| For tall growing plants, choose pots made of heavy | | | | veggie planters on bricks or wood to allow drainage |
| material like terracotta or add a layer of clean sand | | | | and to protect surfaces. Consider watering aids and |
| to the bottom of the planter for added weight and | | | | time-savers like self-watering planters, water-holding |
| planter support. | | | | crystals that are added to the soil mix, and |
| Choose colors and styles of planters that compliment | | | | drip-irrigation systems designed especially for |
| your house and yard. There is a large selection of | | | | gardening in containers. |
| beautiful garden planters available to suit any taste | | | | Tip: Put a layer of peat moss on top of the soil in |
| and budget. Consider self-watering garden planters | | | | each planter to help retain moisture. |
| for extra convenience and a sure water supply for | | | | Step 6 - Give Your Veggies Sunshine |
| thirsty plants on hot summer days. Some plants will | | | | Most vegetables require 6 hours of sunlight daily. |
| do best if supported by a trellis or stake attached to | | | | Leafy vegetables like lettuce will do fine with |
| the garden planter. | | | | somewhat less light. If necessary, putting planters on |
| Tip: Share the fun and help a friend get started in | | | | casters makes it easy to move your plants from |
| veggie gardening. | | | | areas of limited light to more sunny areas. Group |
| Step 3 - Add Soil to Your Containers | | | | pots of heat-loving veggies together in the warmest |
| The soil for vegetables that are grown in containers | | | | spot on your patio and cluster vegetables that prefer |
| must be lightweight, loose, and hold moisture well. | | | | cooler temperatures in areas that are sheltered from |
| Regular soil is too heavy, compacts easily and should | | | | the hot afternoon sun. |
| never be used in planters. It is important to choose a | | | | Garden design is a great opportunity to create a |
| "soil-less" soil mix developed specifically for gardening | | | | garden that is productive, creates useful extensions |
| in containers. These soils are various mixtures of | | | | of your living space and is pleasing to look at. A |
| vermiculite, perlite, peat moss and other nutrients. | | | | potting bench can even be used as an outdoor |
| The soil can be reused the following year by adding | | | | buffet for family dining on the patio or deck. |
| special soil boosters that replenish lost nutrients that | | | | Tip: Get your kids involved in gardening. Even kids |
| vegetables require. Another benefit of using | | | | that don't like veggies will eat the baby carrots they |
| lightweight soil is that your planters will be easy to | | | | grew themselves. |
| move around - one of the main advantages of | | | | Step 7 - A Daily Gardening Schedule |
| container gardening is its portability. | | | | Your new vegetable garden is very low maintenance |
| Now for the fun part. The next step in our container | | | | requiring few supplies or tools, but you will need to |
| gardening guide is... | | | | water daily, fertilize regularly and be sure to harvest |
| Step 4 - Plant Your Veggie Garden | | | | your veggies and berries as they ripen (the fruit of |
| Follow the directions on the seed package to | | | | your labor). Herbs can be snipped and used as |
| determine the best time for planting in your area | | | | needed, either fresh or dried. |
| based on your gardening hardiness zone. Use a zone | | | | Most important of all, is to enjoy the time you spend |
| finder tool to determine your zone by zip code and | | | | in your garden - getting your hands in the soil and |
| be sure to make a note of your zone number. | | | | working with nature is relaxing and also provides a |
| Many gardeners will sow seeds directly into garden | | | | satisfying sense of accomplishment. |
| planters for quick growing veggies like greens, but | | | | Tip: An attractive planter of salad greens or herbs |
| purchase transplants for longer maturing vegetables | | | | makes a healthy and thoughtful gift. |
| like tomatoes. After planting your seeds, spray soil | | | | It's that easy. You'll soon discover that there is |
| lightly with a mister and cover pot with plastic wrap | | | | nothing like the taste of fresh, just-picked vegetables |
| to retain moisture and warmth. Keep the soil moist at | | | | from your own thriving container garden. |