Container Gardening for Beginners

Getting Started With Your Own Container Garden

Starting a container garden is not as hard as you may think. In fact, it’s relatively simple once you know a few tricks of the trade. A container garden can be indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both. First sit down and make a list of what flowers, or vegetables you would like to have in your garden. Once you do this, it is time for a little research.

When starting a container garden you need to know the specifications as to how much root space your plant will need. You will be able to easily find this information online, and in most cases, at the same place you are reading about plants in general.

You need to know these specifications in order to select a large enough pot to give the roots room to grow. Small things like herbs need very small pots, but if you want to grow potatoes, then obviously you need a deeper pot.

Some people find that starting a container garden is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. By hanging some of your plants, and placing the others at different eye levels in a room, you will have a lush and beautifully decorated room.

Containers need to be selected based on where they will be placed. Vegetables will need to be placed where they can be in the sunlight most of the day in order to grow and flourish. If you can’t do that, there are growth lights that can be purchased at your local hardware or discount store.

Keep in mind when starting a container garden that drainage of the pot is a key element. And if you plan on moving the plants from time to time, you need containers that are not heavy.

All You Need When Starting A Container Garden

Water

Container gardens require watering up to several times a day, however too much water will ruin your crop just as easy as under watering. If you are worried about this, you can purchase some of those self watering bulbs at the discount store, or install a drip system with a timer.

Soil

You need to purchase quality potting soil for vegetables and don’t use any soil from outside. It will compact in your pot and the water will not drain properly. By using quality potting soil you won’t have to worry about weeds getting in your garden as well.

Containers

Containers can vary as much as the plants inside them. Use your imagination when selecting a container. Nurseries and flower stores carry plant containers, but it is fun to craft your own as well. Containers should have good drainage to maintain the health of your plant. If there are no holes on the bottom of your container, you can always prop the plant up from the bottom of the container with rocks or another type of object to insure soil drainage. That is just about the only restriction on a container.

You can make many garden containers out of things you have around the house. Some examples of imaginative containers include kitchen items such as glassware, serving bowls, cookie jars, or even a pasta pot. Other items can include fish bowls, baskets, wooden boxes and galvanized buckets and tubs. When deciding on a garden container, keep in mind the type of plants you will be growing. Also, if you plan to cluster your containers, make sure they compliment not only the plants, but each other as well.

The larger your container, the easier it will be to take care of, however, it will also take more water. A container at least 18″ (45cm) or bigger is the best.

For outside you can make a square wooden container in a flower bed and put a wooden trellis panel up next to the house. Plant something like ivy that will grow up the trellis and you will also have a beautiful privacy fence as well as vegetables in the garden.

Use your imagination. Think of your containers as your canvass and the plants as your paints and you will be sure to create a masterpiece!

Plants

Plants in container gardens are as varied as the containers themselves. Decide where you are placing your containers and then work within those parameters. If your garden is indoors or in the shade, choose shade loving plants, such as impatiens, ferns, begonias, hostas and more. Mix and match colors, shapes and textures. For the sunny garden containers think roses, dahlias and petunias, along with some sun-loving greens. Vegetables and herbs also make wonderful container garden plants.

Seed and Seedlings

Sometimes starting a garden from a seed is harder than taking a baby plant from the nursery and planting it. For things like tomatoes and bell peppers it is easier to just buy the baby plant. However you decide to plant your garden it will work with the proper care.

Best Vegetables For Starting A Container Garden

You can plant almost anything in a container garden but below is a list of some of the easiest vegetables to start with.

• peas
• potatoes
• tomatoes
• carrots
• radishes
• cucumbers
• eggplant
• squash

You don’t need to have a green thumb to have a wonderful container garden. Just be sure and give your plants loving care every single day and you will be rewarded with something great! Starting a container garden will be the most rewarding thing you have ever done.

And please watch the video below for expert advice on container gardening for beginners, Enjoy!…