Easy vegetables to grow in your container garden

Gardening is work no matter how you do it, but container gardening is less work once you get it all set up. Each year that you plant a container garden you will get faster and find ways to cut the work even more.It is much easier to have an organic garden when using containers as well.

There aren’t too many vegetables that can’t be planted in containers, but some are easier to grow than others. In fact, some plants are ideally suited for containers, especially if you want an organic container garden. The three things you must provide to have healthy plants is water, nutrients, and physical support. Good drainage goes along with watering the plants, and remember too much water is just as harmful and too little water.

Before going over some easy vegetables you can grow in your container garden we need to talk about the soil. The best way to plant in containers is by using synthetic or soil-less mixes. They are very well suited for this and are free of disease and weed seeds. And the containers will not be as heavy, in case you need to move them.

Starter Vegetables To Grow

Tomatoes and Peppers

Tomatoes and different kinds of peppers are extremely easy to grow and they produce a lot on one little plant. You need a larger container for them because they can grow over two feet tall and you don’t want them to be top heavy. You can also surround them in chicken wire if you don’t want them growing out of the pot, however, tomatoes will grow hanging down.

These types of plants will continue to bloom and produce even after you have picked them clean, which is a great type of plant to have.

Lettuce

There is nothing like making a salad from fresh lettuce and growing it is simple to do. Lettuce can be grown in a small pot but the downside is that once it’s gone, no more reappears like on the tomato plant. However you can plant a new container of lettuce about every two weeks and they will become ready just in time for you to have a continuous supply.

Green Onions and Radishes

Both of these vegetables only have the stems and leaves above ground and the main part of the vegetable is underground. They don’t need a large pot and grow fairly quick.

Herbs

Herbs are very small and also make beautiful decorative plants to have in the kitchen, or outside close to the kitchen door. Snip off what you need and cook with completely fresh herbs!

There are other easy vegetables to grow as well, such as squash, eggplant, garlic chives, spinach and beets. However, the vegetables listed above will make you a great salad and growing them yourself will make all your food taste even better. Start your garden off with these easy vegetables and perk up your taste buds.

And please check out this great video with helpful advice on easy vegetables to grow in your container garden, Enjoy…..

Container Gardening – Why People Love It

Welcome to Small Organic Gardens. This site is here to help you understand every aspect of container gardening, and to build your excitement of this wonderful hobby. The container garden has become extremely popular in the last decade, and the number of people using these techniques continues to grow every year. There are many reasons why people love container gardening and the main ones are listed below.

Gardening Satisfies Our Creative Side

Almost everyone has a creative side and building a container garden is just as creative to some people, as painting or craft making is to others. People love the feeling of actually making something with their own hands, and see it come full circle to create something that wasn’t there before.

Food Safety is in Our Control

Growing your own vegetables at home gives you the choice of what goes onto the plants while helping them to grow. Many people feel that chemicals used on today’s crops could very well be a health hazard, so growing your own small crop will allow you to control what you intake.

Money

Groceries, especially produce, are so expensive these days that growing your own could save you quite a bit of money. Getting started the first year, gathering containers, possible lights, and other things you may need will cost you the first year, but in the years to come it should save you money.

Taste

Taste is one of the major reasons people love the container garden. Even if chemicals didn’t matter to you, or money was not an issue, the taste alone would be worth the extra work. Absolutely nothing taste better than vegetables you have grown, picked fresh, and carried right to the table!

Care and Weeding are Easier

If you have ever had a garden in your back yard, you know how much work is involved in keeping the entire garden free of weeds, that spread like wildfire, and fighting bugs that eat the plants down till there is nothing left. When you have a container garden you can have the containers at any height you want, and weeds don’t usually show if the right compost and potting soil used.

Also watering is easier because the water doesn’t run off to places that don’t need to be watered, like they do in the back yard. You may end up watering more often, but won’t waste as much as watering a traditional garden.

You don’t have to start off buying all of your containers if you are creative. Containers for growing things come is all shapes and sizes. Just be sure they have enough room for the roots of whatever you plant, and that you are able to make drainage holes in it. Some things you might use are 5 gallon buckets, plastic tubs, and even small plastic kiddie pools. Be sure you never us a container that has had chemicals in it, or anything made from treated wood.

Ready to start your own garden now? If you have never tried container gardening you will find a lot of information you need here on this site. We will guide you and help you learn tips and techniques that will help you to grow the best vegetables around.

We are here to help you get started, and help you choose which vegetables are the best and easiest to grow in your garden. Organic gardening is healthy, and container gardening is extremely rewarding. Take the next step for your family and grow your own vegetable starting today!

And please have a look at the video below on how easy it is to start your own basic container garden, Enjoy!…

Container Gardening For The Elderly Is On The Rise

It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, container gardening is a much easier way to garden. And for the elderly this way of planting flowers and vegetables is sometimes more than just a hobby. Many elderly people today live on a fixed income so growing their own vegetable helps them to save money and gives them a sense of doing something to help their situation.

Getting the garden set properly may take some help from those more agile because to make gardening easy for the garden enthusiast there needs to be raised beds or platforms for them to work on. The nice thing about structuring your garden by levels is they can be made at any height to fit any person, even someone in a wheelchair. If you or your loved one are not able to construct some kind of workbench to place your containers on you might need some help from a friend, or use the alternate method below.

If the exact height is not important to you, it is easy to get tables from discount stores that fold up out of the way when not in use. These tables come anywhere from four feet to eight feet in length and are very study. These are not the flimsy card tables of years past; they are work tables. According to other organic container gardeners the waist high tables and work benches are the best.

Once the tables are set up, or the benches are made, it is time to locate the proper containers for the garden. Just remember that any vegetable like potatoes, that grow beneath the dirt, will need a larger container. Almost anything can be used as a container as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom. The cost of the work area and containers are only for the first year and after that the expense is very minimal.

Working in containers at waist level makes it easy for anyone to work without having to stoop or bend, which is hard on the back and knees. If standing is also hard for you, there are tall stools that can be used for sitting when necessary. Another one of our container garden tips is to keep a cart next to you when working. If you need to move plants or haul more dirt, it is easy to do when you have a cart or wheelbarrow.

Making Plants Portable

After getting the pots filled up and planted you may decide you want to move them, however dirt can be extremely heavy. The best way to plant in containers is to buy what is called a “soil-less” mixture, which is a lot like potting soil. It is lightweight and easier for the elderly and handicapped to carry. Lack of weeds is another wonderful experience when it comes to a small organic garden. The time you spend working a container garden is much more pleasurable than taking care of a ground garden!

Why The Elderly Love Container Gardens, And You Will Too

• You need only a very tiny space to have a garden
• You get fresh vegetables and flowers throughout the seasons
• Tending the container garden promotes physical activity without hurting the back or knees
• Is accessible for wheelchair and mobility restricted gardeners
• It’s cost effective
• Fresh food provides more nutrients
• People love having a purpose and keeping busy

Some great container garden ideas can be found all over the web, along with photos of how to set up your workbenches and tables. If you or someone you love has been wanting to have a garden, but didn’t think you had enough space, think again. Container gardening is the only way to go and you will find it very fulfilling.

If you have problems with your back or knees, or just like the idea of a container garden, these tips about a raised bed should make it easy for you to grow your own plants and vegetables. Get started today and enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables.

And please watch the video below showing how everyone, especially the elderly can enjoy their own container garden, Thanks….

No space, try a container garden

If you live in a small apartment, or a small home, which does not have a yard large enough to grow a garden, yet you still wish to have certain plants or vegetables grown, you should consider the option of a container garden. This will allow you to have the garden you want, although it will be small, but at least you can grow the plants and vegetables, seeds, or fruits you are looking to grow, in a small contained space.

You do not need a 10 acre piece of land in order to grow your own garden. When you choose to use a small container garden, it can be placed in your home or apartment, and you can grow your plants right inside, in the small container space.

No matter what you want to grow, it is possible to do in the container garden. As long as you place it in a space where it will get enough light, and can have a bit of room for the seeds to grow, you can get your favorite vegetables, plants, and even a few fruits you love, grown right indoors. So, even if you do not have the outdoor space, or the time which it takes to maintain a large garden, but you still want to grow a few smaller plants and seeds, you can do so. When you grow in a small container garden, you can easily care for your plants right indoors, with the minimal amount of effort on your behalf.

Ideas for Container Gardens

Container gardens can add a burst of color to your porch, sunroom, or even around a tree in the yard. Pots come in many sizes, are beautiful and can add a lovely splash of color or contrast to the plants you put in them. Don’t limit yourself to just the standard containers either. Choose less traditional containers as well to add variety and charm.

If you have a whimsical garden, have you thought about planting Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) trailing out of an old gardening boot? Marigolds peek shyly out of the top of an old metal watering can. For a more elegant garden try filling old vases with your plants and flowers. Remember to vary the height of the plants in any container with multiple varieties, especially if the container is wide at the top. You can use a tall plant in the center, medium heights around it, and trailing plants over the edges for great effect.

Almost anything can become a container to hold a pretty little garden. You can line baskets with sphagnum moss to hold in the potting soil and plant a basket full of posies. Old kitchen equipment can be recycled as planters as well. Make a “kitchen garden” themed garden of herbs grown in old colanders and saucepans.

Remember to think about your color scheme. If you have trouble deciding if plants of a different color go together, choose one brightly colored flower and fill the rest of the container with greenery for contrast.

Health Benefits In Planting a container Garden

A container garden is a great way for those with limited space, or those who do not have the outdoor space to grow a garden, to still grow a “mini” garden in their home. The container garden will not only give you the opportunity to grow the garden you always wanted in your home, but depending on what you grow in it, it is possible that the garden can also offer certain health benefits to the owner of the container garden. If you are growing certain vegetables, fruits, seeds, and other edible foods, which offer a health benefit, then the garden is going to give you these benefits.

Not only will you be saving money, since you can grow your own vegetables, and certain fruits and seeds, but you are also going to be getting the health benefit of eating the fruits and vegetables that you grow. It is really up to the planter of the container garden what they will grow, and how much care they are willing to put into it, in turn, determining the fruits and vegetables they can grow. But, if the planter is willing to put in the time, and a limited amount of effort in growing certain crops, they are not only going to get a superflous crop, but they will also get the health benefits of eating the fruits and vegetables they plant.

So, there are not set health benefits, but you will get the benefit of eating the healthy fruits and vegetables grown in your container garden.

How to select healthy plants for your container garden

Most people like to start off their container garden with small seedling plants instead of waiting for seeds to sprout. Plants aren’t always cheap so if you are going to purchase seedlings it is important to select healthy plants, not plants that will hardly make the trip home from the store.

You can have all the container garden resources at your fingertips, but if you don’t know the proper method for selecting plants, it could be hard for you to produce a good crop of vegetables.

When you walk into a nursery you can tell right away if most of their plants are healthy. If you see too many plants that look like they are dying, you should walk out and try a different nursery.

Foliage

Are the leaves green enough? And are they shiny and lush? If not, that plant may be stressed and may not recover. Good foliage is the first thing you should check before purchasing.

Insects or Leaf Damage

You may not see insects crawling on the leaves, but check thoroughly for spots that could be an indication of bugs. Look on the back of the leaves for black spots, holes, or any kind of stickiness.

Buds and Flowered Plants

Many times you will find plants, especially tomato plants, that already have blooms on them. These are fine to buy, and in fact sometimes plants that have buds on them make it through the transplant better.

Stem Damage

Make sure you don’t see cracks, scars, or weakened stems on the plant.

Root Inspection

Some of the plants can be taken out of the plastic or paper container, so if this is possible do so. You want to make sure the plant is not root bound.

Weeds

A good nursery will keep the pots weeded and if you see weeds mixed in with the plants this means the weeds are taking part of the nutrients that were meant for the plant.

If you are new to gardening be sure and notice where the plants are located at the store. If one of the plants you want is located in a place where the sun will shine on it all day, pay attention. That is a good indication you should make sure your container stays in the sun.

Nursery workers can be a big help to you so don’t be shy about asking them planting and care questions. Just let them know you are planting a container garden.

Before purchasing your plants find out if the store has any kind of warranty on them. Many places guarantee their plants for a certain amount of time. Plants are an investment of money and time, so knowing what is covered could save you some money on replacement plants. Knowing your plants will insure you have a fantastic organic or container garden.

Follow these simple steps on how to select healthy plants for your container garden, and you will be off to a great start.

And here a great video with even more tips on choosing healthy plants for your container garden, Enjoy…..

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!…

Elements of a container Garden

If you are limited on outdoor space, consider planting a container garden. Many vegetable and flowers can be grown inside containers. Container gardens can add appeal to any outdoor space. Before starting a container garden, there are several things one should consider.

When starting a container garden, your first choice will be container. You can choose from hanging baskets, planter boxes, wooden barrels and flowerpots. There are several things the gardener should consider. Plastic pots can deteriorate in the sun. The best pots are made from terracotta. If a wooden box is to be used, choose a box made from redwood or cedar. Other woods may easily rot. Use a container that holds at least 15 quarts of soil. Anything smaller may restrict root growth. After the desired container is selected, drainage holes should be placed every 1/2 inch.

After the pot is selected, the gardener will want to choose a good soil. Compost makes an excellent potting soil. When growing a container garden, soil-less potting soil will work the best. This type of soil allows quick draining. Some plants may require sand to be added to the soil. When adding soil, leave at least two inches of space in the container. This will allow mulch to be added. If fertilizer will be used, a liquid fertilizer works best.

Now that the containers are set up properly, the gardener can begin adding plants. If placing flowers in the containers, choose annuals. These grow the best. Root vegetables and fruiting vegetables will grow best in container gardens.

Save Your Back with a Container Garden

Gardening is a wonderful hobby that many people enjoy on a daily basis. However, for older people, or people with back problems, gardening can be a real pain. Since all the plants are in the ground, there is much leaning over and crawling around involved.

With container gardening, you don’t have to spend any time on your hands and knees and you can just enjoy the art of gardening. Container gardening is raising plants in portable containers like pots. Since the pots are portable, you can place them on counters or tables or other convenient, higher level spots so you can care for them without ever straining your back.

This is especially useful to handicapped gardeners who feel they might be missing out on the wonders of raising plants. You can easily place the potted plants in locations that are accessible and easy to reach from a wheel chair.

Don’t feel like you’re limited to potted flowers or decorative plants because of it, either. Most anything can be planted in a container as long as you have the proper means to care for them. This means anything from vegetables, flowers, and even small trees can all be planted in or around your home for easy access. You even have an advantage over other gardens in that you can move your plants to get more sunlight and keep them out of terrible weather that might damage them.

So save yourself the pain and get to work on your own container garden.