How to Container Garden
A Vegetable Container Gardening Guide for Beginners
Growing vegetables in a container is a great way to grow vegetables when you just don’t have the room or know how to start a full size garden bed. To get started you only need a few supplies along with the seeds that you want planted for the summer. Once you are ready to begin, there are some basic rules of thumb to know about. Learning how to container garden really is a lot easier for anyone growing vegetables for the first time.
Choosing a Container
The container that you are gardening in is an important first step because you want it to be able to provide a suitable growing space for the entire season. The style that you choose is entirely personal, but there are requirements that must be met. Your container must have holes in the bottom for draining. A deeper container is better for growing vegetables and a wider container makes it possible to add a companion plant.
You can use most anything that is suitable, like wooden planters or plastic. Even terra cotta pots. I prefer wooden cedar planters because they’re naturally rot resistant. This set of 4 cedar planters below is perfect because they’ve already got the drain holes. There are a couple of smaller ones for your smaller plants…then a couple of bigger ones for the larger plants.
Starting From Seed or Transplants
Container Vegetable gardening from seed or transplants that you purchase are both possible with time. Seeds should be started indoors, well before being planted into your container. You will be able to find a better variety of tomatoes, peppers, peas and lettuce to grow when you begin with seeds.
Growing from transplants is great if you do not get an early jump on planting. Transplants are already weeks old, so choose those that look healthy and whose roots are not coming out of the container they are in.
Choose Your Vegetables
Decide what to grow so that you have suitable supplies available to provide for their needs. It will also help when it comes to knowing the number and sizes of pots available and how much potting soil to purchase. Then decide where you are going to place your pots for maximum sunshine.
Tomatoes, peppers, peas and lettuce are the easiest vegetables to start with and all well suited to container gardening. Other fun choices are potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, zuchini and other squash.
Plant and Care for Your Garden
Fill your pots with potting soil, five inches to the top for transplants, or two inches for seeds. Add your transplants or seed and fill with potting soil to just below the lip of the pot. Be sure not to overcrowd too many plants in one container, as this can hinder growth.
Water thoroughly after planting, and continue watering daily immediately after planting to ensure germination of seeds and that the plant roots establish themselves. Make sure to feed your plants often too, with Miracle Gro. Place your pot in a sunny corner, avoid moving once it is there, and try to cluster containers close together to encourage growth.
Learning how to container garden, is really that simple! You’re well on your way to enjoying fresh veggies that you grew yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back!!
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Jenni
Jenni here! I'm the owner and primary blogger here at Sweet Pennies from Heaven. Married to my better half for 17 years and mom to one awesome little boy. We have 2 dogs, Pepper and Izzy. My favorite thing to do is nap. I love sweets and coffee. Sweet coffee.
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the chick behind this blog! I'm your ordinary, everyday wife and mom to an incredible pair of stinky guys! I am a self diagnosed coffee addict with a ginormous sweet tooth, preferably baked goods!! My hope is to help you, teach you, and entertain you on your way to a more thrifty and frugal lifestyle! Along the way, you'll find awesome recipes, great tips, and tons of randomness! We have loads of fun, so ya'll come back now, ya hear?!
I have such a black thumb that I usually just go to the farmer’s market to buy my produce. That way no innocent plants/seeds are harmed 🙂
I really want to start a garden, and I’ve heard this is a good way to get going. I’d love peppers and fresh tomatoes!
These are great tidbits for a beginning gardener like myself. My daughter and I just started a garden last month and I am still learning about everything involved!
Great tips for me. I’m having herbs this year and desperately need to get my tomatoes going already!
Thanks for the how to! Container gardening is all we can do right now with such small children.
Your vegetables are beautiful! We have a mini garden and thankfully my husband rocks at tending to it.
Thanks for the info. I’d really like to try my hand at growing veggies.
I wish I had a green thumb or I would be planting a garden on my deck. I’m trying to at least start visiting my local farmers market.
My bf and I just started a balcony garden about a month ago. It’s great to use home grown goods in your cooking!
Perfect as I have the black thumb of death when it comes to a garden. I appreciate all these tips thanks!
I am so envious! I tried to grow tomatoes in my apartment and it was a big failure. I love gardens!
thanks,
Mitch
Thank you for all of this! Pinning because I really want to start one!
I am planning to start a garden soon. some will be in containers
I’m growing herbs right now and having so much fun. They’re really taking off and it’s fun to watch!
My hubby and I have been talking about getting busy at our garden for the past 3 weeks! This post really gave me the inspiration to do it this weekend. I love watching my plants grow!
Such great tips! My husband and I are attempting a small garden this year. We are awful with this stuff!
I actually want to do a container garden this year. I’d like to do some flowers.
Terrific tips! Container gardens look so pretty!
We will be planting an herb garden this year! I love getting the experience with my kids AND fresh herbs!
The only thing I seem to be able to grow is people.. Plants die at my touch so I stay far away. lol
I love my garden! I got started when I was living in an apartment – I grew tomatoes and basil in containers. It was the best feeling, to pick my own food!
i love building my garden each year. I need to get some containers for mint and herbs
I am doing my first garden this year – I am a bit nervous, and I’m not really sure how to start. I think I will have to get a few containers and go from there!
I like that you included notes such as ‘there must be holes at the bottom of the container.’ For most that’s standard, I’m sure, but for someone like me (fairly new to the whole growing thing), those tips are genuinely appreciated.
Great tips. I really want to start my own veggie garden this Spring.
I planted corn, but hope to plant more next year.
I would love to garden more. I just don’t have the time or the resources to do so but hopefully soon!!
We container garden all of our herbs and it works out well. We also plant tomatoes and hot peppers.
I just showed this post to my son. He want to know when we are going to get started lol. Thanks!
I do container garden now. I have tomotoes, peppers, lettuce, garlic, and cilantro growing right now in containers.
We have a garden right now, and I’m just waiting on everything to fall apart. I have the opposite of a green thumb! It’s great that you shared this how-to.
These are great tips! Thank you. I have the opposite of a green thumb, so I can use all the help I can get.
What fantastic tips! Those tomatoes are gorgeous.
I need to get motivated to start my own. I love your container choice!
This sounds like so much fun! This would be perfect to do with my kids..thanks for sharing.
Some great tips here. We have a couple of small 4×8 raised beds and are always looking for ideas.
This reminds me of my sweet Grandma and her container garden. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the tips! I suck at Gardening! But I’m trying and these tips will help!
So this is fool proof right? I have anything but a green thumbbut so desperately want to grow my own veggies 🙁
I love this! I really want to have our own garden. I just love going into the back yard to get my veggies 🙂
Good tips. Thank you for sharing with the Monday #pinitparty. Have pinned
I am planting my first garden this year. Organic and chemical free. Thank you for the tips.
I love container gardens for herbs and vegetables like cherry tomatoes or lettuce. This is really a good way to have more great fresh items for your cooking! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Please consider throwing away your miracle grow. It is a toxic poison. There are many ways to feed your plants without cancer-causing chemicals. Thank you for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist! Hope to see you again this week!
Mary @ Back to the Basics
Thanks for sharing – we are trying to get a container garden started in our backyard! Thanks for linking up at Wordy Wednesday. Pinned!
When I lived in a townhouse I successfully grew vegetables on my patio in 5-gallon buckets from Home Depot (with holes drilled in the bottom).
Great tips. My youngest dd is doing container gardening this year and she love it. She already harvested a tiny carrot and potato…lol. She’s still waiting for her tomatoes.