Gardening can be a highly satisfying and rewarding experience. Whether you grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, or just flowers, there is something for everyone when it comes to gardening. Starting a container garden is a great option for beginner gardeners or if you are short on space and time!
How To Start a Container Garden
However, not everyone has the space or even the time to garden. Thankfully, you don’t need a giant plot of land to garden. Container gardening, or using durable containers to store and grow plants in, has been increasing in popularity in recent years.
While it may seem a little complicated, fear not! Here are some tips to help new and experienced container gardens.
More helpful gardening tips:
Best fruits and vegetables to grow in a container garden
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
- Myer Lemon Tree
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Best herbs to grow in containers
- Basil
- Chives
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
Choosing the Perfect Container
It should come as no surprise that choosing the right container is essential for container gardening. The proper container can make or break your gardening experience.
When choosing the container for your gardens, there are several factors you need to consider. First is the size of the container versus the amount of space you have. Choose containers that will accommodate your gardening space.
The second factor you must consider is what plants you are hoping to grow. Certain plants need more space than others, so it is important to choose containers that will allow the plants the space they need.
Lastly, choose containers that will hold up in poor weather conditions. You do not want to worry about your garden being destroyed due to a broken container, so it is wise to invest in high quality and weatherproof containers.
Invest in Good Soil
Once you have your containers, you will need good soil to plant in. It is wise to invest in good, quality soil that will allow your plants to get the nutrients they need.
Additionally, be sure to take advantage of plant nutrient supplements for your garden, as they can really bolster your plants health.
Don’t skimp out on the soil either, as plenty of potting soil means that your plants will get more of the water and nutrients that they need.
Do Not Forget About Drainage
Plants, like all living organisms, need their water. However, there is such a thing as too much water. Overwatering your plants can have negative effects, so it is important to allow excess water to drain.
There are several ways to do this. The simplest way is to cut small holes in the bottom of the container. Additionally, you can purchase containers with the right size and amount of drainage holes.
Make sure you see what type of drainage you need before making a decision. If the containers you choose do not have a hole for drainage, you can use a drill to create a hole in plastic or metal pots.
For larger pots, you can add a few inches of gravel on the bottom and then fill with dirt. This will allow for more drainage so the plant’s roots don’t get too moist.
Fertilize and Water Frequently
While it is never a good idea to overwater your plants, you still need to water frequently. In addition, it is always a good idea to fertilize your plants. Some soils have slow release fertilizers, but it is still recommended to use a liquid fertilizer as well.
Consider making the fertilization of your plants part of the watering routine. Just spread a few drops into your containers after you get done watering.
Improvise and Adapt
If you are container gardening on a budget, you don’t always have to have the most expensive products to make a garden work. For example, consider poking around garage sales and second hand stores for good improvised containers.
So long as they are durable and have the right drainage, they will do just fine in a container garden. Old roasters and pans can make great containers for gardening.
Acclimation is Important
Plants can be very finicky, so if you want them to thrive, you will have to acclimate them to new things. If you decide to change the location of your plants abruptly, it may have negative consequences.
Changing the location or nutrients of your plants can be done, just slowly. If your plants are inside, take them outside for a few hours a day and then bring them back inside. Gradually increase the length of time that they are outside.
Sunlight is Key
In addition to the nutrients you provide to your plants, sunlight plays a key role in the development of your garden. As such, it is important to place your garden somewhere it will get a lot of natural light.
Additionally, due to the portable nature of the containers, you can also rotate your plants if you don’t have enough space to keep them all in the sun.
Plant Tags – Not Just for Show
Many people simply throw out the tags off of their plants, but what they don’t know is that they are throwing out a lot of good information.
Plant tags contain all sorts of useful information, such as recommended sunlight and water to the typical height of the plant. Keeping those tags around can save you a lot of stress and headache in the future.
Consider allocating a specific spot in your home to storing and organizing plant tags. Think of it as creating your own gardening encyclopedia, tailored for your plants.
Know Your Plants
All plants have different needs when it comes to space, nutrients, and expected height and life. Make sure you research what plants you want to grow before investing in them. Additionally, see if there are any plants that make good companions to the plants you are interested in.
Knowing your plants can make the initial process much less painless, as you will know that the plants are receiving the right treatment.
Additionally, know the difference between perennials and annuals, as mixing and matching them appropriately can really help you out.
Prepare Yourself for Dead Plants
The death of plants is the harsh inevitability of gardening. It is important to know that everyone who gardens has killed several plants, including the experts. The important thing is to evaluate what went wrong, if anything in particular did go wrong, and learn from those mistakes.
Container gardening can be an incredibly rewarding process, but it is not easy. It requires a lot of dedication, preparation, and research, as well as the acceptance that all of the hard work you put in may result in a dead plant nonetheless.
However, with these tips at your disposal, container gardening does not have to be impossible, and you too can have the ultimate container garden.
Leave a Reply