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Container Gardening - Urban Farmer's Guide

Home > Gardener's Guide > Container Gardening

Containers can allow gardeners to grow plants indoors and out! Growing plants in pots, baskets, tubs and barrels can be fun in a garden of any size and shape. Growing plants in pots can be both easy and difficult depending on what you want. Below are some things to think about when starting your container garden:

Container Materials

There is a wide variety of container materials available for home gardeners. The two main factors to be aware of before purchasing containers is porosity and drainage. Some materials used for containers are more porous than others and allow moisture and air to penetrate more readily. Unglazed terra-cotta, wood, and paper pulp dry out fast but allow the soil to breathe and cool down faster. The drainage hole is also very important for healthy root development. The soil must be able to drain properly and have enough space for air. Only choose containers with drain holes at the bottom.

Container Size

the correct container size can be a tough task if you’re unprepared. A pot that’s too small can crowd the roots, cutting off oxygen, moisture, and important nutrients that are vital for health plant growth. If the pot is too large, the soil may stay too wet and can smother the roots. The most important decision when choosing container size is knowing if the plant will be a seasonal plant or a permanent plant. When adding a permanent plant to a container think long term and choose a pot that looks in scale with the plant when you but it and allows room for a year or two of root growth. Seasonal plants can be crowded together more closely as long as you provide adequate water and nutrients to make up for the over crowding.

Planting

To give your plant the best chance of survival and flourishing try following these simple guidelines when introducing your plant to a container:

1. Prepare the container by cleaning your pots well. Also soak terra-cotta pots in water for 10 minutes before planting to prevent clay from absorbing moisture from the soil.

2. Prepare the drain hole. Most containers have large drain holes so try covering with a metal mesh or adding rocks to the bottom. If there is no hole try adding a fairly wide hole with a drill bit. The bigger the pot the bigger the hole should be.

3. Moisten the soil of the plant before transplanting. This will help the roots stay together while transplanting.

4. Incorporate a complete fertilizer into your soil if it already doesn’t have one added.

5. Make sure your soil is moist inside the container. Then make sure the level of your soil is at the desired level before making holes for your plants. Once you have your soil ready then slip in the plant and firm down the edges with your fingers.

6. Water the newly planted plant. Watering a newly planted container is trickier than you think. Water tends to find the path of least resistance and drains quickly through loose soil. This can heart early root development and horribly hurt your plants health.

Try growing some vegetables and herbs If you have the time. Growing vegetables in containers allows you to find the perfect mix of sun, shade, and water. It also allows you to extend your season by bringing some plants inside late in the season. And don’t overlook herbs for containers. Usually less demanding than vegetables, many herbs can survive through any conditions. Be sure to choose the right size and keep the fertilizer in your container soil.

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