Growing Vegetables In Containers [fact sheet] (2024)

FAQs

Growing Vegetables In Containers [fact sheet]? ›

Care. Most vegetables require full sunlight, at least six hours a day. Leafy vegetables (herbs, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage) can tolerate less light than fruiting crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, melons). Because soil in containers tends to dry quickly, frequent watering is critical.

Some of the more popular container crops are salad greens, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, chard, beets, radish, squash, and cucumbers. More challenging crops include melons, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The key is to experiment. Look for “bush” or “dwarf” varieties of the crops you want to grow.

In a 5-gallon bucket you can grow: • 1 tomato, pepper or zucchini, or • 3-4 lettuce, or • 1 cabbage or broccoli (with 15 radishes or 8 spinach), or • 15 carrots or beets, or • 6 bulbing onions, garlic or leeks, or • 8 mustards or turnips for greens.

Some types of plants, such as lettuce and herbs, have shallow roots. So, they can thrive in a gardening container that's only 6 inches deep. Other plants like tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes require more rooting depth. They need a planting box that's at least 12 inches deep.

Use the rule of thirds

Starting with the container, visualize the overall look of the planting you desire according to the eventual size of your plants. The container must take up either one-third or two-thirds of the eventual total height of the container and the plants together.

Cucumbers and tomatoes can be planted by each other as they share similar growing habits and therefore you can grow tomatoes by cucumbers. Greg Volente from Greenhouse Today explains that: 'Cucumbers and tomatoes are two vigorous growers in a spring garden.

Soil substitutes consisting of mixtures of peat moss and sand or perlite or vermiculite, amended with lime and fertilizer, work very well. One good recipe includes 1 bushel each of vermiculite and peat moss, 1¼ cups of dolomitic lime, ½ cup 20% superphosphate and 1 cup 5-10-5 fertilizer.

Use the Best Potting Soil

High-quality potting soil is important for vegetables. Don't use soil from your garden, because it will compact in the containers and won't drain water properly. One of the reasons to garden in containers is to avoid the hassle of weeds and soil-borne diseases.

You will know it is time to water when the top inch of potting mix is dry to the touch. You will also learn which plants dry out the fastest. Once plant roots have filled their pots and the weather gets hot in summer, you can plan on watering on a daily basis.

Do not fill your containers with soil from your garden or bagged topsoil. You should fill the containers with a "soilless" potting mix that will retain moisture and resist compaction. I usually mix in a liberal amount of granular organic fertilizer and a shovelful or so of compost.

What is a disadvantage to container gardening? ›

#1: Container Gardens Need to Be Watered More Often

With such a limited soil volume, plants in containers need frequent watering. It is critical to check your soil weekly to determine hydration levels. Keep an eye open for the following telltale signs: Shriveled, brittle, or dead leaves.

The actual number refers to the approximate size of the container and how much soil it holds. For example, a number-one (#1) container holds approximately one gallon of soil.

Air circulation under a container also contributes to the health of the plant's roots. So, even on stone, tile, or concrete, where you're not concerned about rot, lifting your pots a few inches is important.

Organic choices such as fish meal emulsion and liquid kelp also work very well. In fact, some plants, like ferns and lettuce, respond better to organic products than synthetic fertilizers. I like to use a liquid feed made from seaweed. I water all my vegetables with a dilute seaweed feed about once a month.

Repurpose old, damaged or about-to-be discarded items into smart-chic containers. If the items don't have drainage holes, add some. Or keep the plants in their pots so you can easily slip them out of the container to dump excess water.

Water-loving cucumbers do best in plastic or ceramic containers, whose material retains moisture. Pots need holes in their bottom for drainage, and size does matter. Ideal pots are a foot or more in depth, and that size will increase your harvest. A pot that's 20 inches wide can accommodate four to six plants.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Spinach is a nutritious vegetable that grows quickly in cool weather, going from seed to harvest in 28 to 42 days. Plant it in full sun or partial shade for the most efficient growing season. Spinach can be harvested multiple times in the "cut and come again" method.