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Growing a Garden in Containers
A lot of people who wish to garden have limitations such as living in an apartment. Or perhaps you’re renting a house where you can’t change the landscaping. In these situations it might be beneficial to try out container gardening.
The Basics
Container gardening is a gardening method where instead of planting directly into the ground, or into raised beds, you grow your garden in containers, planter boxes, or flower pots.
This method makes it easy to grow garden plants on a porch or balcony. You can move the plants around as needed for watering and sun exposure. Or you can even pack up your garden and take it with you when you move.
Types of Containers: Flower Pots/Planter Boxes
The best kind of containers to use for growing a garden are those that are designed for the outdoors already. Usually these are marketed as flower pots, but really they can grow any type of plant.
Usually, with these containers you don’t have to worry about weather damage, or toxic chemicals leaking into the soil.
Another great thing about these containers is the fact that they come in a variety of heights, shapes, and sizes. This will accommodate both you and your plant’s needs, all while being made from more outdoor durable materials.
My personal choice for planting in flower pots are the terra cotta pots. They are fairly durable–provided you don’t drop them on hard surfaces too often– and I love their breathability for the plant’s roots. I always feel like I get the best soil-to-air-to-moisture ratios in these pots. Unglazed terra cotta pots will absorb moisture and transfer it into or out of the pot to maintain an equilibrium!
Whether you want to plant a few plants all individually or would prefer a larger container to grow several plants all together, you can find whatever fits your need in the flower pot sections of any local outdoor or hardware store. Some local nurseries even carry some seasonally.
Types of Containers: Fabric Grow Bags
Grow bags are a new and quickly expanding gardening product. These woven fabric bags are available in a large variety of sizes from holding 1 gallon of soil up to 25 gallons or even more. These woven fabric containers were specifically designed for people to be able to grow vegetable garden plants without digging into the ground. A great plus is that they don’t cost as much as flower containers. They also fold down and are more compact for winter storage.
Keep in mind that some types/brands of woven containers retain water easier than others, so if you live in a humid or really wet area make sure your plants aren’t suffocating in a water logged container.
Check out Gardzen 10-Pack 7 Gallon Grow Bags for a great brand and size to start with. I personally love that they sell them in a multipack for a great price and there is a large variety of sizes to choose from. The 7 gallon size is a great place for most medium to larger sized plants.
Types of Containers: Storage Bins
Flower pots or fabric grow bags are not the only items you are limited to for planting a garden. You can use regular containers as well, such as storage containers from any general store. Remember that these containers may not be as durable outdoors since gardening was not their intended purpose.
I don’t really recommend using indoor storage containers for gardening unless it’s truly the only option that you can afford or that’s available to you. Most of the time the storage containers are cheaper per square inch of space for planting, so if it’s what fits within your budget for your first year, it’s not a bad place to start off. Flower pots are more expensive but will last longer and be healthier for your plants.
Considerations
Not all containers are made equal. Some containers don’t have drainage holes, some have too much drainage. Some pots are deep enough but not wide enough for our needs, and so on and so forth.
Consider what your plants need and what you need. For example, larger plants like potatoes, tomatoes, and squashes need a lot of area to grow in so you would want a container that is deep and wide enough for these plants, but a patch of lettuce doesn’t need as much depth or width so could grow well in a smaller container. If you are going to have multiple varieties of plants in one container make sure it is large enough to accommodate all the needs of the plants.
You also have to consider what you can handle as well. If you plan on moving the containers on a regular basis to get more sunlight or avoid harsher weather conditions then you want to make sure that your containers aren’t so large that when filled with soil, water, and produce, that they become too heavy to lift or move.
The color of the container may also make a difference to the success of your container garden. If you live in a hotter climate it’s best to stay away from darker colored containers. They will soak up more sunlight and heat up the soil and plant quicker. This means the plant will need more frequent care or may altogether overheat and die. In contrast, using a darker colored container might be useful if you live in a colder climate and want to try to prolong your growing season. The same way that the darker colors will overheat plants in the hotter climates, these colors will retain heat to slow down freezing in cooler climates.
Final Thoughts
I have tried many variations of the container gardening method and I think that it is very practical and helpful for those who have space limitations. If you are interested in gardening in a small space or don’t have access to a plot of land I recommend giving this method a try. This method is also great for those who want a no dig garden, or a close by small kitchen garden.
Thanks again for growing with me here at The Busiest Bee Garden!
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