Jul 10 2009
Learn To Grow Vegetables In Planters & Pots
If you are looking for an easier way to control the process of growing vegetables, then perhaps you should move your garden into a container. The advantages of planting in containers are many, including easier control of pests, maintenance of soil, and adjustment of light and temperature.
One might think that planting in a container is limited to just a select few vegetables, but they would be mistaken. Of course, vegetables that need a large amount of space to flourish would not be the best choice. However, other vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, and peppers thrive under more controlled circumstances.
Be sure to select a container that is large enough to accommodate the full grown plant at harvesting time. Use weed free soil and add the right amount of fertilizer even before you plant. Synthetic soil-like media are an option. Mixtures of peat moss, perlite, wood chips and others can be a good choice for a variety of species.
Preparing the soil beforehand, or using a synthetic medium, gives another benefit: easier water control. Adequate drainage balanced against good moisture retention is important for healthy container-grown plants. Breaking up clay particles is easy by mixing in commercial soil prep. Put some marbles at the bottom of a container to ensure good drainage at the bottom and to keep holes from getting plugged by soil.
Water with care, though, even when the medium is well prepared. Soil can readily dry out when containers are near a window. It’s easy to forget whether the watering chore was completed that day. At the opposite extreme, it’s easy to introduce root rot in container plants. Keep a soil moisture tester on hand.
When trying to decide which soil to use, many think that regular outdoor dirt is a good choice, but in all reality it isn’t. It is believed that the clay-like soil will better retain water, but in such a small space, the retention is exaggerated, and water will not drain properly. In the case of the soil being too sandy, it will need to be fortified. Basically, much effort is needed to properly adjust outdoor soil for containers, and therefore it is often best to just use soil that has been professionally prepared.
Most vegetables enjoy lots of sunshine. Putting tomatoes in a south-facing windowsill that gets light several hours per day will help produce a great crop. They also love lots of heat so there’s less risk of burning. But some, like lettuce, prefer it a little shadier. Put them where there’s less direct sunlight. Fortunately, with container gardening you can move a plant easily on those days when the sun and clouds aren’t cooperating.
The need for pest control is vital in container gardening. Many think that as long as their plants are not outside, that they are safe; However, this is not the truth. Insects can get in through small cracks, screen doors, or even in the soil itself. For that reason it is important to use insecticide soap, or other commercial mixtures. This keeps the plants, the crops, and you safe.
Growing vegetables in containers may require a bit more work, but the produce is definitely worth the effort. In addition, the health benefits that fresh vegetables offer help to complete a well rounded diet.
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