Container gardening is an excellent solution for those looking to grow vegetables in limited space. Whether you have a small balcony, a patio, or just a sunny corner in your backyard, growing vegetables in containers allows you to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce without the need for a large garden.
Here at Colonial Gardens, we are committed to providing gardeners of all spaces and abilities the materials and expertise they need to grow their own food. If you’re new to gardening or looking to expand your vegetable-growing possibilities, here’s a beginner’s guide to help you get started with container gardening.
Why Grow Vegetables in Containers?
The main advantage of container gardening is flexibility. Containers allow you to grow vegetables in a variety of locations where traditional gardens may not be feasible, such as apartments, patios, window boxes, or areas with poor soil. Additionally, container gardening offers:
- Better soil control: Our area has a lot of heavy clay soil which can impact drainage and make it difficult to grow veggies without heavy soil amendment. Instead, you can use a high-quality potting soil to ensure proper drainage and nutrients for your plant. This can be especially successful for root crops like carrots and radishes that need loose soil to grow.
- Portability and Space-Saving: Containers can be moved to follow the sun or to protect them from bad weather like excess rain or frosts.
- Pest Control: Growing in containers can reduce the hassle of weeding and move plants away from areas where rabbits may disturb them. Growing in containers can also move your plants away from soils that harbor diseases. Instead of rotating your crops, you can refresh your potting soil to prevent disease.
- Accessibility: Containers can be placed at waist height, reducing the need to bend or kneel while gardening. Smaller containers can be placed on tables or steps for easy access.
Choosing the Right Containers
When selecting the proper container, the material of the pot matters a lot less than the size and the drainage. Always select a container that has drainage holes, or one where holes can be added. Planting veggies in a container with no drainage risks water collecting in the bottom and killing the plant by rotting out the roots.
Some food crops like herbs, leafy greens, and some root crops do not need a lot of space to grow. Others, like tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, need much larger pots to ensure proper root growth and to manage water. Planting a veggie in a container that is too small will reduce harvest, cause problems like cracking, and may even kill the plant.
Selecting the Right Food Crops for Containers
Not all vegetables are suited for container gardening, so it’s essential to choose varieties that thrive in confined spaces. One short-cut is to look for “Patio” in the variety name of the plant for eggplants, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Here are some options for container gardening:
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula are perfect for containers. They don’t require deep soil and can grow quickly, making them ideal for smaller pots or even window boxes. You can grow them in the spring and fall in full sun. Move the pot into full shade to try to grow these crops in the summer with a lower chance of bolting.
- Tomatoes: Smaller, determinate varieties like “Tidy Treats” or “Celebrity Plus” are well-suited for containers. They need larger containers (at least 12” deep and 14-16” wide) to support their root systems. You will need a tomato cage, trellis, or stakes to support the plant as it grows. Avoid “Indeterminate” varieties that will outgrow the container.
- Herbs: Many herbs, such as basil, parsley, cilantro, and thyme, thrive in containers. They need at least part-sun conditions and well-drained soil, making them perfect for small pots on a windowsill or balcony. We only recommend mint only as a container plant as it easily spreads and can be difficult to remove if established in planting beds.
- Peppers: All peppers can be grown in pots, but we’ve found particular success with chili peppers that grow on a smaller plant. Staking is helpful for any pepper plants, but especially important with bell peppers.
- Radishes and Carrots: These root vegetables thrive in deep containers, ideally 12-18 inches. Radishes grow quickly, so you can harvest them within weeks of planting. Plant a new crop every two weeks to give yourself a continuous harvest. Carrots take much longer to mature and need deeper containers for full growth.
- Beans: Bush beans and pole beans can grow in containers, though pole beans need taller structures to climb. A large pot with a trellis works perfectly.
- Berries: Yes, you can grow berries in containers! Select varieties like those from Bushel and Berry that stay smaller to fit in a container. Select as large a container as you can manage to allow for multi-year growth. While blueberries and raspberries are native and can withstand our winters, it can be a good idea to move the pots closer to the house where they are less likely to freeze through.
Planting and Caring for Your Vegetables
Once you’ve selected your containers and vegetables, it’s time to plant! Follow these steps for successful container gardening:
- Use good quality soil: Fill your container with a high-quality potting mix designed for vegetables. Avoid using garden soil, as it can be too heavy and may not drain well. We recommend Gardener’s Gold Potting Soil, or Happy Frog or Ocean Forest from Foxfarm.
- Watering: Container plants need consistent watering since they can dry out quickly. Inconsistent watering can lead to diseases, cracking in tomatoes, or altered tastes. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, but avoid waterlogging. If your pot has trouble draining, consider lifting it off the ground to allow water to escape through the holes.
- Fertilizing: Vegetables in containers need regular feeding–more so than those planted in the ground. We recommend mixing a slow-release organic fertilizer like Tomato-Tone or Garden-Tone from Espoma, which includes essential nutrients for growth. You can also boost growth with water soluble fertilizer like FoxFarm’s Big Bloom.
- Sunlight: Most vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day to thrive. Place your containers in a sunny spot, like a south-facing balcony or patio, to ensure they receive adequate light.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Produce
One of the greatest joys of container gardening is harvesting your homegrown vegetables. Most vegetables are ready for harvest when they reach full size, but some, like lettuce and spinach, can be harvested early for a continual supply of fresh greens. Be sure to pick your vegetables regularly to encourage new growth.
Growing vegetables in containers is an accessible, rewarding way to enjoy fresh produce without the need for a large garden. With the right containers, suitable vegetables, and a little attention to care, you can create a thriving garden even in the smallest of spaces. Whether you’re growing leafy greens on your balcony or tomatoes on your windowsill, container gardening makes it easy to embrace the joys of homegrown food. Happy gardening!
Colonial Gardens offers over 300 varieties of edible crops including annuals, vines, bushes, and trees. You can find more information on our Fruits, Veggies, and Herbs page.
Colonial Gardens is an independent garden center serving the Phoenixville area since 1967. We have one of the largest selections of plants in the area along with landscaping services, a full-service florist, and seasonal events for all ages. We are committed to becoming a more sustainable business and to supporting our community through partnerships with local non-profits. We thank you for reading this blog and for shopping small when you can.