How to choose the right container for growing vegetables at home as a beginner

Tomatoes are an excellent choice for container gardening.

Container gardening is a great way to grow vegetables, especially if you’re short on yard space! If you have a small gardening area or only have access to a patio, balcony, or rooftop, check out our beginner’s guide to vegetable container gardening!

Benefits of Container Gardening

The great thing about growing in containers is being able to pick up the pots and move them to where you know they will thrive. Even if you only have one or two pots on the edge of your driveway or in the corner of your balcony, gardening in containers allows you to maximize all available space.

Container gardening also gives you more control over your plantings. You can get the ideal growing medium with the right amount of nutrients. You're sure to have fewer weeds or even no weeding and can simplify your gardening tasks. Harvesting is also cleaner and easier.

Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening

Just like with a standard garden bed, consider factors such as sun exposure, water accessibility, and wind protection when deciding where to place your containers.

• To maximise vegetable production, you need to place the pot in a sunny area (i.e. 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day). Lettuce, spinach, and other vegetables can grow well in less sunlight (3 to 5 hours per day), but for fruit-bearing plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, or eggplants, full sun should be targeted.

• It's also a good idea to place the pots where they can be reached with a watering hose. Keep in mind that potted vegetables tend to require more water than a standard in-ground garden, and there's nothing worse than having to lug a gardening can around your yard a dozen times every morning - and then having to do it again at night ! Having an easily accessible water source nearby will save you a lot of time and energy.

• Protecting containers from wind will prevent them from drying out and prevent accidental tipping. Depending on the size of the container and the plants grown, they may become top-heavy as the season progresses, making them more susceptible to tipping over in strong winds. Place containers in a sheltered area or plan to secure them (for example, with cinder blocks, rocks, or rope).

What size pots to use for container gardening

The most basic part of container gardening is – surprise – picking the right container! Generally speaking, plants will grow better if you can provide them with more space for their roots. Most vegetables require at least 30cm of soil to grow well, but larger vegetables require more space. A 5-gallon container is ideal for growing plants like tomatoes or squash, while smaller containers are ideal for growing shallow-rooted plants like lettuce or other vegetables.

Keep in mind that larger containers will be heavier and more difficult to move, and may be too heavy for areas such as balconies. Small containers, on the other hand, are more mobile and versatile, but also tend to dry out faster and require more attention during hot weather.

How big should the drainage holes be?

The container should have a drainage hole or other means of allowing water to pass through it. Waterlogged soil promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi, which will hinder plant productivity or kill them outright.

If you have a container with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm, then you will only need 3 to 6 drainage holes, each 0.6 cm in size. Larger containers will require 6 to 8 drainage holes, 0.6cm in size. Holes larger than 0.6cm in diameter will allow excess soil to escape.

What type of container?

Today, there are various types of containers, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most popular container materials:

• Plastic: Plastic pots come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, making them one of the most popular choices for container gardening. Plastic pots also tend to be the cheapest option. They are relatively lightweight, retain moisture well, and are easy to clean and reuse over many gardening seasons. If you're growing food, be sure to choose pots made of food-grade plastic so chemicals don't leach into the soil.

• Ceramic (terracotta): Ceramic basins are another popular choice. They tend to be more decorative than plastic pots, but are also heavier - especially when filled with soil. Ceramic pots are available in glazed or unglazed styles; the main difference is that glazed pots retain moisture better than unglazed pots. The advantage of ceramic pots is that the clay is porous, allowing a certain amount of air and water to flow through it. This ensures that the soil doesn't get too wet, but also means that soil in (unglazed) clay pots will dry out more quickly than plastic pots. Additionally, ceramic pots are prone to cracking in cold weather, so they should be emptied and stored in a sheltered location over the winter.

• Fabric: Fabric planters have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their lightweight and breathable nature. They often come with handles as well, which makes them very easy to move. Plus, they can be easily washed and reused. This fabric allows air and water to flow easily through it, which is beneficial to the plant's roots as they are encouraged to become more fibrous and therefore absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. One disadvantage of fabric pots is that they dry out quickly and require constant watering.

Again, almost anything can be used as a container, so get creative! Hanging baskets make good use of the extra space, and herbs, cherry tomatoes and strawberries planted at eye level can be easily tended and harvested. Buckets, baskets, boxes, tubs and other tubs, window frames and sinks – anything that can hold soil. Just make sure it has drainage holes in the bottom and is a size you can manage.

Best Soil for Container Gardening

In order to grow healthy plants, you need healthy soil. Plants in containers need the best possible nutrients, aeration, and drainage to promote healthy root growth and a bountiful harvest.

Don't use garden soil! Most garden soil is too heavy, prone to waterlogging and compaction, and harbors diseases and insects. Instead, use nutrient soil specially formulated for growing vegetables. It will be quick-draining and lightweight, and should not contain any diseases or pests.

Loose and breathable planting soil

Is there compost? Humus is a great material to add to your container mix because it contains a lot of nutrients and loosens the medium.

How to water a container

Because they are more exposed to sunlight and wind, containers tend to dry out faster than traditional gardens. Especially during the hottest days of summer, many houseplants need to be watered twice a day!

Containers can be watered in a variety of ways - hose, watering can, drip irrigation. Choose a method that makes the most sense for you and the size of your garden.

Some watering tips:

• Water in the morning (or as early as possible). Ideally, container plants should be watered as early as possible. Watering earlier in the day will provide your plants with enough moisture to get them through the hot midday heat. It also ensures that their leaves dry out as night falls; having moisture on the leaves at night promotes the spread of disease.

• Water deeply. Plant roots need water, so just spraying the soil surface with a hose isn't enough. Water plants—especially those in containers—deeply and thoroughly to make sure the water reaches their roots. After watering, the soil should be saturated and water should flow from the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, try watering from the bottom: place a tray under the pot and fill it with water. The soil will absorb water through drainage holes. Repeat until no more water is absorbed, then pour off excess water from the tray.

• Don't water too often! It may sound counterintuitive, but watering your plants with small amounts of water frequently is worse than watering them with large amounts not often. Frequent shallow watering encourages plants to develop weak, shallow roots, while infrequent deep watering encourages plants to develop deeper, healthier roots. Most plants can tolerate—and actually benefit from—a break between deep waterings, so don’t be afraid to let the soil dry out a little between waterings.

Other key things to remember are container size and weather . Smaller pots dry out faster than larger pots and require more frequent watering. Hot, sunny days are naturally drier than cool, cloudy days, so water more during periods of extreme heat. Overall, pay attention to how quickly the container soil dries out and how the plants respond; you'll soon know how often you need to water!

How to fertilize?

In general, we recommend adding a slow-release fertilizer to your potting mix at the beginning of the gardening season . This can be done by mixing it into your potting mix at planting time, or by spreading the fertilizer on top of the potting mix immediately after planting (i.e., "top dressing"). This will give your plant a good start in growing.

While they are actively growing, blooming, and fruiting, apply a liquid or organic fertilizer at least twice a month, following label directions. if possible,

To keep your vegetable plants growing, feed them an organic soil amendment such as liquid seaweed fertilizer, etc.

Which vegetables are suitable for container gardening?

When it comes to growing in containers, some vegetables do do better than others. Easy-to-transplant vegetables are often good choices because they adapt easily to a potting environment. Transplants can be purchased from your local nursery or started at home.

Generally speaking, vegetable varieties tend to be considered "dwarf" or "container" varieties because they tend to be smaller and better suited to a container lifestyle. . For example, among tomatoes, choose "dwarf" or "limited growth" varieties because they will outgrow a certain height and won't become unwieldy in containers.

dwarf tomatoes

Finally, here are some suggested vegetables for containers, along with recommended container sizes

Broccoli containers: 1 plant per 5-gallon pot,

Carrot container: 5-gallon pot, at least 30cm deep

Cucumber containers: 1 plant per 3-gallon pot

Eggplant containers: 1 plant per 5-gallon pot

Lettuce Containers: 3- 5 Gallon Pots

Onion container: 5-gallon pot

Chili Containers: 1 plant per 3-gallon pot

Tomato containers: 1 plant per 3-gallon pot