Vegetable Container Gardening

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planting in containers has several advantages. Containers allow you to:
Use your landscape space more efficiently. Containers can be spaced closer than plants in the ground, allowing you to create a lot of impact with less space and expense. Containers may be grouped for intensified fragrance.

Have a portable garden. Use them indoors or out. Move them to the patio for your garden party. Move them for protection from extreme weather. Plants can also be rotated so you can showcase what's in bloom. Roate them the the background as blooms fade.

Control the soil quality. Your plants have quality soil to thrive in. Use containers in areas with poor soil or poor drainage.

Eliminate competition from other plants and reduce accessibility to many pests.

Increase access to the gardener. Containers can be worked in with less stooping and bending.

Spray and fertilize more efficiently.

Isolate for treatment of pest or disease.









Never use galvanized containers or pots with a narrow opening.
Cheap plastic pots may deteriorate in UV sunlight and terracotta pots dry out rapidly. Glazed ceramic pots are excellent choices but require several drainage holes.
Wooden barrels or containers will rot unless treated.
Use containers between 15 and 120 quarts capacity. Small pots restrict the root area and dry out very quickly. The size and number of vegetables to be grown will determine the size of the container used. Deep rooted vegetables require deep pots.
Make sure your pot has adequate drainage. Holes should be 1/2 inch across. Line the base of the pot with newspaper to prevent soil loss.
In hot climates use light-colored containers to lessen heat absorption and uneven root growth.
Set containers on bricks or blocks to allow free drainage.
Line hanging baskets with sphagnum moss for water retention. Keep baskets away from afternoon sun.http://www.gardenguides.com

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Growing Mixture
Your compost will make an excellent potting soil. Check the requirements of the plants you will be growing to determine whether you will need to add sand. If compost is not available, purchase a good quality potting mixture. It will be free of soil-borne disease and unwanted seeds. Because most potting mixes are acidic, you will want to add a little lime. When you add your soil to your container, leave a 2 inch space between the top of the soil and the top of the container. You will be able to add 1/2 inch or so of mulch later.
What to Grow?
Small salad green such as oak leaf lettuce and mustard cress, or vegetables such as silver beet, which have a quick maturing period are idea. You may be able to get several crops of a quick maturing vegetable from your container. Cherry tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables, including peppers or eggplant can be easily grown in containers, as can root vegetables such as baby carrots, radishes or spring onions. Try planting quick-growing small herbs and leaf lettuces around you larger fruiting vegetables.

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Basic Elements
Soil — Good soil is essential for all
container-grown plants. Fill the container with quality potting soil up to an inch from the rim - any more soil will wash out when you water. Expect some settling of soil over time.
Water — More frequent watering is necessary for container plants. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Continue watering until liquid runs from the bottom of the container. In the hot days of summer, containers may require daily watering. If you are combining plant varieties in a container, make sure the moisture requirements are the same.
Food — Use diluted plant food. Because water drains out more quickly, so will the fertilizer. You may fertilize your container garden with either a slow-release fertilizer or a water-soluble, quick release fertilizer such as 20-20-20.
Light — Provide light requirements as dictated by the variety. If you are combining plant varieties in a container, make sure the light requirements are the same. Remember to turn the containers occasionally to maximize light exposure on all sides.
Planting —Space vegetable, herb, and flower transplants about 1/3 closer than in the garden. This guarantees a full container with a great appearance. A tree or shrub root ball should be only slightly smaller than the container. Repot as needed when growth dictates. It's a good idea to repot every 3-4 years to replace soil which has experienced salt build-up.
Temperature — Container plants require extra care to prevent overheating or freezing. Either can cause drying out.
Grooming — Prune, deadhead and pinch back as needed. Check container plants often to keep them from getting leggy. Watch for disease and pests. Remove dead foliage and flowers to prevent fungal diseases. Because container plants are closer together, the opportunity for disease is greater. >

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