Grow Your Own Vegetable Containers

Do you dream of a delicious, homegrown harvest but don’t have the land to use? No longer should a shortage of garden space prevent you from growing your own fresh vegetables. As long as you have a sunny location you can have your own mini-farm on your porch, patio, deck, balcony, roof-top or doorstep!

Why Use Containers?

The benefits of growing containerized vegetables go beyond the issue of space. There are plenty of other compelling reasons to plant your veggies in pots, including…

1. Vegetables are amazingly ornamental and can be just as decorative as any other container plants or flowers.
2. There are fewer problems with pests such as groundhogs, deer and rabbits and soil borne diseases.
3. The soil in pots warms up more quickly in the spring allowing for earlier planting and an extended growing season.
4. Less bending, squatting and kneeling is required for gardeners with limited mobility.

Vegetables can be grown in any vessel that can hold soil, has adequate drainage and is large enough to hold a plant. There are endless options available on the market, or you may recycle items that you already have as long as they meet these requirements. Use your imagination – try a wheelbarrow, wine barrel or just a plastic bin, and you’re ready to plant!

Best Vegetables for Containers

While all veggies can be grown in containers, some are better suited than others. Plants that grow particularly large, that sprawl or that must be grown in large numbers to ensure an adequate yield may take more effort and careful site planning with an adequate container. Similarly, vining plants need not be avoided. Trellis these plants up against a wall or fence or allow them to cascade down from a taller pot or a container placed up high like on a stone wall. For smaller selections, a hanging basket or window box may be used. Many sprawling and vining vegetables are now available by seed in dwarf, compact or bush varieties. These are bred specifically for small spaces and containers and are worth seeking out.

Tips for Container Vegetable Gardens

Growing vegetables in containers does take some unique thought and isn’t quite the same as planting in a traditional garden. When planning your delicious container garden, consider…

• Containers: Size matters when planting in containers. The bigger the container, the more soil it can hold. More soil and more moisture means less watering. Take note that porous containers like terracotta dry out more quickly and will therefore require more frequent watering. Look for a container with adequate draining. If the pot lacks holes, drill 3 or 4 in the bottom. Raise containers without saucers off the surface of the deck or patio by placing them on “decorative” feet or pieces of wood. If you place saucers under containers, be sure to empty water from them.
  • Choose large pots about 12 to 18 inches in diameter (20 to 30 inches for tomatoes and peppers). This will provide sufficient space for plants’ roots and prevents the plants from drying out as fast. Opt for plastic pots instead of clay pots for the same reason.

• Soil: When planting, choose a good quality, light-weight potting soil mix. Soil from the ground may contain insects or disease or may be too heavy. Add an all-purpose balanced fertilizer at time of planting. It is also good idea to mix water absorbing polymers into the soil. These granules can hold up to 400 times their weight in water and help reduce watering from 30-50 percent.

• Plants: Some of the vegetables that you select may be directly seeded into your container; these would include peas, beans, radishes and corn. With most vegetables you may wish to transplant seedlings into your container, either home-grown or garden center purchased. You will generally find a wider selection of vegetable varieties and unique options available in seed as opposed to purchased seedlings, if you want to use your containers experimentally.

Also Consider…

• Supports: Supports should be placed at time of planting for large or vining plants. This will ensure the young plants are not disturbed or damaged with supports added at a later time. If the supports are outside the container, however, they can be added only when they are needed.

• Location: Your vegetables will require at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. If this is not possible you may try placing your pots on dollies or carts and moving them to a sunnier location as the sun moves throughout the day. Note that good air circulation is important for disease control.

• Watering: Test soil frequently for water to make sure that you keep it evenly moist. Water the soil, not the plants, to avoid the spread of disease. Check soil moisture more frequently during the summer months when evaporation is faster. Mulching your containers with salt hay or grass clippings will help keep soil cool during the summer months and reduce the frequency of watering. If possible, a drip system can be a great option for keeping containers watered.

• Fertilization: Fertilizer leaches through pots quickly. Fertilize containerized vegetables at least once a week with a water soluble fertilizer. Always be careful to follow the directions on the fertilizer package and follow the recommended rate. Too much fertilizer may burn or kill your plants, but too little will result in undernourished, under-performing plants.

Visit Our Home & Garden Stores!

With appropriate care that caters to the needs of containers, your small-scale vegetable garden can be just as lush and productive as any larger, more intensive space, and you’ll soon have a bountiful harvest to enjoy.

We carry a huge assortment of vegetable seeds for you to choose from and plant now. Our stores are also filled with fresh-potted veggie plants for you to take home and transfer to your container. Always check for sales on seasonal veggies in our flyer!

Look for these Early Spring Veggies:

• Broccoli
• Beets
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Radishes
• Root Vegetables
• Spinach
• Snow Peas
• Swiss Chard
• Turnips

Start these Veggies in High Spring:

• Beans
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Melons
• Peppers
• Pumpkins
• Summer Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tomatoes

Most popular herbs grow well in pots as well, either individually or in combinations. Planting them in containers makes it easy for you to bring them indoors in the Fall. The best herbs for containers include:

• Basil
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Marjoram
• Mints
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Sweet Bay
• Thyme

Stop into our Greenhouse and talk to our team members for tips on planting your vegetable or herb container garden. We are happy to help!