Vegetable Gardening Tips: Growing Your Greens In Containers

If you happen to be living in a place surrounded by concrete or live on land that is far too small, yet you wish to have your own vegetable garden, don’t loose hope. Perhaps the best answer for you is to use container vegetable gardening. The concept of container gardening makes it possible for you to grow vegetables on small balconies, the rooftops on buildings or on patios and with minimal exceptions, you will be able to apply the same methods that are applicable to regular Vegetable Gardening.

The best containers that can be utilized for container vegetable are the ones that are light, portable and often free.
There isn’t a need to use up a lot of money on expensive containers made of pottery or wood. You may of course, if that’s what you want, but most of the fun is in finding unique containers for your vegetable garden. Drainage holes may be drilled in the bottom to keep the roots from sitting in water and small containers may be grouped inside larger containers such as wooden crates or larger tubs to keep them from blowing over. Containers should set on bricks or small blocks to assist with drainage and prevent mold from growing under them.

Lighting Considerations

You may put your containers almost anywhere as long as there is sufficient of light. Vegetable gardening requires plenty of sunlight and while plants prefer full sun all day long, you may make up for some loss of light by growing them against a light colored wall that heat and reflects light onto the plants. You may also put light reflective material behind your vegetables to help them optimize the exposure to the sun. Also by turning the containers during the day helps to expose the entire plant to the light.

A important thing you need to to consider in container vegetable gardening is the soil type you will require for your containers, which should be light weight, and drain well. The best soil you can have is actually a soilless mix which is light weight and allows roots to grow faster, allowing for larger plants and more vegetables. Most vegetables like to be grown in soil at least one or two feet deep, and larger plants need more soil so take that into consideration when planning out your vegetable garden.

Finding the Space

To make full advantage of small areas, stair step your container vegetable garden on benches, or use boards placed on cement blocks or a step ladder to create your own small terrace. Even vegetable plants can make fantastic garden settings if they are grouped or mixed in with a few flowers. Some vegetable plants may even be grown in hanging pots, such as lettuce, small cucumbers and even tiny cherry tomatoes.
So if you’re a green thumb at heart, living a city life and wishing you could do a little Vegetable Gardening, you can make it a reality with container gardening. It may take some added creativity and work, but what true blue gardener ever let a challenge stop them?

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