Growing in Containers

Using containers is one of the easiest ways to follow the principle of creating a landscape that works for you (instead of the other way around!)

Growing your own food becomes a true reflection of your families needs/personalities and can be done equally well on a home you own or on rented property.

Containers can be pots of all types (make sure there’s at least one drainage hole in the bottom), or nearly anything that will hold some soil.  Raised garden beds are a form of container growing.

More unusual choices would range from using pallets to repurposing older items found around the home.

And many types of harvestable plants are perfectly happy growing in containers.

Using containers also means that you can move them around your garden in different seasons to give them the best growing conditions, such as giving them access to the early morning spring sunshine and shade from the blistering afternoon summer rays.

And if you change properties, your plants can move with you.

Containers are also a great solution for those who may have a very small yard or only a balcony as outside space.

Most herbs will grow very well in containers. Avoid planting mint with other herbs as it has a tendency to dominate a growing location. Citrus trees can grow well in larger containers too.

When it comes to vegetables, leafy greens like spinach, kale and lettuce do well, while climbing crops like tomatoes and beans, as well as root crops like potatoes and radishes also do well.

Regardless of what you plant, remember that the container is above ground which means more surface area to be hit with sunshine and dry out faster.  Place saucers or catchment trays under containers to minimize water loss.

Also remember that each container has a finite amount of nutrients available to the plant so you’ll need to make sure and top up your organics regularly to keep your plants satisfied, healthy and happy.