Container Gardening: An Alternative To "in the Ground" Planting

Each year I look forward to gardening and its associated joys! Gardening is a relaxing activity which provides a pleasant way to exercise with the added benefit of eating the "fruits of your labor". Though you may not have ample size yard for gardening, the scarcity of space does not prevent one from gardening. Container gardening is the ideal solution for insufficient yard space and can be enjoyed by apartment dwellers as well as homeowners.

In today's economy, it is advantageous to container garden to help offset the soaring prices at the market. You may not be able to supply all of your vegetable needs through gardening, but whatever yield obtained is a welcome benefit. Eating fresh vegetables from garden to table is a tasty treat. Deciding what vegetables to grow is not difficult to determine. Most vegetables that can be grown "in ground" lend themselves to container gardening. Bush beans, cherry tomatoes or other tomato varieties, bell peppers, basil, lettuce and carrots are but a few of the vegetables that are readily grown in containers. After you decide what vegetables to plant, you must select the appropriate container for your plants.

Suitable Containers for Gardening
Containers for gardening are as varied and diverse as your imagination allows! In a local community garden, bushel baskets, flower pots from the nursery, large circular washtubs, clay pots and other unusual vessels are used for container gardening. This same community garden showcases an old porcelain bathtub that has been used for vegetable planting! Wooden boxes or flower boxes are useful containers for gardening, especially if you grow herbs. Whatever container you select, you have the advantage of moving the container to obtain the best sun which cannot be done with in ground planting. So, your container garden has an advantage of always receiving the right amount of sun or shade. If flower pots are used, they can be placed on a tiered stand which looks lovely in your yard. Any container selected should have drainage holes to allow water to drain to prevent root rot.

Selecting the soil Mix
When you visit the garden store, select a mix that contains peat moss, wood chips, perlite and other materials in lieu of dirt. Check to be sure the mix is labeled sterile and free of diseases and weeds. There are many brands from which to choose so read the labels carefully.

Fertilizing your Container Garden
Fertilizing your container garden is just as important as fertilizing an "in ground" garden. The trace elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are helpful and help your plants to resist disease. After planting, fertilize and then again approximately 30 days later. If you have a slow release fertilizer, you will not have to fertilize as often. Do not overdo the application of fertilizer to ensure that you do not kill your plants. Follow the manufacturer's directions.

Watering Schedule
Unlike plants grown "in the ground" plants grown in containers dry out more quickly and need to be watered more frequently. Keep the soil moist when you feel it is dry. Once the roots are established and growing, the plants can be watered when the top one inch of soil is dry to the touch. Move your plants as needed to avoid being scorched by the sun. The beauty of container gardening is you can move your plants as needed to get more or less sun.

Gather your containers, purchase your soil and seeds and plant! Sit back and watch nature do its wondrous job and enjoy the tasty produce from your labor. Share the joy by including the entire family in your container gardening project. Children delight in seeing seeds sprout and growing into plants. It can be an educational activity for the entire family.

For more information about container gardening, contact your local county extension office which is usually associated with a nearby university. The County Extension office has information about gardening and a variety of other topics. When you purchase your seeds, the package probably lists a website that you can view for additional planting tips and hints. So, decide what you want in your garden, purchase your seeds, gather your containers and roll up your sleeves! Happy Gardening.