The Risks and Rewards of Organic Gardening with Containers

Like any other endeavor, organic gardening presents risks and rewards. Everyone longs for the amazing harvest that provides the fresh nutritious fare for the family to eat. However there are a few pitfalls that can occur on the way to getting there. Here are some of the risks to avoid and the rewards to enjoy.

Optimal Sun Conditions

For each plant, there is an optimal sun condition. Organic gardening with containers is very good for achieving these optimal sun conditions. It is very easy to move any plant that is in a container so that it is getting more sun or less sun. This can give a plant a chance to survive whereas it otherwise would not have had a chance.

Decorative

Organic gardening with containers is also very decorative. It can really add to the brightness and overall look of a garden when there are brightly colored and various shaped pots and containers about. Gardens that have both directly-seeded plants and container-bound plants look very pretty. The eye is drawn to the container plants and it is a charming effect in a garden.

Increased Need for Soil Nutrition

On the down side however, doing organic gardening in containers means that the plants will need additional nutrition. There will likely also be special considerations with regard to water. There must be a drainage system out the bottom of container plants or the roots will drown, causing the plant to die. By contrast, the plant also must be watered enough.

Limited Root Space

Another challenge with container plants is that of having adequate root space. When plants do not have adequate root space, they simply cannot grow as large nor can they give as much harvest as otherwise. So, it is best to select a pot from the beginning that will be more than large enough.

Some of the advantages of organic gardening with containers include the fact that it is easy to get optimal sun conditions to the plants. Also, many find that the containers look very decorative in the house and yard. On the minus side, there is often an increased need for nutrition in the soil as nutrients get depleted more quickly in containers. Adequate root space must also be factored in at planting time. Bear these risks and rewards in mind when setting out to do organic gardening with containers.

Source:

Ruppenthal, RJ. (2008) Fresh Food from Small Spaces. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing Company.