Anyone can grow food in the garden , patio , or balcony by using containers . You ’d be surprise how much you could exhaust from a container garden or two . They ’re great starting points for young gardeners or those with special space . Here are some time-tested and true container garden mind that will develop plenty of intellectual nourishment this season .
When I first started food for thought horticulture , I did n’t have a ton of in - ground infinite orraised beds . This meantI grew net ton of vegetables in containersand saw thatyou could grow pretty much anything you wanted in a containerwith a footling cleverness .
Sometimes , it made sense , like tumbler pigeon tomatoes . Sometimes , I was mature weirder things like fennel bulbs . I grew anything I could get my hands on !
Pepperslike lots of sun, so growing them in pots makes it easier to move them around and follow the sun.
When my Scripture publishing house reached out to me to require if I had any photos of growing nutrient in containers , I replied , I’ve got hundreds . What do you require ?
This led me to have almost 15 photo inside Pamela Farley ’s new Scripture , The First - Time Gardener : Container Food Gardening .
When I saw the book , I was astonied at how much information was privileged . Pamela did an amazing job breaking it all down so that anyone could grow eatable food regardless of their case of garden .
This is a big reason I have it away shape with my publisher , as they make thorough record book by skilled authors . I ’m thrilled to be part of such a expectant team !
Today , I ’m share some of Pamela ’s container garden idea for growing food . These are some stellar plant combination that grow well together and have similar demand for easy maturation .
This post will cover …
reprint with permission fromThe First - Time Gardener : Container Food Gardening : All the know - how you need to grow veggies , fruits , herbs , and other comestible plant life in potsby Pamela Farley © 2023 . Published by Cool Springs Press . Photography courtesy of Zoe Naylor where noted .
Expert Tips for Container Gardens
My Experience Growing Food in Containers
You learn a thing or two when you ’ve raise as much food as I have in container . The big takeaway when it comes to container gardening is thatyou have to create a mini ecosystem .
The flora is n’t the only thing you ’re taking care of . It ’s the pot , soil , water , and sunlight too!Everything I talk about inThe Regenerative Gardenhas to exist in this pot .
In some regard , this makes container gardening easier and , in others , more complicated .
For illustration , you need tochoose the right pot . You ca n’t just use one you find in the back street , unless of course of action , it ’s the stark scene for your plant!Plastic will hold onto water supply , while something porous like clay will allow moisture to seep out .
As for territory , you have touse potting soilspecifically , as it allows the pot to retain wet while keep aeration . Imake all my own potting mixfor this intellect .
A container will even have its ownmicroclimate . Putting a plant in a container makes the soil more insulated and will warm up up sooner . This causes a plant to grow quicker . Then combine with limited root space , the plant will flower and yield before since it ’s stressed .
Container Garden Ideas for Growing Food
When planting plants together in a container , you want to ensure they will be safe roommates . No plant should create any kind of bad blood against the others!All the plants in the container should have similar water , sunlight , soil , and fertilizer need .
Here are some container garden ideas from Pamela that have been tested and seek to get you tons of food in a minor blank space .
Salsa Garden
I do n’t know about you , but I could rust salsa every mean solar day in the summer . It ’s so crisp and fresh , tasting dead amazing when you grow the ingredients yourself .
This container garden idea does takea lilliputian flake of preparation . “Plant the ail in the fall and plant the other salsa element in the spring , ” say Pamela .
plant :
Container size:20 gallon ( 91 lambert )
Location : full sun .
Fertilizer : every two weeks .
Cocktail Garden
I ’m no stranger togartending . I make plenty of garden - inspire cocktail , from makinglavender syrupto turn refreshful mess formojitos .
“ implant the maize tree in the center and bunch the herbs and strawberry in sections around it , ” say Pamela . “ Mint tends to take over a container , so be remorseless and pull any redundant plants that sprout up . ”
Container size:2 gallon ( 9 cubic decimeter )
Location : bright and sunny window .
Fertilizer : when planting and two month after .
Windowsill Herb Harden
Indoor herb gardensare one of the best ways to get into gardening . Even if you have no out-of-door outer space , you could produce one !
Here ’s Pamela ’s top : “ If you ’re combine multiple herbs in one pot , choose a larger container that ’s at least 4 inch ( 10 cm ) deep . For a grouping of container , several ¼-gallon ( 1 litre ) pot are idealistic . ”
Tomato Sauce Garden
Once you make your own spaghetti sauce , anything that comes from a jar will never compare . Making a tomato sauceis also a great way topreserve your tomatoesand other veggie when you have an overload near the end of the season .
Here ’s Pamela ’s bakshish : “ If you ’re growing other veggie , you may tear up them and add them inyour spaghetti sauce for superfluous nutrition . Plant the garlic in the tumble and add the other plants in the spring . ”
plant food : when planting and every two week after .
Kids Garden
As a mother of a bud nurseryman , I love this estimation . “ Kids who uprise vegetables love to eat vegetables , and these are all promiscuous to grow and nosh on the right way off the vine , ” says Pamela .
My safe days in the garden are those when Kiddo join me . He be intimate to displume yield and vegetables in his mouth fresh , so I can see how much lilliputian hands would love this container garden thought .
works
Container size:10 gallon ( 45 lambert )
fertiliser : Every two workweek .
Bonus: Mosquito Repellent Container
While this container garden thought is n’t for growing food per se , this is one of my preferred go - to container garden . I made thismosquito repellent gardenduring a summer whenthe mosquitos were exceptionally spoilt . And we all have a go at it how these buggers can unfeignedly ruin outdoor time !
This container garden work well on a terrace or other arena you like to loosen in . While it ’s design for mosquitos , it does contain quite a few culinary herbs . Double - obligation plants here !
you’re able to see how I made my mosquito repellant containerhere .
Frequently Asked Questions About Container Gardens
The minimal depth I advocate for any kind of container or raised bed is 12″ ( a 5 - gallon/23 - cubic decimeter pot ) . Shallow - rooted plant systems , likelettuce , can get away with less , while plants with big etymon system , such as tomatoes , need more . “If you plan to combine several industrial plant together into a single lot , add all of their soil volume needs together to determine how big of a dope you ask for all of them in , ” says Pamela . you may see mygeneral guidelines for container deepness here .
get off with just a few containers . You do n’t need to overwhelm yourself ! you’re able to either purchase the plant when they ’re pocket-size from the garden centre orstart the seedlings indoorsyourself . Consider the character of container you ’re grow and the plant ’s needs . The profundity and width of the container are also authoritative factors depending on the industrial plant ’s root system and how many plants you want to put in the container . The good thing about container is that you’re able to move them . render to find a spot in your garden with the right-hand light needs for your works . Keep an eye on containers for watering , as they will dry out faster than plants in the ground . Plants in containers will also require plant food since they ca n’t access extra food from the ground . Every other calendar week or once a month is usually enough for container during the growing season .
It depends on the container . A container that is quite wide can fit plenty of plants . On average , when you are brainstorming your container garden ideas , programme for 1large plant , 2 medium plants , 6 small flora , and 4 hanging plants . Just check that to play with summit and sizing , avoiding planting plant that are all the same size of it .
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