Even so, container gardening is a wonderful way to bring a garden to your home, no matter if you live in an apartment, condo, mobile home, or two-story house on acreage. If your container sits on a hard surface, the hole might plug up. Also, one of the reasons to garden in containers is largely to avoid dealing with weeds and soil-borne diseases. Container gardening requires you to buy and use a whole lot of potting soil. While location is important, remember: you really do have some flexibility with containers that in-ground gardening can’t give you, which makes container gardens perfect for a beginner. The bad news is that many garden pots that are sold simply don't have enough drainage. Drainage is key to keep plants from drowning. If you live in a hot climate, you might need to shade your plants during the heat of the afternoon, so they don't overheat. The more potting soil you use, the more water retention you will have which will give you a much great margin for error when it comes to both watering and feeding your plants. If possible, it is a great idea to bring either your pot or a picture of your pot with you. When you are choosing plants for your container make sure that they will play well together. However, if your plant is exhibiting signs of serious disease, take it out immediately, re-pot it and either quarantine or put it in a plastic bag and throw it out. If the soil feels dry, add water; if you're not sure, wait and check later in the day. Some experts advise using all kinds of crazy stuff as filler for your container gardens. Keep in mind that it's easier to grow plants in large containers than small ones. Also, it's best not to use metal or dark-colored containers because they can become very hot and cook your plant's roots. You also can use food-grade plastic or glazed ceramic containers. Container Sizes. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This is particularly important with young plants and is essential for most plants that have spent their lives in the pampered climate of a greenhouse. Don’t use regular garden soil in your containers. Plants that typically grow well in containers include: Plants that don't usually work well in containers include: Hardening Off Transplants. To figure out whether your plants need water, stick your finger down into the soil about an inch. The minimum size for a drainage hole is 1/2 inch in diameter for small or medium-sized pots. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Gardening is a rewarding activity that gardening enthusiasts can’t wait to get back to once the weather warms up. Organic gardening depends on these organisms so once you've used Miracle-Gro, you will have to stick to it or another synthetic fertilizer. So, for example, if you have a plant that requires full sun, you want all the plants you choose for that pot to also require full sun. Add some window box planters: they will instantly add color and beauty to your home. You can grow just about any vegetable in a container, a practice that can save you lots of money buying produce at the grocery store. People often wildly overestimate how much sun their containers get. To do this, either mix up a big batch of potting soil mixed with fertilizer in a bucket or fill your pot with potting soil and then mix in the fertilizer. The vast majority of plants will need fertilizer added to your soil, in order to thrive. Container gardening for beginners: Dress up your garden with these ideas for gorgeous planters full of flowers, veggies, berries and more [Clark, Lisa] on Amazon.com. 10 Container Garden Tips for Beginners Don't Skimp on Drainage. If you have a plant that likes to dry out between waterings, you don't want to put it in a pot with plants that like it wet. It’s also much easier than you might think! However, starting seeds isn't for everyone. Another alternative is to make an unusual container from something you have around your house, such as an old laundry basket or toy bin. To have the most fun and to increase your chances of success with any kind of gardening, assess how you live before you dive in. Nebraska University Extension, Fertilizer Management. This complete container gardening video can help you become more self sufficient even with a small property or bad soil... even gardening on a patio. Plants need nutrition to thrive, and their food is fertilizer. If your soil doesn’t have fertilizer already mixed in, add some several times throughout the growing season, according to the directions on the label. When a plant starts looking dreadful you have a couple of choices. But some gardeners might overestimate how much sun an area really gets. It's that simple. You can start your veggies from seed or buy seedlings. You just have to do a little research and experimentation to find what works. When you buy seedlings in the spring, or if you grow your own from seed, you must harden off your plants. Most nurseries will have someone there who can help you out with your choices. You can even use terra cotta pots, but it's harder to keep your plants moist in them, because the clay allows the water to evaporate out of the soil more easily. All of the uncertainty and hard work makes the whole endeavor exciting, rewarding, and endlessly interesting. The following tips apply to most vegetables and can help you and your plants get off to a good start. There are some significant advantages and disadvantages to each. While you can find a great plant for almost any amount of light, you have to know how much light your container will get before you choose your plants. If you combine plants with different needs, some of them will not thrive. Choosing a container can be daunting. For example, if you have a large pot you might want some plants with "upright habits," to give your design height and then some plants with a "mounding habits" for filling in your design. Conversely, if you give them too much water, they’ll keel over dead. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. You can also use a sun calculator to get an accurate assessment. You have almost no weeding to do, container-grown vegetables often have less pest problems and with the right care grow fast too. Try to create a list at least with the number of pots, the sizes, and where they are going - so you can get plants that fit the pots and know if you need plants for sun or shade or anything in between. Whatever your style, there are plants that can work for you. Terra Cotta Containers: Terra cotta containers are some of my favorite to plant in. This is often the most high-maintenance and critical aspect of vegetable container gardening. There are so many container garden vegetables that you can grow even if you are a beginning gardener. In a mixed container garden, it makes sense to give up rather early, so your whole container doesn't look ugly. If all else fails, try to look it up on the internet. Or you can make your own wooden planter box. Don't use soil from your garden, because it will compact in the containers and won't drain water properly. To avoid this, you can make a self-watering seed starter. But if you use garden soil, you might be importing problems into your containers. Smartphones are great for this. The more plants you grow, the more plants you will kill. Once you get the hang of container gardening you might find yourself growing more and more pots each year. 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