Not everyone has the space to plant a garden which is why container gardening is becoming such a huge trend. Over the past few years there are more and more people growing their own produce on their back deck and patios. There are advantages to growing vegetables/herbs in containers. Plants can be started sooner because you are not so dependent on temperatures as the soil warms up quickly in a pot, and container gardening is easy on the back, especially when using hanging containers or tall containers. There are lots of different vegetables and herbs that grow well in containers, and the list is getting longer as plant breeders work on new varieties that are better suited for container growing. There is a line of seeds from Thompson & Morgan, (Royal Botanic Gardens) called Urban Garden Collection which are ideal for container growing. There is a good selection of root crops, including leek, beets, turnip, onion, parsnip, radish, and carrots. Also available are different varieties of salad greens, peas, tomatoes, peas, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. Many of these varieties are more compact and smaller sized, so they can be grown successfully in containers.
Vegetables can be grown in containers but you want to use the right sized containers. Containers should be a minimum of 20 to 25 centimetres deep but the bigger the container the easier it is to grow vegetables. The bigger containers will need to be watered less often which gardeners will appreciate, because as the plants grow larger, they will require lots of water. The containers should also have drainage, by having drainage holes in the container or by placing a layer of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the container. There are new containers available now, that are great for patio gardening. Not only are they made from breathable fabric which is good for the plants roots but they are also attractive. The hanging strawberry planter' has a wire frame that is wrapped with a red plastic tarp fabric. It is a long cylinder with nine green side planting locations and a green removable plastic lid. It is perfect for growing strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, herbs or even flowers. After the season is done the container is emptied, washed and then folded and put away making it ideal for those gardeners who do not have a lot of storage space. There are several different styles and sizes of fabric containers to choose from including the potato growing bag which is specially designed to grow potatoes on the patio. Growing your own herbs has also become easier. There is a three tier hanging herb planter with a built in tray, that allows the gardener to grow over 12 different herbs in one planter and it takes very little space. The planter can be either hung from a chain or be placed on the deck. Because of its size it can be placed outdoors during the summer months and brought indoors when temperatures go below freezing. When the container is empty the three tiers can be broken down and stacked, taking very little storage space.
Location is important when growing in containers. Place containers out of the wind and in a sunny location where they will get six ti eight hours of sun daily. If possible, place the containers near a hose, making it easier to water. If you don't want water on the deck/patio place large saucers under the containers. Soil is one of the most important elements in growing plants successfully. When growing in containers use a good quality, outdoor soil mix with good drainage. Fertilizer is another important part in a plants health. There are different fertilizers for different plants. If growing salads and leafy crops use a well balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20. For all other crops use a fertilizer with a lower first number (nitrogen) and a higher middle number.
