Container gardening is a versatile, fun, common sense way to have a garden if you are not in a position to have a conventional garden in the ground.  Perhaps a deck on the back of your house or apartment is the most space you have.  Or perhaps you would just like the idea of a container garden to brighten up the patio, or line the driveway.  Whatever your reason, container gardens are fun, easy, beautiful, and rewarding to do.

Even vegetables can be grown in containers.  And it’s a great way to interest kids in growing things.  Especially if they can be rewarded with a fresh carrot, tomato, or other tasty tidbit.  You can grow any vegetable in a container.  And starting with containers is a great opportunity to go with organic gardening.  All you need is the container, some potting soil, and seeds or plants.  If you are completely new to gardening, here are some basic tips you will need.

Any kind of container will do.  Depending on your taste and your pocket book, you can use anything that will hold dirt and a plant.  I’ve seen plastic tubs, toilet bowls, buckets, wooden boxes, and many different kinds of actual flowerpots.  Just make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container.  If there are none, you will need to put some in it.  Anywhere from one to half a dozen quarter inch holes will suffice, depending on the size of the container.

Learn which plants will grow deeper roots.  Those will need a deeper container.  Carrots will grow deeper than lettuce.  A tomato plant that spreads out and grows upward will require a larger pot than spinach leaves, etc.

Container gardening is fun and the fresh veggies you reap, or the beautiful flowers you produce, are plenty of reward.  So find a place where there is sufficient sunlight, add water, and watch your garden grow!