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Gardening in Pots
by Jack Farley
Let's explore the benefits of gardening in pots, then we can move on to how it's done in such a way that you can produce quality vegetables and herbs.
- With pot gardening, you will use less water because you can water directly into the pots and not waste water trying to saturate the ground around the plants.
- There are virtually no weeds with pot gardening, and if there are any, they are easy to identify and remove.
- Less space is needed. Most planting instructions tell you to plant so many feet apart. With pot gardening, you can put one or two plants in a large pot and cram the pots right next to each other. Since the roots cannot intermingle, distance apart does not matter.
- Pest control is more efficient. Varmints - especially the boring kind - cannot bore into the roots because the pot protects them.
- There is greater flexiblility. Have you ever planted something, then when it comes up, wish it were in another part of the garden? Just move the pots! I even adjust the pots so that sun-sensitive plants benefit from the shade of sun-loving plant.
- Adding nutrients is more efficient because they go into the pot, not over a large area.
- No need to keep track of crop rotation...you rotate the soil, instead.
- You can pot garden anywhere. I first started this because, even though I have six acres of land, the land is all rocky. Even if you live in an apartment, you can garden on your balcony.
- You can get an earlier start with pot gardening. Plant indoors while the weather is still cool, then move the pots outdoors when warm. You can even move them to a warm protected area on those unexpected cold nights.
- Fewer harmful bugs, especially if you start off by using clean potting soil.
Your initial investment might be greater with pot gardening, because you have to aquire the pots and probably the soil. However, once aquired, subsequent investment is the same as ground gardening.
The pots should be plastic. Clay simply will not hold up in the long run. The best plastic pots? Paint buckets...no, not the one gallon variety. Get five gallon paint buckets. If you don't know a painter (they throw them away after using the paint), then you can buy them at most paint or hardware stores. And, they are usually cheaper than plastic garden pots - and more durable. An added bonus with paint buckets is the handle. This makes it easier to carry the precious cargo. Paint buckets are also deeper than plastic garden pots, which allows the roots more space. Always drill at least three - 1" diameter holes in the bottom of each pot before filling.
If you have good soil available, use it. However, make certain it does not pack too tightly in the pots. Add vermiculite or light potting soil to your soil. The top of the pot should be covered with light mulch, just as is preferable in a regular garden. I use potting soil and mix different types together. Some potting soils are heavier than others and you will want to keep the soil light. Also, while you are mixing, throw in some manure. Leave about two inches free at the top of the pot. This allows you to pour in plenty of water and allow it to slowly soak into the pot. At the end of the season, I dump all the soil into barrels for storage and mix up the soil as well as possible - this is better than crop rotation.
What can you grow? Almost, but not quite as much as in a regular garden. Obviously, melons, cantaloupes and other ground vining plants will not do well. I have had little luck with squash, because it wants to vine on the ground, also. Most other vegetables and all herbs do very well. I believe that tomatoes actually do better in pots. This may be because they require so much nutrient additives and the pots will confine the nutrients and localize the benefits in the roots.
Peppers, eggplant and asparagus do very well...any vegetable that grows up and high will do well in pots. Root vegetables such as potatoes, onions and carrots should be grown in the ground - pots do not allow enough root space for them to expand. However, shallots do very well. And, if you are into herbs, you will be in heaven with pot gardening. Every herb I have tried has grown bigger and better in pots than in the ground. Especially parsley, basil, dill, catnip, bay and all varieties of mint.
What's Related
Dish Gardens for Indoor Beauty
Welcoming Herbs Into Your Vegetable Garden
Creating a Container Herb Garden: Window and Porch Boxes
Gardening With Kids Project: Colorful and Easy Calendula Pots
About the Author
Jack Farley has written several articles as well as his monthly newletter, Healthy Lifestyles.
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