When perusing seed catalogs, you will find quite a few varieties of seeds that have been developed for growing plants in containers. These seeds produce compact plants and typically a large push of vegetables on each plant in a short period of time, instead of producing vegetables throughout the growing season.
Here are the steps for choosing and managing a crop of container-grown vegetables:
- Determine if there is enough sunlight. Most vegetables require a minimum of 6 – 8 hours of sun. That said, some do okay with less, like lettuce, kale, or arugula. Salad greens typically like it cooler and a little afternoon shade serves these plants well.
- Choose the right container. Most plants need a minimum of a 14” pot, and the size can go up to 24” pots. The depth of the pot should be as deep as the diameter. This allows plenty of soil to support the plants. If growing peppers, squash, tomatoes or eggplant, one plant per pot is all that’s necessary. If growing leafy vegetables, three to five plants can grow together. And broccoli and cabbage? One to three plants, depending on pot size.
Clay pots dry out quickly. In the peak of growing, a clay pot may need watered as much as twice per day. Plastic, wood, fiberglass and felt are probably the most manageable containers. These maintain moisture for longer periods of time and can be moved as the summer sun gets hot. Be sure any pot used has drain holes.
- Choose the right soil. A potting mix of organic matter like bark, compost, peat moss and coco coir makes a great mix. There are many potting mixes available on the market. Look at the ingredients in the bag and stay away from anything that has topsoil in it.
-
Pick plants that are labeled for container growing. Many garden centers and greenhouses have these plants as an option.
-
Care for the plants. Keep in mind that these soilless mixes have little nutrition for the plants. Some mixes have slow-release fertilizer pellets already in it, which feed the plants for the first month or two. However, vegetable plants are very needy and fertilizer will be needed throughout the season. If you choose a liquid fertilizer that is mixed with water, this will need to be applied more frequently, as it doesn’t stay in the soil for long. A slow-release fertilizer is sprinkled on top of the soil and has a longer feed time to the plant. Always read the label when applying for rate and timing of application.
After planting the container gardens, keep them watered and scout for any issues. Just like vegetables grown in the ground, container grown vegetables can have disease, insect and nutrition problems. With proper decisions based on the plant’s needs, you will have a plethora of veggies to eat this summer and fall.
By Mary Ann Ryan, PSE Consumer Horticulture Program