Curious about starting a container garden? In this post, we will teach you all the secrets to growing a variety of fruits and vegetables in a container… even if you think you won’t be successful! In this post, we will discuss what to grow in containers, how to choose the right container, how and when to plant, when to harvest, and everything else in between!

I know that it feels like we have abandoned you, but trust me- we are still here! I love writing blog posts and have missed my time here. This year has been an adventure for me and my family and at the end of the day (or days and days) there was just no time and energy left for this little blog. But, I am back and ready to share some gardening glory again!

My family’s adventure of 2020 is the inspiration behind today’s post, so I want to take a minute to tell you a quick summary of our story. In January, my husband accepted a position with a new company. His new position would require us to relocate from San Antonio, Texas to his home state of New Jersey. We put our house on the market and it took forever to sell (which is a really long story that ends with me not recommending a particular real estate agency in San Antonio).

Meanwhile, this thing called coronavirus became a pandemic and it got us thinking about what our life goals really were. We realized that the East Coast (as much as we love it) was not part of those goals and we really wanted to live in Dallas. My husband’s transfer request to Dallas was approved, our home finally sold, we found a new home, and six months later, we finally made our move.

I am finally settled into my new home and am ready to start gardening… but here are the problems- it’s September, my yard is small (even though it is apparently considered a good size for the area) and because my house is new, my backyard is a blank landscape. The last problem is not a bad thing… it means that I get to design my garden to fit the yard and I am very excited about that. It just isn’t going to happen this year. Honestly, what’s the point? By the time I build what I want, it will be too late to actually plant anything.

So, what is a girl who loves gardening suppose to do? I couldn’t just not garden- I don’t think that is in my DNA. I decided to go with the best temporary solution to my gardening whoas- container gardening! If you’ve ever been intimidated by the thought of growing something in a container- don’t be. Not only is it simple, but by growing things in containers you can take advantage of small spaces, upcoming moves, and short growing seasons, in addition to about a million other reasons. So, let’s get started with the basics.

What Can You Grow in Containers

Alright- so what exactly can you grow in containers? I think the better question here should be- what can’t you grow in a container? And the answer would be… not too much. Seriously, so many things grow really well in containers. This list includes tomatoes, any plants in the squash family, berry bushes, even trees! The most important thing to keep in mind is choosing the correct container, but more on that momentarily. If you are short on space, you can get creative with ways to make vining plants grow up instead of out.

There are some plants that are actually better to grow in containers. For example- anything in the mint family (which includes oregano)… trust me, you want those rapid growers contained!

What am I growing this year? I decided to stick with four plants and am growing a cherry tomato, basil, rosemary, and mint.

What Type of Containers to Use

Perhaps the trickiest part of container gardening is choosing the correct container. When choosing containers, always remember that size matters. Think about the mature size of the plant you are growing… will your container be large enough to support that size? For example- tomatoes will grow to be quite large… you do not want to plant them in a small, 12 inch pot. Instead, choose something larger (18-24 inches) that can support the tomato all season long. Carrots don’t need a wide container, but they do need a deep one. Remember, pot size is determine by the diameter of the top of the pot.

If you are growing something that will be in the container for more than one growing season, such as trees or berry bushes, you may need to repot every few years or whenever the plant starts to outgrow its current container. When choosing a new pot, choose something 2-3 inches bigger than the current container.

One great thing about container gardening is that you don’t need to purchase an actual plant container… you can use just about anything that holds soil. Lauresa likes to use 5 gallon buckets. I have an old metal ice bucket that I love to use. I’ve even grown things in plastic storage totes before. Make sure you have drainage holes in whatever container you choose to use. So, if you are using something like a bucket, drill some holes in the bottom before you plant anything.

If you are using a container that was previously used to grow something else, be sure to sanitize the container before use. I make a simple bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water and then give the containers a quick wipe down. Doing this will make sure that your plants have a nice clean home to grow in.

How to Plant in Containers

Container gardening has become such a normal way to garden that I have started to notice on the back of seed package little symbols that indicate how many plants to grow in a pot- usually a 12 inch pot. When I am gardening in garden boxes, I follow the square foot gardening method. Sometimes it is tempting to follow the same technique when planting in a 12 inch container, but I have found more success when I tend to stick to one plant per container. I prefer to adjust the size of my container to match the plant. Even in containers, plants do not like to get too crowded! The exception to this, of course, would be compact plants such as carrots and radishes.

Planting in containers is simple. If you are using established plants, either ones you started from seed or purchased from a nursery, water those well first. This will help prevent transplant shock. Next, fill your container about halfway to three-quarters of the way up with potting soil.

The soil you choose is just as important as your container size. Don’t use garden soil. Don’t use top soil or soil from your in-ground garden- use potting soil. You can find a formula to make your own or you can do as I do and just buy a bag. Potting soil is important because as you water your plant, the soil will not become compacted. Compacted soil will be heavy and will not allow the roots to grow correctly which you do not want.

After you have filled the container partway up with soil, carefully remove your transplant from the container. If a root ball has developed, carefully loosen it with one hand then place the plant in the container. Place soil around the plant to fill up the gaps, lightly pat down and then water well.

If you are planting seeds, follow the same techniques you would if were planting in a regular garden.

As with any gardening technique, be sure to add any needed structural support to your container as soon as you are done planting. Basically, any vining plant will need some type of structural support. This includes tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans, peas, anything in the squash family (if you do not want them spilling over onto the ground). Some peppers may also require some type of structural support if they grow big enough. For my cherry tomato, I added three poles and then created a “cage” using garden twine. It’s a bit primitive, I know, but it works really well!

How to Care for Your Container Garden (aka How Not to Kill Your Container Garden)

The single most important thing that you can do for your container garden is to water. Water daily! Morning is the best time to water as this will help prevent powdery mildew and other problems. During particularly warm days, you may need to water twice a day. If you do need to water again in the evening, be sure to water the base of plants to avoid getting the leaves wet.

All other aspects of caring for a container garden are pretty much the same as regular gardens. Adding mulch around the base of the plant will help retain water on hot days. Be sure to fertilize regularly (weekly is best), treat with Neem oil if necessary. And get ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor!

End of Season Storage and Care

Once the growing season comes to an end, go ahead and add the contents of the container to your compost pile. The exception to this would be if your plants were affected by blight or other disease, then avoid adding those to your compost. Don’t forget to clean out those pots to have them ready for next year. If your plants will stay in the container for the winter, be sure to follow any specific growing instructions for that plant. Some need to be placed in a sheltered area such as a garage for the winter.

And there you have it. Container gardening is really quite easy and fun! What is you favorite thing to grow in containers?