Container Gardens: Tips for the Urban Gardener

Container gardens are the answer for people with space limitations who want to enjoy the bountiful benefits of growing plants at home. A patio, windowsill, balcony, pathway, porch or doorway can provide enough light to produce healthy vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Often, the most difficult part of container gardening is deciding what plants to grow and knowing how to get started. Provided below are some useful suggestions for successful plant growth in a contained urban garden.

Which plants should I grow?
Carrots, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce are all excellent choices for container gardens because their root systems take up little space. Check at your local nursery for seed varieties that are ideally suited and specially bred for container growing; read the back of the package for best results. Other popular container crops include herbs, such as, basil, thyme, mint, and chives. Some varieties of herbs are perennial and can be grown inside during the winter. Lavender, pansies, African lilies, purple fountain grass, bulbs and ferns are perennial flowers suitable for containers. Some fragrant varieties that may be used are dianthus, sweet alyssum, candytuft, petunia, heliotrope, and sweet pea.

Another consideration, when choosing which plants to grow, is the amount of direct sunlight that your container garden will receive each day. Crops that bear fruit require direct sunlight for at least 5 hours per day, whereas root or leaf crops can grow in partial shade. Many different types of annual flowers will grow under direct sunlight including geraniums, periwinkles, and marigolds. If your garden is mostly shady, try planting ageratum, begonias, and nicotania.

It is fun to be creative, especially when trying to follow a theme in your garden. There are many innovative combinations, such as, flowers that can be enjoyed at night, tropical combinations, spring varieties, and gardens that attract butterflies and hummingbirds (see links below for more information on container garden design).

Which containers should I use?
Plastic vessels are lightweight but can be too light when the plant is dry and may not be heavy enough to stop the plant from falling over. Clay containers are heavy and lose moisture from the sides and bottoms. Wood is the most popular building material for container gardens. Redwood and Cedar can be used without using preservatives. Similarly, use Copper-treated lumber or salt-treated lumber, not wood treated with creosote or other toxic compounds to build your containers (see links below to build your own wood container). Regardless of the type of material used, all containers should have adequate drainage.

Generally a small plant can be grown in a small container. Plants that are stressed, for example, on a hot balcony, exposed to the wind, or unhealthy will need a larger container. A container should be at least 6 to 8 inches deep for proper root development. Most annual flowers and small vegetables can be grown in containers of 1 gallon or less. Larger vegetables, such as cucumbers or peppers, should be grown in 1gallon to 3 gallon vessels. Roses or tomatoes need at least a 3 gallon pot.

Which soil mix should I use?
Straight soil is not recommended for container gardens because the earth gets saturated with water, which fills the air spaces required for proper root development. A potting mix, with soil or without, is recommended depending on the plants specific needs. A benefit of potting mixes is that they are free of insects, weeds, and disease organisms, which is very important for optimum plant growth in a controlled environment. Another option is to mix your own soil by following recipes outlined in garden books.

How often do I need to fertilize?
Plants that are exposed to the rain will need fertilizing more often because the nutrients can be leached from the soil. Furthermore, soiless potting mixes will require more fertilization than heavy potting mixes with soil. A diluted water-soluble fertilizer can be applied every other watering. It is suggested to read the instructions for continuous feeding of potted plants, if they do not have them, feed at 1/4 the recommended dilution. Another great option is time release fertilizers that gradually feed your plants over an extended period of time. Please note, it is very important not to over fertilize your plants, which quickly cuts down on plant productivity and can eventually lead to plant death.

How often do I need to water?
Container gardens are often located in exposed locations and may require frequent watering. The frequency and amount of water required varies on the weather, species, size of container, and soil type. The best method is to look and see when the plant begins to wilt, or stick your finger in the soil about 1 inch to see if it is dry. A little water should run out the bottom to ensure that the plant is saturated. Potting mixes can not be over watered because any excess water will run out the holes at the bottom of the container. If the plants are drying out too fast; group them together to provide shade for the soil; raise the containers off the ground; make a wind break; or limit the amount of time in direct sunlight.

What should I do about pests?
Plants should be periodically examined for pests. There are a variety of methods for pest control from synthetic pesticides to biological controls. Removing infected plants and keeping your containers clean will reduce the spread of pests or disease.

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