Growing Vegetables in Pots

Even if all the room you have for a garden is only a patio or deck which gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day, you can grow a very bountiful garden. Nearly every vegetable includes a variety that can be a good candidate for growing vegetables in pots, but smaller varieties generally do better since they typically have smaller root systems.

What Varieties of Vegetables Do Well in Pots?
Since growing vegetables in containers has become so popular, there are more varieties than ever to grow in containers. When looking for varieties to grow, the seed packet or plant tag will often will have descriptions such as “patio,” “bush,” “dwarf,” etc., or will say how tall the variety gets. Varieties under 4 feet will generally do well. It is possible to grow larger varieties, but they may become top heavy and subject to being knocked over by wind, and will need some kind of support, such as a trellis.

What Kind of Soil is Best for Growing Vegetables in Pots?
Soil is the most important investment for growing vegetables in containers or in the ground. The soil you choose must have the proper nutrients so that the food you grow will be the most nutritious possible. Because organic gardening has become so popular, there are now many organic mixes available at your local nursery, or even at big box stores.

What Kind of Fertilizer is Best for Growing Vegetables in Pots?
Since your plants are confined to the soil in containers, and will need to be watered frequently, your plants will need to be fertilized every two weeks. Fish emulsion and sea kelp provide a wide range of nutrients and, when properly diluted, will not burn your plants. You can also provide foliar feedings on the weeks that you do not fertilize the soil. Simply spray all surfaces of your plants’ leaves every two weeks with diluted fertilizer.

How to Choose Seeds to Grow
You will have the best selection of varieties to choose from by shopping at local nurseries or online. Local nurseries will know what varieties typically do well in your area. Heirloom and an open pollinated varieties will make it possible for you to save seed from year to year.

Choose varieties that are described as having the traits you want. For example, if you like peas with sweet pods rather than peas which are best shelled, reputable seed companies will have accurate descriptions of the mature fruit and when to harvest. To extend your gardening season, choose varieties with different maturation dates, or plant a few seeds every few weeks.

Once you start growing your own food, you will become fascinated with watching your plants during the growing seasons. You will start looking forward to receiving seed catalogs in January and February, and will be excited to try new vegetables. Your food will not only be more nutritious, but it will taste better than anything you can buy at the grocery store.

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