Grow Your Own Produce: Container Gardening Tips for Beginnersost Title

Do you have a patio, a porch or a balcony? Well, then you should know that you don't need to have an actual garden to really have a garden. Container gardening is a perfect solution for those who don't own a garden and can add versatility to those who do. Placed on the ground or on a pedestal, hanged or mounted on a windowsill, plants in containers provide a focal point to the garden or tie with the architecture of the home.

A pair of matching containers on either side of the front walk serves as a welcoming decoration, while container gardening on a patio or a balcony can add colour and ambience to such outdoor sitting areas.

You can always plant flowers for decoration, but gardening vegetables can be both fun and productive - you will be able to put home-grown, healthy food on your table. If you are a beginner, the following features can give you some guidance regarding the process of container gardening.

First, you need to decide what plants and vegetables you want to produce. One of the greatest benefits of container gardening is that you don't need a vast space or in-ground garden patch. Here are some of the easiest vegetables you can grow if you have good sun exposure.

Tomatoes. They don't like the cold, so don't plant them too early. Also, when planting the tomato seedling, plant them deeper than you do with other plants. Tomatoes are more successful in a bigger container and might need staking. They require good drainage and full sun exposure.

Lettuce and other salad greens. The biggest benefit of growing salad greens is that you can snip to eat one day and then snip again a few days later. They grow fast, plus the container growing gives you the flexibility to control weeds and pests more easily than in-ground planting. They require moist, fertile soil, but not so much sun.

Peppers. It doesn't matter if you choose sweet or hot peppers, they both look and taste fabulous. When planting peppers, have in mind that they need full sunlight and good drainage.

Eggplant. Make sure to choose a variety that doesn't get dense and heavy. The eggplants need large containers to support the roots of this plant and its bush-like growth. Face them towards the sun and keep the soil moist.

Keep in mind that it's easier to grow plants in large vegetable planters than small ones, but depending on the space available, you can choose from a bigger, more urban model to a mini container that you can hang on the wall. Large containers hold more soil, which stays moist longer and resists rapid temperature fluctuations.

If you don't have the time needed to properly cater to the watering needs of your plants, you can opt for a container vegetable garden model with an integrated self-watering system. This type of container comes with a water level indicator that shows you when you need to fill up the reservoir. They are so simple for use, you just need to top up your reservoir and your plants are self-watering. You don't need to worry about constant watering, dripping on the floor or making holes to your container. These come with a clip-on drip tray that takes all the worry out of indoor use. Consider these containers as a useful option for dealing with smaller plants that need frequent watering.

Choose something sturdy, flexible, corrosion-resistant, food safe and recyclable.

If you don't have floor or wall space, you can transform your balcony railing into a flourishing garden with a rail container. Connect a couple together for even more growing space. If you have enough space on the floor, opt for bigger and wider models.

An important fact to know is that most vegetables need lots of sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. However, some vegetables need less sun exposure than others, so make sure to be strictly informed before deciding on what vegetables to plant in your container vegetable garden.

Choosing high-quality potting soil is equally important as choosing a high-quality veggie pot. Without this, your plants might not be successful. Be careful and avoid using from your garden because it will compact in the containers and won't drain water properly. One of the benefits of vegetable gardening in pots is not having to deal with weeds. But if you use garden soil, you might be importing weeds into your containers.

Despite regular watering, container gardening plants need regular feeding . Experts recommend fertilizing by watering with diluted fish emulsion, seaweed extract, or compost tea. You can also foliar feed them by spraying the leaves with doubly diluted preparations of these solutions. The best way is to start feeding them once every two weeks and adjust the frequency depending on plant response.

Garden vegetable boxes are focal points in your garden or balcony, so you will probably want them to look their best. Give them some special attention by removing tattered leaves and deadhead spent flowers. Also, keep an eye out for pests like aphids and mites. And lastly, enjoy the fruits of your hard work.