Choosing Plants for Container Vegetable Gardening
When choosing plants for container vegetable gardening, look for labels which say patio, dwarf, or space saver; all of those titles are used for plants which have been bread to grow small and accept being grown in a pot easily.
Most any vegetable will accept being grown in a container as long as it's given proper spacing, drainage, nutrition, and attention; many vegetables are hearty and easy to grow, choosing plants which are wells suited to ones climate is important, the same plants do not grow well everywhere.
Looking to local farmers and producers will help a new gardener to select plants for container vegetable gardening; local nurseries should have good seedling and advice for a new gardener as well.
The Plants
Some vegetables grow better when started from seeds while others will flourish from seedlings; when choosing the types of plants desired for container vegetable gardening knowing which plants to better which way will help to make the decision easier.
Eggplant, tomatoes, and squash will grow better from seedlings generally speaking, they tend to be bushy plants when healthy; when choosing one from a nursery the fuller the plant the heartier crop one can expect the plant to yield.
Beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, peas or radishes will flourish is started as seeds; to aid germination the seeds can be planted shallowly in the soil, and the pot can be covered with a bit of plastic wrap to speed the process along. Starting seeds with the plastic wrap creates a greenhouse effect which can help the seeds to sprout sooner; once green sprouts have breached the surface of the soil the plastic should be removed.
Spacing
Every plant in should be given sufficient room for successful container vegetable gardening; for aesthetic purposes some plants can be grouped together. Once style of container vegetable gardening is known as a "salad bar" this style would have planters containing lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and carrots all growing in one long planter. Variations on this method could be employed for any desired effect; it is important to keep in mind the individual plants' comfort zones and group like tempered plants together.
Container vegetable gardening is fun, easy, and can lend to a healthier lifestyle as eating fresh vegetables is terrific for the body. Whether choosing container vegetable gardening due to space, soil, or for the challenge of creating a "garden of pots" anyone can enjoy fresh vegetables anywhere they live.
