Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Mike McQueen

Regional Extension Agent

Home Grounds, Gardens, & Home Pests

March 24, 2009

Growing Vegetables in Containers

If you don’t have space for a vegetable garden, consider growing fresh, homegrown vegetables in containers. A patio, balcony, windowsill, or doorstep can provide enough space for a productive container garden. Gardeners can also overcome problems with poor soil, soil-borne diseases, and nematodes by growing vegetables in containers.

Grow vegetables that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes, and lettuce, or crops that bear fruit over longer period of time, like tomatoes and peppers, for the best use of space in containers. Dwarf varieties often produce fruit earlier, but usually do not produce as well as standard varieties. With the increasing interest in container gardening, plant breeders and seed companies are working on vegetables bred specifically for growing in containers. These varieties are not necessarily miniature or dwarf and may produce as well as the standard varieties if cared for properly.

The amount of sunlight your container garden receives will determine what crops can be grown. In general, root crops and leaf crops can tolerate partial shade, but vegetables grown for their fruit need at least five hours of full, direct sunlight each day and do best with eight to ten hours of sunlight.

Container gardening lends itself to complimenting the landscape. A dull patio area can be brightened by the addition of baskets of cascading tomatoes or a colorful herb mix. Planter boxes with trellises can be used to create a shady place on an apartment balcony.

Containers

There are many types of containers for gardening. Clay, Wood, plastic, and metal are some of the suitable materials for container gardening. Containers for vegetables must: 1) be big enough to support plants when they are fully grown, 2) hold soil without spilling, 3) have good drainage, and 4) never have been used with products that would be toxic to plants or people. You may consider using barrels, cut off milk jugs, window boxes, clothes baskets lined with plastic (with holes punched in it for drainage), or even pieces of drainage pipe or cement block.

Regardless of the type container you decide to use, make sure that there are holes in the bottom for drainage so plant roots do not stand in water. Most plants need containers at least six to eight inches deep for adequate root development.

Potting Soil

A lightweight potting mix works best for container gardening. Soil straight from the garden does not work well because it usually contains too much clay. Clay soils are made up of extremely small, microscopic particles. In a container, the bad qualities of clay are magnified. It holds too much moisture when it is wet, resulting in poor air flow to the roots, and it pulls away from the sides of the pot when it is dry. Growing medium for containers must be porous to drain well, but high enough in organic matter to hold water because roots need both oxygen and water to stay healthy. Packaged potting soils available at local garden centers are usually good to use in containers, but make sure that it is not too high in organic material.  A good mix should contain 30% or more of perlite or coarse matter. Try mixing your own potting mix with one part peat moss, one part garden loam, and one part of clean coarse builder’s sand, adding a slow-fertilizer according to the size of the container.

Planting

Container crops should be planted at the same time as a regular garden. Fill the container to within a ½ inch of the top with a slightly damp soil mixture. Sow the seeds according to the instructions on the package or set transplants. Make sure to place a label with the name, variety, and date of planting in each container. After planting, gently soak with water. The seedlings should be thinned after they have two to three leaves to obtain proper spacing. If cages, stakes, or other supports are needed, they should be placed in the containers when the plants are small to prevent root damage later.

Watering

Pay close attention to watering container plants. Because the volumes of soil are small, containers can dry out very quickly, especially on a concrete patio in full sun. Watering daily or twice daily may be necessary. Water should be applied until it runs out of the drainage holes. Check your containers at least once a day and twice on hot, dry, or windy days. Mulching and windbreaks can help reduce water requirements for containers.

Fertilizing

If a soil mix with fertilizer added is used, your plants will have enough nutrients for 8 to 10 weeks. If plants are grown longer than this, water-soluble fertilizer should be added at the recommended rate. An occasional dose of fish emulsion or compost will add trace elements to the soil.

General Pest Care

The same insects and diseases that are common to any vegetable garden can attack vegetables grown in containers. Regular inspection of plants and use of the integrated pest management strategies of mechanical, biological cultural, chemical practices can help  reduce insect and disease problems.

For more information about vegetable gardening, contact the Master Gardener Information line at 1-877-252-4769, or visit us on the web at http://www.aces.edu/homegarden/HomeGrown.php for the current schedule of “Home Grown” Vegetable Workshops.

Email address: mcquegj@aces.edu

Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.