So, you’re looking to get started in container gardening, but you don’t know what to grow? We can help! Here is a list of five edible plants that grow well in containers. 1. Herbs If you don’t have much experience with container gardening, herbs are hands-down the best place to start. With a little care and nurturing, you can keep a basil plant alive on your kitchen windowsill through a winter, and it is even easier to plant a container bed with several herbs at once to thrive through the summer months. I always start my herbs from seedlings. If you have an urn or windowbox, consider planting several varieties side-by-side. I keep basil, parsley, chives, tarragon, oregano, and thyme in mine. Find out what you use most! 2. Tomatoes Depending on how much space you have, you can opt for the right style of tomato plant for you. If you are limited in space, you can grow cherry tomatoes in baskets: they’re both decorative and tasty. Good varieties to try for that include Florida Basket Tomatoes and Anmore Dewdrop Tomatoes. If you have more space, you can upgrade to larger tomatoes in pots and planters of five gallons or more. Roma tomatoes grow very well in pots. Remember to stake and water well, and you can get a great harvest. Trellises in Container Gardens 3. Radishes Radishes can be a lot of fun to grow, especially with children, because they are very quick to grow and don’t need much space. You can plant them in a windowbox or a little planter and have a harvest in 3-4 weeks! Moisten the soil in a pot, plant radish seeds, and cover with 1/4 inch of soil. Cover the pot with plastic wrap until the seeds sprout. 3 weeks after that, your radishes will be ready to eat! 4. Lettuce Lettuce is a pretty plant, and works well as combination vegetable and ornamental container plant. I like to plant it in windowboxes, for a nice bit of greenery. They don’t need too much depth, but be sure to space the plants adequately. Following the instructions on the package should be fine. One advantage to lettuce is that you can find good partial shade varieties, which can help if you don’t get much direct sun. 5. Squash In my experience, summer squashes are a terrifically forgiving plant. You need a good-sized pot for container squash, but if you get a pot of around five gallons or more and try to keep them watered, you can get a fabulous crop from them. Keep in mind, squash plants (especially zucchini) like to spread out and fill space. You need to either prune them back or be prepared for crazy trailing leaves and vines. How to Handle and Apply Pesticides Safely Nearly any vegetable you can grow in the ground can be grown in a container, provided the container is big enough. These suggestions should help you get started, but feel free to experiment on your own and find what works best for you. Good luck!
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AuthorI'm Kenneth Evans. I've been taking care of lawns since I was eight –that was over 40 years ago. Archives
August 2020
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