Container gardening lets you grow vegetables herbs and flowers in any space from a balcony to a windowsill.
Choosing Containers
Use containers with drainage holes. Fabric grow bags are excellent for vegetables. Minimum 5-gallon containers for tomatoes and peppers. Herbs do well in 1 to 3 gallon pots.
Soil Mix
Never use garden soil in containers. Use a quality potting mix. A blend of 60 percent potting soil 20 percent perlite and 20 percent compost works well for most vegetables.
Best Container Vegetables
Cherry tomatoes bush beans lettuce peppers and herbs like basil thrive in containers. Choose compact or dwarf varieties bred for container growing.
Watering and Feeding
Containers dry out faster than garden beds. Check soil moisture daily. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season or mix slow-release granules at planting time.