Basic container gardening

Chances are, if you live in Baltimore City you might want to garden but you only have a tiny yard and possibly a porch. Many yards in the city are also completely cemented over or you may not have any outdoor space at all. If digging up the ground is not an option, try container gardening. This is good for beginners who don’t want to invest a lot or for renters who can’t make any permanent changes to their yards.

Choosing the container is the first, most important thing. Avoid vessels that are very small or that have narrow openings. Many garden magazines suggest quirky containers like old boots or cute little watering cans but these are not always practical. The plants can dry out too easily and be difficult to care for. If you don’t care about looks, you can use plastic buckets or other household items. If you want a more traditional look, terra cotta pots in various sizes are often sold inexpensively at home and garden stores. Wood containers are also easy to build, but make sure the wood is not treated or varnished with toxic chemicals. Besides being bad for the plants, you will eat these chemicals if you grow food. If the container does not have drainage holes of about a ½ inch wide, drill them in. Add small rocks or broken crockery to the bottom of the pot before you put in any soil. This will also help with drainage.

Soil is easily available in 20-pound bags at your local home and garden center. Take care not to use just any old dirt because plants in containers have limited nutrients to begin with. Some gardeners swear by what is called soilless mix. This is composed of materials such as vermiculite, peat moss and pearlite. If you can afford it, soilless mixes are better for container gardens as they hold water better.

The plants you can grow in containers are more varied than you may think. Most of the annuals you find at local gardening centers will do well, but also consider food. Common vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce and peppers do well. A container gardening guide on gardenguides.com discusses the specific needs of commonly grown vegetables. Don’t rule out root vegetables. One year I grew carrots in a bucket from the dollar store. A friend of mine grew potatoes in a large tub last summer. If you are a beginner, stick with basic vegetables that you like, but if you are more experienced you can still challenge yourself.

The average plant needs at least five hours of sun a day, but plants can vary. Position large containers where they will get this. Smaller pots can be repositioned as needed. This is especially good for plants like lettuce that need to be sheltered from heat as the summer comes on. In hot weather, plants may need watering almost every day, so figure this into your plan. They may start out so little but come July you may find yourself enslaved to a yard packed full of thirsty plants. Container plants also need fertilizer more often so plan to use a liquid fertilizer ever couple of weeks during the summer.