Home and Living

Garden fresh vegetables are one of the hallmarks of summer eating. From the unmatched taste of summer tomatoes to the taste buds that are left tingling form eating a fresh snap pea, you just can’t beat that level of taste. If you live in an area where a garden simply isn’t possible, though, you may be left feeling like you will never taste those foods again without handing over all of the cash in your wallet at the local farmers’ market. This, however, is not the case. No matter where you live, you can grow perfect summer vegetables in containers on your patio or deck with very little effort.

The first step to growing great vegetables on your deck or patio is deciding what type of containers to use for your new hobby. There are many things to consider in this selection. You must ensure that you not only get the perfect size for each plant you intend to grow, you must also be sure you get the right shape for each vegetable you want in your new “garden.” The first thing you should consider, of course, is size. One of the biggest mistakes many patio gardeners make is choosing containers that are far too minuscule for the plants they intend to keep in the garden. If you think a particular container is the right size, get one size bigger. On the most basic level, you will need a pot that will hold a minimum of five gallons of soil. This will give your choice veggies plenty of room to spread out and develop the root system they need to create perfect summer vegetables every time.

Shape is, of course, another serious consideration. Different plants, obviously, grow differently. Some plants are climbers. Others tend to need a bit more room to spread out their roots. Do some reading before you make your plant choice. This should help to give you a better idea of the style of pot you need for your new vegetable garden. Once you’ve decided on a size and style, you’re ready to pick a material for your pots. You have several choices for your patio vegetable garden. One of the most obvious choices for container gardening is plastic, and with good reason. If you choose plastic pots for your container garden, you will be choosing to grow your vegetables in one of the most affordable, recyclable materials known to man.

Moreover, you will be choosing a material that holds moisture well, a must for container gardening, a material that is highly resistant to the inevitable bumps and bruises that will occur in a small space like a patio, and one that tolerates freezing if you live in a cooler climate zone. There are lots of different plastic container styles to choose from, and you are sure to find one you like at your local home and garden center. If you prefer a more traditional container material, you have a few choices. First, perhaps you should think wood. While wood containers were, at one time, the worst possible material for container gardening, rot resistant woods like cedar, redwood, or cypress have made wood containers the choice for many container gardeners as they offer great drainage and serious insulation for folks who live in difficult climates. If wood isn’t your thing, a terra cotta pot might be the perfect selection for you. These tend to be low in cost, and you have some great selection in this area that is sure to match any décor.

Once you’ve made the perfect container selection for you, you are ready to think about your potting soil mix. Container gardening is difficult at best, and a good potting soil can ensure that you have the best possible chance at perfect vegetables. Choose the best mix your local lawn and garden store carries. You need something that holds moisture, but won’t bog down your vegetable plant’s roots. If the soil gets to heavy or retains too much moisture, your plants will die. Some mixes have extra ingredients like fertilizer, nutrients, and things that help to hold moisture in the soil. All of these can seriously increase the growth rate of your container vegetables.

The final thing you have do when you get ready to start container gardening is choose your veggies wisely. Increasingly, new vegetable plants are being created specifically for container gardening. There are some vegetables that mature earlier, making them ideal for a container garden. Some have been designed to grow in compact spaces. Still others are dwarf plants or baby vegetables that make it easier for them to grow in the space available. Consider “Tom Thumb” lettuce. “Golden Midget” corn might make another nice choice. If you prefer standard sized vegetables, tomatoes and squash make for perfect container selections.

Container gardening can be a fun, rewarding process if you choose the perfect materials and plants. If you’re aching for fresh, summer vegetables in your current non-garden home, think container gardening.