So you don’t have a yard and still want to grow? It’s more than possible!

Most vegetables that can be grown in an in-ground garden space can also be grown in a container garden.

In my opinion, the best vegetables to grow in a container garden are going to be the classics, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, bush beans, lettuce, spinach, summer squash, radishes, and herbs.

A great space saving alternative!

When growing with containers it's important to remember the same critical components you would if growing in the ground itself; adequate sunlight, water, spacing needs, healthy soil, good fertilizer, and even things like pest management. Container gardening is not a one size fits all situation so, it's important to choose the right container.

When it comes to choosing the right container, it is important to think about not just the size but the material of the container as well. Glazed pots can be nice to look at visually, they may not have any drainage holes.., Terracotta pots may make your container garden look more uniform, but they also require more watering.

Personally, I recommend using grow bags made from fabric to start off. Not only are they cheap, but they also come in multiple sizes and are easy to move around the garden and reuse

Once you’ve determined what kind of container you would like to use to start growing your vegetables, you will need to place the container in the warmest, sunniest spot you kind find. , you will need to choose a suitable growing medium. A good growing medium will hold water while also providing adequate nutrients. Additionally, a good growing medium must also drain well, otherwise, your plants could end up in a puddle and drown! Any potting soil that you find in your garden store should work just fine, though I recommend mixing it with our Ancient Soil and a little bit of perlite to give it the best environment. On the back of the Ancient Soil bag, you’ll find the perfect recipe to make your container garden thrive.

Once you’ve got your containers filled with your healthy soil, it's time to directly plant your seeds or transplant healthy, strong, seedlings into those containers. What comes next is the usual care and attention you would pay to any of your plants — regular watering, feeding, and some good old-fashioned TLC

Troubleshooting For Container Gardening

Be mindful of overwatering. Your soil should be like a damp sponge, as letting the soil dry out completely will cause the soil to become hydrophobic., Once your plant is fully grown, it is okay to let it go for a few days without water. It's also important to watch for poor drainage due to inadequate drain holes or compacted soil. To tell if you have compacted soil, take a chopstick or skewer and aerate the soil manually, then water your container and see what comes out the bottom. If it doesn’t come out as fast as normal, you can always drill more holes, though this is one of the reasons I personally gravitate toward grow bags.

Finally, keep an eye out to make sure your plants aren’t outgrowing their pots. If roots are growing out of the drainage hole this is a sure sign that the pot may have been too small which is why choosing the right container is so important.

Just like any other kind of gardening, container gardening is an adventure with lots of unexpected yet fun twists and turns and is always a fun learning experience. All you need to be successful at container gardening is to be both attentive and observant. Most of all, don’t forget to take time to enjoy the literal fruits of your labor