Container Gardening for Your Patio or Balcony

Container Gardening for Your Patio or Balcony was first published to http://totalsurvival.net

Interested in container gardening for your limited patio space? You can grow and harvest significant crops by growing them in containers. It's the perfect option for balcony and patio gardens. Check out this list of vegetables to grow for urban gardening and growing in containers!

Container Gardening | Top Five Plants to Grow on a Patio or Balcony

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are probably the easiest plant to grow in a container. Here are some urban gardening ideas to help you successfully grow a tomato plant.

• Start with a large container. My preference is a clay pot with adequate drainage. The bigger the pot the better. Tomato plants can grow quite large over time.

• The secret to a large and healthy tomato plant is consistent watering. Always keep moisture in the soil, but not wet. Pouring more water than how much the plant's root needs will cause it to rot.

• Tomato plants need at least 6-8 hours of sun a day. Sometimes with a covered apartment patio or balcony, giving the plant enough sun can be challenging, but it is definitely possible. Check on your tomato plant throughout the day to make sure it’s getting adequate sunlight.

Peppers

It's easy to grow peppers in containers! Here are tips for growing a successful pepper plant.

• Just like growing tomatoes, starting peppers out in a large pot is important for a healthy plant. For the smaller peppers (less than 12 ” tall), use a container of about 2 gallons. On the other hand, use a 5-gallon container for the bigger pepper plants. A container twice as large is also good if you need more room to grow your peppers. Make sure the pots have adequate drainage

• Frequent watering is necessary for pepper plants in containers. One way to determine if your pepper needs more watering is if the soil is still dry after sticking your finger one inch into the soil. You'll soon be able to determine a suitable watering pattern for the plant.

• The growing habits of some peppers are one way to know if they need to be caged or staked. For example, the weight of bell peppers requires stake method in growing them.

Radishes

First-time gardeners should try radishes as they require little maintenance to grow. Growing radishes in containers will guarantee a nice harvest. Here are some tips for growing a successful radish plant.

• Planting radishes in a container requires well-drained soil in a wide gallon pot. Combine an ample amount of sand and grit with peat mix and compost. Also consider a mix of vegetable fertilizer prior to planting for a good growth of the roots after germination.

• Make sure to use pots that evaporate excess moisture and has a good drainage hole. See to it that the container is not always filled with water if you're using a saucer.

• The roots are the edible part of the radish plant. They form the vegetable and start to grow bigger. Carefully watch the plants by making sure the roots are covered with soil to prevent splitting and drying.

Carrots

Carrots can also be grown in containers and will flourish throughout the year with proper care. Here are some tips for growing a successful carrot plant.

• Choose a deep enough container. Find one that is at least one foot (30.48 cm) deep or more. Carrots develop underground and the root system needs a lot of space to grow.

• Make sure not to overwater your carrot plant. Whether its container-planting or garden-growing, carrots are grown pretty much the same way. Be sure to have drainage holes in your container and expect progress in approximately one week.

Onions

Onions are known to do well in container-planting. Here are some tips for growing a successful onion plant.

• Plant the onions in a planter with a depth of 5 inches. This makes the onion grow to its full size.

• Plant onion sets 4 weeks before the last average frost. Several onions can fit into a container by planting them in sets. Give them at least an inch of space before planting the next one.

• Onions are grown in containers and usually need more water than those grown in garden beds. Keep the soil slightly moist. As soon as it dries out, water again.

Check out this video by naztazia about container gardening for beginners:

Growing your own veggies is fun and you're also aware of what exactly went into the plants at every stage. Unfortunately, this is not the case with food you buy in stores. This short list of crops can grow in pots and sit beautifully on your small porch. The good thing about this style of growing food means you won't have to deal with stubborn weeds either.

If you have any container gardening tips you would like to share please share in the comment section below!

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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in February 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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