Review of the Best Containers for Vegetable Gardening

When you plan for your vegetable container garden, you need to think about which containers to purchase. The material and size of your containers will affect the plants that grow inside of them, so make sure you know which containers are the best to choose!

When you choose a container for your vegetables, you need to think about the material their made of. You have the ability to choose between many different materials that are appropriate for plant growth, but also serve as decoration for your garden. Here are the best materials for containers:

Rot-resistant wood will keep your plants moistClay or terracotta looks good but tends to lose water more easilyGood-quality plastic is cheap and easy to getCeramics always look nice, but should not be used in winterNon-traditional containers include boots, laundry baskets, grocery bags, bowls, teapots, etc.; you can use anything as long as it is large enough and is well-drainedDarker containers will absorb more heat and need to be protected from the sun on hot daysYou can also purchase a self-watering container, but you would need to make that your plant does not have standing water

To choose the correct containers for your vegetable garden, you need to know how large your plants are and how much space they will need. Here are some vegetables that are great for container gardening:

PeasPotatoesTomatoesCucumbersEggplantPeppersRadishesBaby CarrotsZucchini squashGreen beansLeaf Lettuce

Choose the size of your containers relative to the plant you will be growing: shallow-rooted plants (lettuce, peppers, radishes) should be 6” across and 8” deep, and larger plants (tomatoes, squash) need larger containers, like a half-barrel or large plastic bucket. On your seed packets it should say how much space the plant will need to grow. Larger containers will retain more moisture, but you should keep your space restrictions in mind when you purchase your containers.

Good drainage is essential in any container. If there is standing water in a container, it can attract insects and disease. If there isn’t enough water, your plant will not be able grow.

Choose a container that has holes in the bottom of it, or make holes yourself; there should at least be one large hole, or several smaller onesLine the bottom of your container with newspaper or a coffee filter, and place gravel on top of it to help with drainagePurchase a soilless mix; they have great drainage and will fend-off disease and weedsWater your vegetables every day or as needed; as long as the soil is moist 1” deep, your vegetables have enough water

Follow these tips, and you will be on your way to a successful growing season. Good luck with your vegetable container garden!

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How to Use a Vegetable Planting Chart to Grow Vegetables

A vegetable planting chart can be used to help you determine when to start growing and harvesting your vegetables. Though every chart is different, it will also tell you details like how to space your plants and what the minimum soil temperature for a plant is. Generally, planting charts are made for specific areas or states, so they are specific to a location’s climate.

A vegetable planting chart is a great tool for anyone who is just starting their vegetable garden and needs some guidelines. As you grow and experiment more with your vegetable garden, you can even make your own planting chart that will be specific for your garden.

For some reading a planting chart for the first time, some of the terms used may be confusing. Here are explanations for some of the more common categories of a vegetable planting chart.

There are several instructions for different types of spacing or depths in vegetable planting charts. Here’s what each one means:
“Spacing rows” means how much space is needed between the rows; this is based typically on how much space the plant will need to set and fruit at maturity“Spacing plants” concerns how much space is needed between individual plants, and is also based on the size of the mature plant“Spacing beds” refers to the space the plants need to grow in raised beds, and does not allow for additional space between rows“Planting depth” or “seed depth” refers to how deep the seed should be planted in the soil
Vegetable planting charts have several categories that deal with ranges or amounts of time.
“Start early” or “date to sow indoors” refers to when or how much earlier you should being growing a vegetable indoors before putting it in the ground“Planting dates” generally gives the range of times when it is ideal to actually put a vegetable in the ground“Maturity” refers to how much time it will take the plant to fully mature, or become an adult
While they are typically different, each vegetable planting chart will tell you everything you need to know to grow your vegetables. There are many vegetable planting charts available online, whether they are free or cost money. There are also vegetable growing calendars, which are similar but they will work on a month-by-month basis to guide you in the seeding and harvesting of your vegetables.

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