Ideal veggies for container growing

You can grow just about any type of produce in containers. Good choices include garden beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, strawberries, lettuces, Swiss chard, spinach and herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, lavender, basil, parsley and chives. Root vegetables also do well, including carrots, beets, potatoes, radishes and parsnips. When choosing your vegetables for container growing, pick varieties with smaller fruits. For instance, opt for cherry and small tomatoes, pickling cucumbers and dwarf carrots and beets.

Choose the ideal container

Just about any container will work well, as long as it has adequate room for soil and drainage holes. Choose from wooden planters, plastic pots, glazed ceramic and terra-cotta. If you live in a dry, hot climate that receives little rainfall, opt for plastic, glazed ceramic or wooden containers, rather than terra-cotta, as that material dries out quickly. For large plants like tomatoes and potatoes, use at least a 10-gallon container. Anything smaller will result in the plant declining before its time from lack of adequate root room. Plant smaller veggie plants, such as leafy greens, strawberries and root veggies, in a 3- to 5-gallon container. Use a high-quality potting soil to plant—never use soil from the garden, as it is too heavy for containers and won’t result in healthy crops.

Indoor container garden

Growing vegetables indoors is possible, provided you have sufficient light. Place plants in an eastern or southern window, or use full-spectrum lighting. Keep your plants as close to the light source as possible so that they receive adequate light for growth and veggie production.

Container-grown veggie maintenance

• Water well. Container-grown veggies require much more water than their in-ground counterparts. When the temperatures are high, some pots require daily watering. Soak the pot well, letting water rush from the bottom of the container.

• Fertilize regularly. Potted veggies are heavy feeders. Add a slow-release fertilizer when planting, and feed plants every two weeks with an organic fertilizer designed for vegetables.

• Harvest often. Keep your veggie plants producing by harvesting them frequently. Pick produce when it is still young and tender and before it becomes unwieldy, at which point it could cause the pot to become top-heavy and fall over.