Growing plants in containers is one of the most popular methods of growing edible plants. Here are few things to keep in mind when choosing the right pot or container for your garden:
Container Size
The size and space you have available for your container will most likely dictate the size of container you choose. Depending on what you want to grow, you may choose containers that have a large surface area (if you want to grow multiple plants), adequate planting volume (for large plants like tomatoes), and adequate depth (for root vegetables like carrots and beets). With edible plants, the larger container you can get, the better the results you will get.
Drainage
Ensure that whatever container you use has a drainage option, especially if it is left outdoors. You do not want to drown your plants if there is a heavy rainstorm and your containers do not have adequate drainage.
Materials
Containers come in a wide range of materials including wood, metal, clay and plastic. All kinds of materials work great. Be sure to use wood that is untreated and plastic that is UV-stabilized and food-grade. Many containers can be left outside over the winter, however for longer life-span, we suggest putting them away in a covered location to be protected from the elements.
Style
Containers come in a variety of sizes, colours, and styles. One feature we suggest looking for are self-watering containers, which feature a built in water reservoir to allow plants to grow bigger with less frequent watering compared to traditional containers. Read more about why we love self-watering planters.
Cover Image by Jude Adamson, used under its Creative Commons license.
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