Planting Vegetables in Your Container Garden

Tell your flowers to move over

You reach from your patio chair and pluck a juicy cherry tomato right from your container garden. Still warm from the sun, you pop it in your mouth. Liven up your salad with your own fresh basil and oregano. Plink a baby red strawberry onto your breakfast. Containers are perfect for flowers, but consider using one for growing fruits and vegetables too. You already have everything you need: a planter, dirt, and loving hands. Just add water.

Size matters

Successful container vegetable gardens start with the right plants. Think small: little varieties like herbs, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and indoor avocados are literally naturals. Carrots, radishes and garlic are tasty choices too. The key is to avoid plants with big, bushy leaves.

Crowd control

Vegetables, like flowers, are aware of their surroundings. If you plant them too close together, they'll stay small to get along. Plant them far enough apart and they'll fatten up in gratitude. Follow the planting tips provided on your seed packet or plant, and you'll be fine.

EarthBox Garden Planter Kit with Staking System

Seeing the light

Another reason to plant seedlings far apart: vegetables and most herbs need lots of sunlight, especially when bearing fruit. Pick a spot that has at least five hours of sun. Mature plants create their own shade, so be brutal with your pruning. Trim straggling sides and your plant will grow up instead of out. If you don't have much sun, ask your nursery for shade-tolerant ideas. Oregano, thyme, chives and rosemary do well in shadier areas.

If you know what's good for you

Be adventurous, but practical too. You'll fuss over your container garden more if you are eagerly anticipating the juicy results. Radishes are a snap to grow, but if you don't like radishes you won't take care of them.

The best part of growing fresh vegetables? Skipping trips to the store to decide what's for dinner. Just look at your indoor or outdoor container garden, and see what's up.

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