Vegetable Container Gardening For Beginners
About the Author: Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12Your gardening hobby probably stemmed from a desire to save money on some of your favorite ingredients.
What started out as a small, basic herb garden, quickly grew to an actual vegetable garden in my parents’ backyard.
Moving into an apartment with less than ideal space for a garden stumped me. Luckily, I came across a guide for vegetable container gardening for beginners and my desperation for more room quickly dissipated.
If you have a small amount of space for a garden or just want to diversify your landscape, allow me to guide you.
Best Type Of Container To Use
While vegetable container gardening has multiple benefits such as saving water, time, and space, you must do your research first to receive the greatest return on this investment.
Luckily, container gardening is traditionally easier and more manageable than starting a garden in the ground.
Below is a list of types of containers that can be used and the benefits and drawbacks of each. After all, over-researching a project is far superior to under-researching.
Terra Cotta Pots
These are great because many veteran gardeners already have them on hand. Plus, they look great, especially in southwestern landscapes. Unfortunately, their drawbacks are tough because the clay retains heat and can absorb the water quickly (and crack if the temperatures become cold enough).
If you thoroughly enjoy the look of terra cotta pots, be sure to line it with a plastic pot first to hold in the moisture.
Plastic Pots
These are great for new gardeners. They’re affordable, reusable, and colorful. These will retain water for your plants pretty well.
But, if you’re looking to infuse design features into your patio or backyard garden, plastic may not be the most aesthetically pleasing.
Pro tip: Get your family and friends involved if you choose to use plastic! Have a DIY container painting party before you plant to use it not only as an opportunity to beautify your garden, but also enjoy time with those most important to you.
Not only will this add color to your garden, but will also serve as a beautiful reminder of your loved ones.
Wooden Barrels or Wooden Window Planters
These are great because they are beautiful. They add diversity to your garden and provide you with an opportunity to DIY. However, keep in mind that after a while the wood will begin to rot and will need to be replaced. Great option if you're down for re-creating by hand every few years.
Hanging Pots
These are a great option for continuing to save space and add verticality to your space. These can be kept at eye-level and are perfect for growing herbs, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries.
Bath and Other Tubs and Troughs
If you have the access to these as well as the desire, they can transform your landscape into an eccentric space. These are great because they have plenty of space and generally aren’t too deep to waste your soil.
Be sure to drill your drainage holes at the bottom and ensure that feet are attached to keep the container above ground.
Additional Tips To Consider
- Plant similar herbs and vegetables in the same pot. Try to group these plants by water and sunlight needs for easier maintenance. More information on companion planting later.
- Keep and eye on which parts of your lawn or patio get direct and indirect sunlight and place pots accordingly.
- When choosing a pot, consider the weight. You may find yourself needing to move the containers around for a variety of reasons and moving them with ease is a plus! Additionally, having a backyard (or front yard) landscape that can be easily rearranged is great to have on those days when you have a burning desire to change something about your living space.
- Stay away from black pots or black plastic; they will retain more heat and could kill your roots.
- The most common pot sizes range from 10-inches in diameter to 24-inches in diameter. While wider pots are preferred, deeper doesn’t necessarily mean better. (morningchores.com)
- While taller containers look great (and will prevent your furry friends from digging up your precious radishes) know that your roots will only need about a foot to grow downward. Don’t spend the extra money on soil to fill up that extra space at the bottom! Fill it up with hay, wood cuttings, or even your own compost to maximize the space.
- Make sure that whatever container you use, there are plenty of drain holes. If there are not, drill some yourself. Put your containers on small wooden feet or another tool to lift it from the ground; pots that are placed directly on cement can quickly become plagued with clogged drain holes and quickly end your new endeavor with root rot.
Potting Soil and Plant Food For Your Containers
Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way that soil IS important. You don’t need to break the bank for good soil, just buy your standard potting soil from your local hardware store or nursery.
If your soil doesn’t have fertilizer already mixed in, add some several times throughout the growing season, according to the directions on the label. Then, every couple of weeks, add diluted liquid fish emulsion or liquid seaweed to give the plants the nutrition they need.
- 1 bucket (10 quarts) peat moss
- ½ bucket (5 quarts) perlite
- ½ bucket (5 quarts) vermiculite
- ½ bucket (5 quarts) screened compost or composted cow manure
- 2 cups fine sand
- 2 cups pelleted time-release fertilizer
- ½ cup lime (to counter the acid of peat and keep the pH level near neutral)
Companion Planting Guidelines
When beginning a container garden, consider planting companion plants. Companion planting aids in ease of care, efficiency in space, and optimal growing environments.
Good Companion Plants Combinations
- Beans, carrots, squash
- Eggplant, beans
- Tomatoes, basil, onions
- Lettuce, herbs
- Spinach, chard, onions
Companion Plants Combinations to Avoid
- Beans with onions and garlic
- Carrots with dill or fennel
- Tomatoes or squash with potatoes
- Onions with beans and peas
Final Thoughts
Container gardening has allowed me to continue my gardening hobby while I only have a small patio to work with.
For those of you with families, enjoy this hobby as an opportunity to teach your kids about the reward of growing your own foods.
Container gardening makes growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs immensely easy and manageable since you have more control over sunlight, shade, availability to pests, and space.
Good luck and have fun!
Meet Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12 Read My Story →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best container for growing vegetables?
One at least as deep as the crop's roots with good drainage. Terra cotta, plastic, fabric pots, and wooden planters all work, so pick by size and how often you can water.
What vegetables grow best in containers?
Lettuce, herbs, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, and beans all do well. Match the pot size to the plant, with bigger containers for tomatoes and peppers.
What soil should you use for container vegetables?
A quality potting mix, not garden soil, which compacts and drains poorly in pots. Add compost or slow-release fertilizer, since containers need regular feeding.
