How to Start a Container Garden
Potted flowers are great, but why not plant something edible right outside your door, too?
Container gardening allows anyone with limited space and time to enjoy home grown vegetables. It's much easier to create and tend to a few pots of vegetables than an entire garden. The containers take up little space and can be as decorative as you would like them to be, adding to your outdoor décor. Planting in pots also allows you to easily manage the amount of sunlight and water your plants receive.
Just about any type of garden plant can be grown in a container, with the exception of long, trailing vines such as squash and cucumbers which would become difficult to move when mature. Tomatoes are popular container plants. They thrive in pots placed where they receive plenty of daily sunshine. Herbs can be grown in partially shaded flower boxes or pots you can move into the shade.
How about a potted egg plant or some leaf lettuce? The joy of container gardening is that just about anything is possible, and it's fun to experiment growing different vegetables.
Two tips to remember: Container plants will dry out more quickly than plants in a garden. A general rule of thumb: if the soil is dry two inches below the surface, it's time to water. Check container plants daily to determine if they need a drink of water. Also, to ensure good drainage, be sure your containers have a drain hole at the bottom, and add a few stones to the bottom of the pot before you plant.