How to Garden in a Container

The beauty of container gardening is that anyone can do it no matter what your living conditions are. A variety of plants can be grown in containers, including vegetables and herbs.

When it comes to the container itself, practically anything that can hold soil can be used, as long as there is a hole for bottom drainage. One thing to keep in mind is the size of the container; it must be big enough for the roots to grow. If you keep the plant in a spot that gets constant sunlight, pick a lighter colour pot as the darker colours attract heat, and the roots can burn or the planter can overheat and dry out.

Other things to consider are planting mixes and choosing the right plant. Don’t use soil from the garden, the mix needs to breath, drain, and retain moisture, so choose a commercially prepared planting mix. Always remember to only put plants together that have similar cultural requirements, for example plants that need a lot of sunlight don’t mix with plants that thrive in the dark.

For more information on container gardening, check out the Container Gardening Guide on HGTV’s website.