The Benefits of Organic Vegetable Gardening in Containers

If you want to enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables but don't have room to create a garden bed in your own backyard, why not try organic vegetable gardening in containers? There are many types of veggies that can thrive in a container setting, provided that you give your plants all of the space, water and nutrients that they require. And there are many benefits to organic vegetable gardening in containers that you may not see when you opt for gardening directly in the ground. The best thing about container gardening is that you can grow your own tomatoes, carrots and herbs no matter where you live; whether you own a sprawling acre or two or a high rise apartment. All you need is a little bit of space outdoors, and a few containers of your choice.

Getting Down and Dirty

The pots that you choose for your organic vegetable gardening in containers are not nearly as important as the stuff that you put into them. While soil can work for container gardening, there are many good potting soils that are tailor-made for this type of growing as well. Just make sure that the potting soil that you choose does not have any added fertilizer, or you won't have the organic plants that you are hoping for. You can also fill a pot with organic compost mixed with sand or perlite to encourage drainage. Make sure that you poke a few holes in the bottom of your container before you fill it up with potting mix as well, so that moisture runs through the pot and doesn't cause the roots of your plants to rot.

Picking Plants

Probably the hardest part of organic vegetable gardening in containers will be in selecting the types of plants that you want to grow. There are many vegetables that will do well in containers, including leafy greens, root vegetables and tomatoes. Keep in mind that tomatoes will need plenty of space, so go with the two to five-gallon containers for these plants. Some gardeners like to use organic vegetable gardening in containers to create garden themes as well. For example, you can create a salad container by surrounding a tomato plant with lettuce and chives. Or create a spaghetti sauce garden with tomatoes and your favorite herbs. Just make sure that the plants you group together will have similar requirements in terms of water and nutrients.

Easy Maintenance

Maintenance couldn't be easier when it comes to organic vegetable gardening in containers. Consider that weeding is kept to an absolute minimum, as is pests and diseases. As long as your plants get regular water, sun and fertilizer, you should be able to enjoy homegrown veggies in a mere matter of months.