The characteristics of a good growing medium include being light and easy for the delicate roots to penetrate, holding water well, being free of infectious diseases, and containing nutrients but not be overly rich, as in too much fertilizer or compost.
the evening. Refer to your plant tag or seed package to determine how much sunlight and water each plant needs. Be attentive to keeping pests at bay. Before you know it, your plants will produce fruits/vegetables.
Two common choices are potting soil and garden soil. Which is for you? Potting soil is lighter and already contains plant nutrients or fertilizer. Potting soil is usually sterile, which means it is free from bugs, weeds, bacteria, and parasites. It is usually made of a mix of ingredients like perlite, sand, peat moss, and compost.
Garden soil is also known by another name, top soil. It is not considered sterile but can be organic. It weighs much more than potting mix and has a higher clay content, which leads to more water holding capacity. In most cases, gardening soil will need the application of fertilizer. For these reasons, gardening soil isn't the recommended substrate for container gardening.
Placing your pot in the right location is a major key to success. Containers are easily moved, so if the first spot chosen doesn't work out, you can always move it and try again. Most vegetables prefer full sun, whereas some herbs or microgreens may do well with only partial sun. Keep in mind your access to water. Containers in a sheltered place will not get rain. On hot summer days, it may be necessary to water twice a day— once in the morning and again in the evening. Refer to your plant tag or seed package to determine how much sunlight and water each plant needs. Be attentive to keeping pests at bay. Before you know it, your plants will produce fruits/vegetables.
Shop around to see what the average cost for seeds or plugs are. Compare prices for
potting soil, fertilizer, and containers. Growing from seed is the less expensive option if your budget is tight. Start seeds indoors in a sunny spot. If your sunny spot inside is large enough, it may be best to start the seeds in the container you plan to grow them in, which will save on material costs.
Old Farmer's Almanac, Robin Sweetser. "Container Gardening with Vegetables." Old Farmer's Almanac, 22 Jan. 2020, www.almanac.com/content/container-gardening-vegetables.
Barth, Brian. “10 Smart Ways to Garden on a Budget.” Modern Farmer, 18 Oct. 2018, modernfarmer.com/2016/02/gardening-ideas-on-a-budget/ Durham, Richard, et al. “Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky.” ID-128 Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, 2019, grayson.ca.uky.edu/files/id-128_home_vegetable_gardening_in_ky.pdf Ondra, Nancy. “Stunning Low-Budget Container Gardens.” HGTV, HGTV, 2020, www.hgtv.com/outdoors/landscaping-and-hardscaping/stunning-low-budget-container-gardens-pictures.
Albert, Steve. “Interplanting Vegetables: Root Depth, Plant Height.” Harvest to Table, 31 May 2017, harvesttotable.com/interplanting_vegetables_root/
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