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Vegetables grown in containers are every bit as nutritious and delicious as those thriving in the ground. Paying heed to a few special requirements, you can grow most of the popular vegetables in containers on your deck, patio, balcony or rooftop.
 You can grow beautiful container vegetables in any sunny site. Here, gold tomatoes ripen in a pot filled with chives, Italian parsley and other herbs. Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard  A container made of insulating material will help keep the planter from overheating. Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard  You can add more drainage holes to the bottom of your container using a battery or electric hand drill fitted with a 3⁄8-inch masonry bit. Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard  Reduce deposited mineral salts on porous pots (like terra-cotta) by spraying the interior of the containers with a breathable latex sealant. (Then dry the sealant overnight and soak the pots in water before use.) Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Containers come in a variety of materials, including concrete, glazed clay pottery, unglazed terra-cotta, stone and wood, as well as plastic and various other synthetic materials. Which to use is a matter of taste. That said, there are a few points to consider when picking the type you’d like for your garden:
- Concrete and stone planters are durable, offer insulation from overheating and are porous, but the salts that leach from concrete and other stones – like limestone or marble – can alter soil chemistry.
- Plastic pots are lightweight and economical, though they vary in durability, porosity and the ability to insulate the soil within.
- Unglazed terra-cotta pots are popular because they’re moderate in weight, insulate well, very porous and economical. However, they’re also subject to drying due to evaporation (unless they’re treated with waterproof sealant before planting).
- Glazed clay pottery is light, waterproof and quite durable if handled with care. These types of pots are subject to breakage and are often less economical than other materials.
- Wood is natural, offers good insulation and is porous. Wood containers need to be sealed, though, to protect them from fungal rot.
Once you know what type of planter you’d like, the next step is to choose a container that’s large enough for the plants you wish to grow. Many vegetables grown in garden soil are deep-rooted. Sweet corn roots, for example, extend 3 feet or more, tomatoes can grow as deep as 4 feet, and the lowly beet often extends its roots into the soil 10 feet (or more)! But as long as your planting mix or soil is kept rich with nutrients and drains properly, these veggies can also grow in much shallower spaces, like containers or raised beds. For most vegetables, choose pots that are at least 18 inches deep and sufficiently wide to accommodate stakes or other supports (if growing tall or vining plants). If you’re still unsure, a general rule of thumb is to pick a planter that’s half to two-thirds as deep as the plant’s height. You also need to select a container with adequate drainage holes. Many pots are available with only a single hole at the bottom that’s just a ¼ inch wide or smaller. If that’s the case with the container you intend to plant in, enlarge the hole or drill more of them in the bottom prior to planting. The next step is to protect the drainage holes from clogging by either lining the inside of the pot with porous landscape fabric or covering the holes with plastic mesh. Then add an inch of pea gravel. These measures help prevent loose potting soil from washing down and out of the holes, while still allowing the water to pass through their openings. Finally, always use “pot feet,” bricks, wood blocks or other risers under your container to keep them off the ground to facilitate drainage and prevent disease organisms in the soil from establishing and reaching the plant roots. If you follow these guidelines and take the time to carefully pick and prepare your containers for planting, you’ll be well on your way to getting your little vegetable garden off to a healthy start.
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| Warnings |
- If you reuse containers, sterilize them first in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water. Household bleach is made with sodium hypochlorite, a powerful skin and eye irritant, so wear protective clothing and gloves when sterilizing. Dry pots overnight before planting.
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| Tips |
- Heavy planters are best used as ground-level containers. (And they’ll be even heavier once they’re filled with soil, plants and water!) Plant them in the location you wish to grow your vegetables, because once they’re planted and watered in, your containers will likely be too heavy to move.
- Try to pick containers made of insulating materials to keep them from overheating and cooking your plants. The best are ceramic, insulated composite plastic, terra-cotta and wood.
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- We’d love to see how your container veggies are growing. Post pictures and an update of your contained harvest in The Garden Party.
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