Container Gardening Part One
Mar 15, 2010 
11 Comments
I’ve never dabbled in container gardening, most likely because I have plenty of room to have an in-ground garden. This season, though, I decided to try this gardening method that’s been around for many years but is new for me. I’m going to share my progress and my methods along the way. Not because I know what I’m doing, but so that you can learn from my mistakes and successes.
Our family dedicated yesterday to dirt. We gathered supplies at the store and headed home to begin. Shayne worked on cleaning out and mulching flower beds while the kids and I got started on our garden.
Getting started:
Containers. Now, we’re starting with classic pots and planters, but you can use anything, really. I’ve seen old cowboy boots, reusable shopping bags, potato bags, old wheelbarrows and bathtubs…you get the idea. I intend to keep an eye out for fun planters later, but for now…the basics.
Potting soil. I grabbed these bags of organic soil intended for veggies.
I didn’t realize until I’d already begun that they were intended for in-ground use. Oopsy. I’m going with it anyway.
Plants and seeds…
Drain holes. Some pots already have holes, some have perforated areas to be punched out as necessary, and old boots and bags will need holes punched in them. I used a screwdriver and punched out some holes.
I lined the bottom of the pots with newspaper. This will keep the soil in and let excess water drain out.
Next up: time to fill the pots with potting soil.
Then we planted. Follow the directions on the package. Most seed packages won’t have directions for container gardening, so be flexible. I planted extra seeds in each of my containers and then I’ll thin out the plants at they begin to grow.
And here is our container garden in its infancy:
The pots line either side of the walk just outside our back door. That’s one big plus of container gardening: easy access! It’s right outside of our office window so that I can keep a close eye on the plants and it will discourage small animals from invading.
What did we plant, you ask?
Tomatoes (Celebrity and Patio. Patio tomatoes are cherry-type tomatoes that are supposed to thrive in containers.)
Eggplant (black beauty)
Yellow Squash
Radishes
Jalapenos
Green onions
And….I’m trying herbs for the first time. They may move into our sunroom. We’ll see.
Cilantro
Rosemary
Basil
Oregano
We may add more in the coming weeks, but for now I think we’re off to a good start!
Do you garden? Is it in-ground or container gardening? Feel free to share success stories!
P.S.– I have a couple of gardening gurus in the family who cannot be stumped! Hey Aunt Cathy, what have I done wrong so far? 
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Radishes are “in-ground” vegetables.
I don’t think it means whether you’re using the dirt in the ground, it’s for veggies that are growing in the soil itself.
OH! So they mean root veggies? D’oh.
Hi Abbie! We did container gardening for our herbs and last year I tried upside down tomato plants for tomatoes. (Which actually yielded several out of them before the big sunburn when we went on vacation.) related blog post found here: http://biasia.blogspot.com/2009/04/garden-101thanks-jenna.html
I highly recommend liquid seaweed. The plants seemed to love that stuff!
This year we’re going to try hay bale gardening.
Okay,
That soil you bought not ideal for pots. It will probably have alot of shrinkage between wet and dry and be difficult to water because it pulls away from pot. It will not dry well when extremely wet due to heavy clay mixed in. The secret to growing a healthy plant in a pot is good drainage and a soil specifically made for pots.
It could work… but don’t be mad at yourself if things go bad alot of people make the same mistake.
Thank you, Aunt Cathy! My hero! <3 Do you think it will be okay if I wait until they're seedlings and then transplant them to whatever soil you recommend?
I swear I'm going to start you a gardening blog and make you post.
You and Noble are a wealth of information!
Hi Abbie love your site!
I am growing my first TickleMe Plant with my kids. I’ve never seen any plant like this! Well I did see plants MOVE but that was in Avatar – this is real and no 3d glasses require! The leaves close up like a zipper and the branches fall down when you Tickle it! I can’t wait to share the party favors at my daughter next party. I know this will be a big hit. See video and grow one and it will make you smile every time you Tickle It! To me its more like a pet then a plant! http://www.ticklemeplant.com
Whatever comes up as soon as they have their first true leaves transplant them to better soil. Just be careful not to get the soil soggy or the seedlings will dampen off (rot where the stem meets the soil)
Where did you find your pots? It sounds silly, but I haven’t been able to find any decent-looking ones at the stores I’ve been to.
I got most of them at Lowes.
I’m inspired! Thank you. I was thinking, since I don’t have much of a yard now that I’ve moved back to town, that gardening would be out of the question. Not anymore, I have some containers already, and aquiring a few more along with some soil would not be too expensive. I have seeds saved from last year, so I realy don’t have any excuses, do I?
I am also doing a container garden for the first time ever. I have tomatos, cucumbers, melons, bell peppers hot banana peppers, and herbs. I hope atleast some it produces.