Are you interested in avoiding toxic chemicals and tapping into the original freshness of fruits and vegetables with a little bit of effort and consistency? Here are some best container vegetables!
Harvesting vegetables with your own hands and eating them fresh out of the plants is a highly blissful and healthy experience. Avoiding the preservatives added to most of the fruits and vegetables available in the supermarkets for longer shelf lives, the concept of farmer’s markets has become a popular choice. Considered a healthier alternative, people have also been interested in growing some of their own vegetables. Gardening is a popular activity that might be just a hobby for a few but is definitely a sustainable choice. However, it is not the most feasible hobby to pick up due to the lack of space and land.
Container gardening is a helpful alternative to cater to people who might have less space or land for gardening fruits and vegetables. Fitting well into the concept of urban gardening on rooftops, balconies, window sills, or any other open space, one can plant fruits and vegetables into containers and enjoy the fresh harvest. Though this might not grow in considerable quantities to fulfill the demands depending on your space, it is a great way to enjoy gardening and fresh fruits and vegetables every once in a while. Here, we have a list of best container vegetables that you can grow in containers and are perfect for urban gardening.
Best Container Vegetables
1. Peas
A soil-enriching vegetable, peas are usually grown during spring or fall. They need cooler temperatures to grow well and help nourish the soil with nitrogen that makes it useful for any other vegetables to plant. Peas require total sun exposure to grow well, and you may add a stand on the container for them to grow over for easier picking and full growth.
2. Beans
Beans grow during warm seasons, which are not too hot nor too cold, and need good exposure to sunlight. For best yield, grow beans when it is slightly warm. You should plant Beans in wide containers that are ideal for vertical gardening.
3. Potatoes
Potato is a staple vegetable that is prevalent in many households and fits well with every dish. They have a soil-like flavor that is sweet and earthy. Plant the potatoes in long containers with full sun exposure and loose soil. They require a lot of water and are best grown during the cooler months, such as early spring.
4. Beetroot
Beetroots are ideal for container gardening and are among one of the easiest vegetables to grow. They require deeper pots for growth as they are root vegetables and require full sun exposure. Like others, beets are also grown in cooler temperatures during the spring and fall.
5. Lettuce
Fresh lettuce is popular for salads and sandwiches and is an even healthier option. Lettuce is easy to grow and you can grow them in partial sun exposure, depending on the variety of lettuce. The ideal environment for lettuce to grow is during the spring and fall seasons.
6. Eggplants
Eggplants are also considered suitable for container gardening and they require medium-sized pots for growing. You can grow eggplants in warmer months such as late spring and early summers, and need sunlight for 6-8 hours a day for good yield.
7. Carrots
As a root vegetable, carrots too require deep containers. They need about 6-8 hours of sun exposure and grow best in sandier and loose soil. They form a perfect addition to your container garden and grow in cooler temperatures, such as during late fall or early spring.
8. Peppers
You can plant peppers in the summer months for a handful supply of peppers for regular culinary uses at home. Peppers can quickly grow in containers and requires consistent watering to thrive. Ensure the containers are not too dry or over drained but have the right amount of water.
9. Radishes
Radishes too need deep containers as they are also root vegetables that need enough space to grow. You can put the containers in the shade with partial sun and too much sun exposure will slow down the growing process of the radishes. Therefore, you can grow them in cool temperature and they can even tolerate the frost of the early winters!
10. Onions
You can plant onions in deep containers during the cooler months of fall, early winter, or early spring. The tops of onions grow during the cooler temperature and as they are exposed to the sun, the onion bulbs start to form. Hence, they need full exposure to the sun for proper growth. The pots and soil should be warm so that the bulbs have enough heat to start formation.
11. Cucumbers
Like radishes, cucumbers are also one of the fastest-growing vegetables. They grow best in pots that retain soil moisture and do not drain it out. Cucumbers grow in a bush or a vine, depending on the variety you’ve chosen. For vining cucumbers, support might be needed for growth. They can be grown in warmer seasons and need a good amount of sun exposure as lack of sun can slow growth.
12. Tomatoes
When talking about container gardening, we surely couldn’t miss Tomatoes as they are the most popular choices for container gardening since time immemorial! Tomatoes thrive well in moist soil and the best time to grow them is during the early summer months when the temperatures are not too high. At the same time, tomatoes too require full sun exposure to grow at their full capacity. Depending on the type of tomatoes you have chosen, you might need larger containers that provide good drainage.
13. Leafy Vegetables
You can grow other leafy vegetables in containers, such as kale and spinach, apart from lettuce. These need partial sun exposure and are well grown during spring and fall.
14. Herbs
Herbs add an extra flavor to the food and are easy to grow in small containers outside in the garden or even in the kitchen if it has proper ventilation and partial sun exposure. They have various medicinal benefits, and this fresh yield can be a great addition to a healthier lifestyle. Some herbs that you can plant in containers are mint, coriander, thyme, parsley, etc. You can grow them all year round with proper care and growing conditions.
15. Sweet Peppers
Grow different varieties of sweet peppers in containers during the warmer months. They are best planted during the summer months until autumn arrives and require good sun exposure of about 6-8 hours daily.
16. Garlic
If you don’t have enough space and live in an apartment with a compact balcony, you might want to grow garlic as they don’t require big or deep containers. Like most other vegetables, you can grow garlic during the fall and spring season with 6-8 hours of daily sunlight.
17. Okra
Okra is a summer crop that you can grow in medium-sized containers in your balcony or garden. They can withstand slightly warmer temperatures and need total sun exposure for the best yield. With a growing cycle of around two months, okra is best planted during the early summer months.
18. Broccoli
A nutritious vegetable, adding broccoli to your container garden provides access to broccoli that is fresh, clean, and free of any chemicals. You can start growing them during the spring and fall season when the temperature is not too high and place them in an area that gets total sun exposure.
Precautions
Container gardening is a fun and creative way to enjoy the benefits of gardening in a limited space. However, gardening requires time and effort for proper growth and maximum benefits from it. It is vital to provide the right conditions and care to the vegetables. The requirements mentioned above are generic to the vegetables, but with specific weather conditions and species of plants, these might vary.
Tips For Container Gardening
1. Watering
Every vegetable requires different amounts of water to survive as it depends a lot on the sun exposure and the outside temperatures. Ensure you do not drown the pots while watering and keep them moist for those vegetables that require lots of water. You may have to water them twice a day to keep the soil moist for better growth during summers. While for plants that require less water, ensure that they do not get very dry.
2. Soil
It is essential to use the right kind of soil to grow vegetables. Soil that hardens or is too dry may not be nutritious enough for vegetables to grow. Add compost or manure for nourishment and use good quality soil for a good yield of the vegetables.
3. Sun Exposure
The limits of sun exposure and its intensity vary for different plants and can affect how these vegetables grow. While most vegetables require good sun exposure, they might burn if the intensity is too high. Check for yellow spots on the leaves to know if they have been over-exposed to the sun.
4. Container
Choosing a suitable container is an essential step for growing vegetables. You may use the old bins and pots lying around for a recycled purpose or buy them according to availability. For many vegetables, deep containers suit best, while some require wider ones that hold a good amount of soil to retain moisture. Suppose the vegetables you are planning to grow need drainage to thrive. In that case, it is essential to have holes in the bottom of the container to prevent them from drowning in water.
5. Seeds And Compost
Healthy seeds with good compost can improve the quality and quantity of the harvest. Apart from providing the right conditions, this is one of the essential steps that affect how the vegetables will grow and their nutritional value.
Choose any of these best container vegetables to satisfy the gardener inside you while having a fresh supply of the vegetables without added chemicals!
