#container vegetables

Summer lettuce seeded in a 12-inch terra cotta pot.

Bell pepper plants before mulch and supports.

Assorted summer lettuce seeds planted in a 12-inch container for cut-and-come again lettuce.

Raised bed prepped for summer veggies.

‘Blue Point’ zinnias planted for color, joy and beneficial insects. Protected from the birds with the screening.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ which is a bee magnet for the garden.

During the summer months I grow arugula in a 12-inch container.

The marionberries are blossoming and setting fruit.

And the transition to the summer garden continues.

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Tomatoes: ✅✅Varieties: Cherry or bush types (e.g., 'Patio Princess' or 'Tiny Tim') do well in containers. Container size: 5-gallon pot or larger.

Tips**: Stake or cage for support and provide plenty of sunlight and regular watering.

Peppers: ✅✅Varieties: Both sweet and hot peppers thrive in containers. Container size: 3 to 5-gallon pots. Tips**: Full sun and well-draining soil are key.

Lettuce: ✅✅Varieties: Leaf lettuce like 'Black-Seeded Simpson' or 'Salad Bowl' are ideal. Container size: Shallow containers (6-8 inches deep). Tips: Grows quickly and prefers cooler weather, so partial shade can help.

Spinach: ✅✅Varieties: Most types work well, but 'Baby Leaf' is particularly suited to containers. Container size: 6 inches deep or more. Tips**: Grow in cooler weather with regular watering.

Radishes: ✅✅Varieties: Quick-growing varieties like 'Cherry Belle' are perfect. Container size: Shallow pots (6 inches deep). Tips**: Ideal for small spaces and quick harvests in cooler weather.

Carrots: ✅✅Varieties: Choose short or round varieties like 'Thumbelina' or 'Nantes'. Container size: 12 inches deep or more. Tips**: Ensure loose soil for root growth and keep soil consistently moist.

Cucumbers: ✅✅Varieties: Bush or dwarf varieties (e.g., 'Spacemaster'). Container size: 5-gallon pots. Tips**: Provide support for vining types and ensure full sun.

Green Beans: ✅✅Varieties: Bush beans (e.g., 'Bush Blue Lake' or 'Contender') are best for containers. Container size: 12 inches deep or more. Tips**: They don’t require much space and can produce a large harvest in a small area.

Eggplants: ✅✅Varieties: Compact varieties like 'Patio Baby' do well in containers. Container size: 5-gallon pots or larger. Tips**: Needs full sun and regular watering.

Herbs (Bonus) ✅✅Varieties: Basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme, and rosemary thrive in containers.

✅✅Container size: Small pots (6-8 inches deep). Tips**: Grow in a sunny spot and harvest regularly to encourage new growth.

✅✅General Tips: Soil**: Use a high-quality potting mix, not garden soil, for proper drainage.

✅✅Watering: Containers dry out faster, so water regularly and ensure proper drainage.

✅✅Sunlight: Most vegetables need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

✅✅Ertilizing: Since nutrients can wash out of containers, use a balanced fertilizer to support growth.

Do you love arugula as much as I do? It is so easy to grow in a container, year-round here in SoCal. The bounty above is just before my first harvest this week, 28 days after planting the seed.

It’s easy. You just need a 10-12 inch terra cotta container and high quality organic potting soil. I use a mix of half potting soil and half of my own compost, but potting mix will do. I usually plant ‘Rocket’ and Seeds from Italy offers a packet of 6000 seeds for $3.50. The seeds last a couple of seasons and I have plenty to share with others eager to try growing arugula.

Add water to the container before planting then scatter the seed. Sift potting soil over the top with whatever you have on hand. Then pat down the soil for good seed to soil contact. I like to mist the surface with a spray bottle then set it aside in cool shade. Keep the soil surface from drying by misting once or twice daily.

Usually, the seeds are up in 3-4 days.

Here’s the arugula at day 10.

On day 28 I harvested enough for my dinner—a summer favorite made with Trader Joe’s (summer only) Ricotta & Lemon Zest Ravioli. I usually buy some extras to keep in the freezer.

My take on Trader Joe’s Lemon Ricotta Ravioli Salad.

Do you live in an apartment or condominium? Or maybe a townhouse with a very small yard? You still can have a Victory Garden in containers.  Just choose the right plants, the right containers and the right structures.

Plants

The emphasis is on plant selection – ones that are compact and will do well in containers. Botanical Interests has a great container collection. You can have just about every…

Vegetables You Can Grow in Containers

Container gardening is wonderful if you have limited space, such as a patio, balcony, or porch. I recently wrote a post on container gardening for herbs.

Would you love to  grow delicious veggies but are really short on space? Today I want to talk to you about vegetables that you actually grow in containers. So, if this sounds like your predicament, keep reading, because you too can grow your own…

The Beechgrove Garden episode 13 2016 -Jim, Carole and George investigate some neglected mature shrubs. Jim looks at the flowering quince, while Carole and George tackle the berberis and the pyracantha. #gardening #garden

In Beechgrove Garden episode 13 2016: Jim, Carole and George investigate some neglected mature shrubs. Jim looks at the flowering quince, while Carole and George tackle the berberis and the pyracantha.

https://video-clump.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Beechgrove-Garden-ep.13-2016.mp4

  Continuing to trace the path of a gardener’s training, Jim visits Elmwood College in Cupar to find out about…