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Container Vegetable Gardening

If you have a large garden or have never had any experience in gardening, you may want to consider container vegetable gardening. The owner of a large garden may find his time is limited and keeping up with garden maintenance may be too time consuming. The new gardener will find container gardening much less challenging (less maintenance, no weeds, a good friable potting medium, good light intensity, can be close to the house, easy to plant and harvest, harvesting without stooping down, etc. This is also a great way to introduce children to gardening. The down side of container gardening is frequent watering may be required. By selecting a large container (20” – 30” diameter) the larger soil volume reduces the frequency of watering.

Potting Mixes    Use a soilless mix, which are commercial available. A soil mix can be used but the soil should be blended
                        with peat moss, vermiculite and composted manure using one part of each. This mix will hold water better
                        than a soilless mix.

Planting            Plant as you would your garden. Exception: Tomato plants can be planted deeper (one-third to one-half
                        deeper to stimulate root development along the stem). A wire or wood trellis is an excellent support for
                        vegetables.

Fertilizer            Incorporate a slow or time released balanced fertilizer (one example is Osmocote®) such as a 14-14-14
                           at planting time using ¼ cup to each 5 gallons of mix. In mid-season, add a water soluble fertilizer every
                           2 weeks using a 20-20-20 or a 15-30-15. The higher phosphorus in a 15-30-15 will stimulate blooms
                        and subsequent vegetable production. Some homemakers have even gone to higher phosphorus
                           fertilizers such as 10-50-10 or 19-59-19.

Watering            Over watering or under watering can result in plant stress. Check water needs by sticking your finger into
                        the soil mix. If soil sticks to your finger, water isn’t needed. Mulches are suggested to reduce moisture
                        loss.

A list of plants suggested for container gardening is listed in the Fact Sheet HYG 1647-00, which you can get on-line by going to http://ohioline.osu.edu or by Contacting George McVey, Program Assistant, Horticulture, Master Gardener
Coordinator at gmcvey@ag.osu.edu or all the Union County Extension Office at 937.644.8117 or toll free at (800) 589.8584.