Container gardening for beginners: 10 Best vegetables to grow in small spaces
05/29/2020 / By Joanne Washburn / Comments
Container gardening for beginners: 10 Best vegetables to grow in small spaces

Despite its health and economical benefits, gardening just isn’t practical nor doable for most people living in urban areas. Apartment complexes, for instance, offer little to no space for home gardens. Or so most people think.

A lack of outdoor space shouldn’t rule out a garden. At least, not in the conventional sense. Put those old pots, tin cans and idle boxes to good use and set up a container garden. As the name implies, this kind of garden makes extensive use of containers to make up for the lack of space.

Just prepare each container with some fertile soil and make sure to punch holes on the bottom for drainage. After that, it’s just a matter of choosing the right plants to grow. Here are some of the best plants for container gardening.

Leaf lettuce

Lettuce is a fast-growing vegetable perfect for container gardens. Plant lettuce seeds or lettuce scraps in spring so you can harvest them in the summer. Opt for non-heading varieties like leaf lettuce since these can be harvested multiple times.

Tomatoes

Although considered a fruit, tomatoes are one of the most versatile staples in vegetable gardens. Clustering varieties like grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes thrive well in pots and containers. Support the plant itself with stakes or a trellis to keep the tomatoes from touching the soil as this can lead to rotting.

Cucumbers

Cucumber plants also grow best with a trellis for support. This allows the cucumber to climb or grow upwards instead of taking up too much space in the container. For indoor gardens, opt for the small pickling varieties that mature within two months.

Squash

Another climbing plant, squash can take over the container if left to its own devices. Keep in mind that squash can take up a lot of space, so plant no more than one seed in each pot or container. Provide a trellis or a stake for the plant to support the squash once it grows.

Bell peppers

As a general rule, plant bell pepper seeds at least six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Despite being low-maintenance plants, bell peppers are temperature-sensitive. Provide a consistent source of heat if you’re growing bell peppers in a less sunny area indoors to keep the soil warm. With warm soil, the seeds can germinate within two weeks.

Peas

Peas thrive best in the warm spring months. As with most climbing plants, you’ll need to provide a strong trellis so that the plant’s tendrils can flourish well without overcrowding. Most varieties of peas take about two months to mature.

Beetroot

Plant beetroots at least one month before the last frost. The root itself takes about two months to mature, but tender beet greens can be harvested for salads as the root continues to grow.

Radishes

Radish is a popular staple in home gardens. This root vegetable matures in just a month as long as it’s planted in well-drained, rock-free soil. You can also re-plant radish heads for the next harvest.

Pole beans

Pole beans can be planted in small pots since these are climbing plants. Provide a strong trellis to keep vines from overcrowding. It’s also best to keep these in a separate area if you have other non-climbing plants to keep the vines from creeping into other containers.

Herbs

Herbs like basil, chives, cilantro and mint are perfect for small spaces indoors. Plant them in pots and leave them to grow on the windowsill. Water them only when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Don’t let limited outdoor space keep you from growing your own food. Just grab a couple of containers and some dirt and start planting.

Learn more about container gardening and other forms of indoor gardening at HomeGardeningNews.com.

Sources:

GoodHousekeeping.com

TheSpruce.com

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