Container gardening allows you to garden in areas where space is limited or the soil is unsuitable for gardening – making this a preferred method for those who live in apartments and condos. Although much of Maine is rural and many Maine gardeners enjoy the freedom of growing large rambling gardens, for some, however, container gardens are a better choice.
Containers: Container gardens aren’t limited to traditional terra cotta pots – although they do add country charm. Any bucket, bin or pot that can hold soil can be used as the basis of your container garden. Choose a container that matches your sense of style and is large enough to accommodate the root system of your plants. Large veggies like tomatoes require a five-gallon container to support the massive plants and their root system. Other flowers and vegetables may require smaller pots. The University of Maine Extension provides a chart to determine the pot size for common vegetables.
Soil: One of the most common mistakes gardeners new to container gardening make is using the wrong soil. Garden loam or potting soil is too heavy for container gardens and compacts easily with repeated watering. Mix one part peat moss, one part potting soil or garden loam and one part perlite for a lightweight soil for container. Some prefer to add a healthy helping of compost or aged manure to provide their plants with slow-release nutrients.
Plants: Group plants according to their light and watering needs. When all plants in the container have the same basic growing requirements, plant care is quick and easy. Making the mistake of grouping plants with dissimilar needs is a recipe for disaster.
Fertilizer: Because nutrients are leached through the soil with each watering, flowers and veggies grown in container require supplemental fertilizer. A good water-soluble fertilizer applied every ten to 14 days during active growth provides the nutrients your plants need to thrive.
Watering: Soil in containers dries quickly, especially during hot dry spells. Check you plants daily for signs of wilting or dry soil. Water thoroughly until water runs freely through the bottom of the container. The frequency of water depends on the rate of growth of your plants, weather conditions and your plants specific needs. Typically, container-grown plants require daily watering during the heat of summer.
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