Growing Vegetables in Pots for a Speedy Spring Harvest: Top 3 Veggies Perfect for Container Planting
Growing a Spring Container Vegetable Garden: A Guide for Beginners
Spring is the perfect time to start a container vegetable garden, and with our handy guide, you'll be well on your way to growing fresh, homegrown produce.
Choosing the Right Vegetables
For container gardening, opt for short varieties like Little Finger or Short 'n Sweet. These compact plants are ideal for pots and will thrive in your garden.
Planting Onions
Plant onion seeds as soon as the ground is workable, typically six to eight weeks before the last frost. Sow the seeds 0.25 to 0.5 inches deep, and thin them out once seedlings emerge, leaving the healthiest onions three inches apart. Onion seeds can germinate at temperatures as low as 35 F (1.6 C).
Growing Carrots
Plant carrot seeds two to four weeks before the last frost. Sow them 0.5 (1.2 cm.) inches deep, and ensure the soil is at least twice as deep as the carrots are long. Before planting, break up any clumps in the soil, especially for carrots to prevent misshapen growth. Carrots need at least 40 F (4.4 C) to germinate. After carrot seedlings sprout, thin them to two inches apart. Keep container carrot plants in a sunny spot and water often.
Lettuce Love
Lettuce can germinate at 35 F (1.6 C) and should be planted four weeks before the last frost. Sow the seeds 0.25 (0.6 cm.) inches deep. Thin lettuce seedlings to six inches apart. Start fertilizing lettuce plants with a water-soluble fertilizer two to four weeks after planting. Learn more about your local growing zone and average last frost date to determine when to plant lettuce.
Caring for Your Container Garden
Use potting soil specifically designed for container vegetables, not garden soil. Keep seeds moist, watering before the soil dries out completely, to help them sprout. Cover the seeds with soil, lightly pat to make sure there are no large air pockets, and water them.
Tending to Your Garden
Pull containers close to your house if it gets below freezing. Keep container carrot plants in a sunny spot and water often. For container vegetable gardening, choose a short variety like Little Finger or Short 'n Sweet.
Meet Our Content Editor
Laura Walters, a Content Editor who joined the platform in 2021, shares her passion for gardening with our readers. With a background in documentary filmmaking, local news, and ten years of gardening experience, she provides gardeners with information in an easy and entertaining format. Laura lives in Southwest Ohio and spends her summers on a lake in Northern Michigan.
Happy Gardening!
With these simple tips, you're now ready to embark on your container vegetable gardening journey. Happy planting, and we wish you a bountiful harvest!
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