Quick Tips for Growing Vegetables in Containers

There’s nothing better than homegrown vegetables in the spring and summer. With a little work, you can be enjoying those delicious tastes at your house all season long. Get quick tips for growing vegetables in containers in this Lowe’s video:

Start with a few staple vegetables that you know your family will eat and that grow well in your climate. Vegetables can be started from seed or seedling. Seeds are more economical; seedlings are a bit more expensive, but they’re easier for beginners and give you a better chance of success.

Vegetables need a lot of sun – at least six hours of full sun per day. Choose a spot indoors or outdoors where they can get enough light and where they’re out of the reach of plant-eating animals like rabbits or deer.

There are many pots to choose from, but the basic assembly is the same. Choose a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Proper drainage is essential to keep the plant from getting waterlogged. Begin with an even layer of gravel or rock in the bottom of the pot. If you have a broken clay pot, you can break it into pieces for extra drainage. Place a think layer of garden soil into the pot. Remove your seedling from its container and set it in the center. Use your hand to scoop soil around the seedling until the soil covers the top of the seedling’s roots. Water until you can see it seep slightly out of the drain holes.

Don’t have pots? A five-gallon bucket with some holes drilled in the bottom will work great for tomatoes. Tomatoes will require a cage to support them. Install that cage when you first plant the seedling to avoid damaging it later.

All plants require regular attention, ample light and water, but they will reward your hard work with delicious food later in the season.