I live on several acres, out of town, and I already have two garden patches going. Yet, I’m a BIG FAN of container gardening. Why? It allows me to keep kitchen herbs, well, in the kitchen. Also, some things are better in containers. Mint, for example, will take over your yard and can kill off other plants by stripping moisture out of the soil. Keeping it in a container is convenient and less of a hassle than trying to keep it confined to it’s own bed. Also, some plants work well as ornamentals and still can be harvested for food. Once again, we’re pretty much talking about plants like onions, garlic, and peppers, but they actually DO make good houseplants! The first plant I ever grew was an onion that my daughter made my plant after we found it sprouting in the back of our fridge, about 15 years ago. It grew, and grew, and we were hooked.

That’s just a one example. Except for plants that require extensive sprawl to develop a root structure (like potatoes, other tubers, and legumes), most anything can be grown in a container. You can even grow pole beans if you are able to use a small trellis. Grains may be the only container exception. I hear that people have successfully grown baby corn in containers but I’ve never heard of any other grain. If you know of a way, chime in the comments and let us know!

Here are a few container gardening tricks:

Containers

Just about anything can be a container. I’m a fan of reusing and recycling, and not much of a “looks” snob, so I will use quart size yogurt containers (cottage cheese would work, too), plastic coffee cans, and even old plastic buckets that kitty litter comes in. Especially until a plant has reached it’s maximum size, I don’t see the point of spending a lot of money on containers. If you do decide to use a household container for planting, puncture holes in the bottom for drainage, and consider lining your container with old or cheap knee-high pantyhose to keep all your soil in.

Another consideration is that the “pantyhose” method makes transplanting a breeze! You just gently lift out the pantyhose “liner”, peel it off your root ball, and then put the plant into its prepared new pot! Finally? If you choose to use old coffee cans, they fit very well into the short, medium sized gift sack. Have a few on hand in case company is coming, and feel free to change them based on your décor and your mood! Just remember to take your plant back out afterwards, and place it in a pan or tray.

That being said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with commercial containers. Many have built in water reservoirs, many are really beautiful, and all of them will work. I love terracotta, but unless it’s glazed, I don’t advise it. It sucks water into the pores of the container and away from the plant, something that’s a little self-defeating. If you choose to buy ornamental terracotta planters, consider using a plastic “liner” pot inside. In addition to trapping water next to your plant, this will give you something lighter to pick up if you decide to move the container. You’ll be able to safely move the pot without worrying about the plant, because it’s already out and waiting. Remember when you choose containers to think about how often you’ll have to move them and choose accordingly. That azure blue glazed planter at you’re favorite home décor shop might be gorgeous, but the third time you’re lugging it in or out of your house because there’s hail…you might be hating it.

Soil

For hanging planters and smaller containers, you can use potting soil. For larger containers, you have to decide if you’ll be moving them frequently. If you will, you’re going to want to invest in a high quality, lightweight, soil less growing mix. Pro-mix and Jiffy-mix are commonly found in small bags at places like Target and Wal-Mart, but for larger bags you’ll have to go to a nursery, or a home improvement store. Soil less mixes retain moisture well, so it’s terrific with tomatoes and peppers. If you have access to high-quality garden soil, you might consider picking up compost (also available at nurseries, home improvement stores, some health food stores, and if you live in a small town, maybe your local co-op), and making a combination of garden soil, compost, and either vermiculite or perlite. Now, a word about vermiculite and perlite- these are good products. As a kid, however, we often used plain old packing peanuts in place of them. You can chop them roughly with a garden knife or kitchen knife to make them a little less bulky, and after that they work really well-especially in large containers!

Sun

Before you fill up your container, particularly if it’s going to end up large and heavy in the end, think hard about where your sun hits your home, your yard (or terrace if you’re in a apartment), and how much time everyday your plants need in the sun. If you have several containers, and limited outdoor space, consider rotating them. Keep your high sun need plants outside most of the time, but rotate in and out the pots that don’t need as many hours of direct sunlight. Let’s face it, tomatoes are sun hogs, but most herbs can go out every other day, even one in three days, and still thrive. If you decide on a “bookshelf” structure for your terrace or yard, don’t forget to rotate your plants from time to time so that everyone gets some sun!

Water

Many people complain that the problem with container gardening is all the watering. Well, I’m here to tell you that if you have a “real” garden, you’ll do plenty of watering anyway. This is Kansas, and the rain isn’t guaranteed. Container gardening allows you a few freedoms that in-ground gardening doesn’t. If your containers are those designed for plants, you should look for the kind that have either a water reservoir on the bottom or a saucer like catch for overflow. If you’re using homemade containers, it’s time to go thrifting! Look for pie plates and round cake pans, in glass or aluminum. These are terrific for holding extra water for the roots of your plant to soak up as needed, or to catch any overflow if you should over water by accident. If thrifting isn’t your thing, you can find disposable round cake pans in any grocery store-use them until they crumple, then recycle them!

Another word about watering: if you have to leave your plants for a few days, consider a “kiddy” pool. About 3 feet in diameter, these hard plastic pools can be a real lifesaver. For houseplants, I put all my houseplants in one, in a bedroom where the cats can’t get at them and away from prying eyes so I can leave the blinds open. Fill the pool with a few inches of water, and away you go. For outdoor containers, pick a shady spot. Yes, I said shady! There’s two purposes here: if you’re going to be gone, your plants have more to risk from sudden storms, and the protection of a building or tree might save them. Also, they will be fine for a few days without direct sunlight, but if all the water evaporates and they dry out, there may be no saving them. Once again, add the plants, and then a few inches of water.

There are great books on container gardening, and plenty of articles out there. I can’t begin to list all my favorites. I’m a big fan of the K-State Extension website for information, and I will call our Sedgwick County Extension Office with all kinds of crazy questions. The gardening folks there are cheerful and friendly, so don’t feel shy if you’ve looked everywhere and still can’t find an answer; give them a call!

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