I have grown a garden for years. There is nothing like going to the garden, picking a tomato and enjoying the sweet fresh taste of something you produced. You have total control and know some unknown chemical was not used to produce a humongous tomato.

Many of you saw my post about starting seeds in a pot. It is my intention to transfer the seedlings to my garden when they have grown and the ground is warm enough to transplant them. However what can you do if you don’t have a back yard for a garden ? Let’s talk about container gardens.

If you reside in an apartment, condo, or even a home and can’t or don’t wish to plant outside your answer would be a container garden. Prior to moving to my home, I lived in a condo with a small patio. I still wanted to plant veggies and so I turned to containers.

Now there are certain vegetables you can grow directly by putting them in water and or dirt. You can cut off the end of a green onion, place it in water and in sunlight and it will grow. If you are going to place in water, fill the bottom of the cup or glass with small gravel or stones which have been rinsed to establish a base. I put avocado seeds in the bottom of the cup I used because I eat them almost daily. Also once the avocado seeds start to open I place them in soil and they grow a beautiful plant.

You can grow garlic by breaking off a piece and planting in soil. If you want to grow an onion it can be started in soil or by slicing off a piece , placing in water until it grows roots and placing it in soil.

Fill your pot with soil, make sure the pot has drainage holes ,staying 2 -3 inches below the edge of the pot so you have room to fill with water. Soak the potting mix completely and allow it to sit a few hours to drain excess water. I prefer using Scotts potting soil or Miracle Grow as the fertilizer is already added and lasts up to three months.

You want to leave space between the plants, 3-4 inches, follow the directions on the seed package. After the seeds germinate you will want to thin the seedlings. Identify what is in the pot using markers or the top of the seed packets so you will not be confused as to what the plant is.

Water the soil or starter plants every few days to keep the soil from drying out. Do not overwater. Rule of thumb, dip a finger into the soil beneath the top about an inch, if it is dry, water thoroughly. After about a month I fertilize with my own organic mix because I am transplanting to my garden. I use coffee grounds, egg shells, and magnesium sulfate. This combo will add all the valuable nutrients your plants will need.

How large of a container do you need ? It depends on what you are growing, vine plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and squash require a large container with a trellis to support the vines. Plant the trellis when you plant seeds or the plant. Tomatoes will need one plant in a five gallon container. Cucumbers and squash , you can plant two plants in a five gallon container. Green beans will need a five gallon container as well but you can sow multiple seeds or plant up to 3-5 plants with spacing.

Lettuce and spinach can be grown in a one gallon container with seeds thinned to 8 inches apart. Peppers one plant per five gallon container.

Now comes the best part, harvest time. Pick your crops when they reach a size that you will enjoy them. Most vegetables are more productive if you harvest early and often. You don’t want to let them go to seed, it drops productivity.

Canning and freezing are simple nowadays , not like in Big Mommas time. Please can your tomatoes, and freeze your produce. There is nothing like having canned tomatoes in the winter or fresh greens, green beans, etc.

Join the grow your own team. It is so satisfying to eat something that you produced.