Right now, I have a mish mash of pots and planters on the deck at the front of our house. Our back garden is quite shady and not particularly conducive to growing vegetables. However, my front deck is warm and often sunny. The vegetables love to grow there.
As a first time container gardener, the first question that comes to mind is not always the plant but the container. What container should you plant in? The container that you use for your plants makes a big difference.
First, there’s the cost of the container. This can be a huge question: how can you ever afford to create a container garden, when containers are so expensive? Yes, the containers at the garden store are expensive. However, consider other options. Can you reuse containers that you already have? Do you know anyone who is giving containers away? Are there other containers from around the house that might do the job, even if they are not pretty? Reusing old wood scraps is an inexpensive way to make a natural and attractive planter. One of my containers for a water-loving plant is an old boot. It provides almost no drainage, perfect for creating a miniature marshland.
Consider how quickly the container will dry out. Terracotta plant pots will lose moisture more quickly than plastic plant pots, and this is a consideration in climates that are very dry in the summer. If you’re using containers in all seasons, how well do your containers stand up to freezing weather? Containers that are made out of thin terracotta or cheap plastic will often crack over the winter, so it’s better in splurge on more durable planters. If your containers are empty in the fall and you don’t need to store them outside, bring them in to take care of them for the spring and summer. This will extend the life of your containers.
Be safety conscious about your containers. Choose containers that you can move easily, so that you don’t hurt yourself when you’re repotting plants or moving them around the deck. If you are growing vegetables in the containers and you are concerned about chemicals in plastic plant pots, you will want to research the type of plastic your pot is made out of: turn the pot over to see the marker underneath. Wooden containers should be made of untreated wood if you are using them to grow vegetables, since treated wood contains chemicals that you do not want in your food.
What containers do you use in the garden?