If you live in an apartment or small condo, chances are there is limited gardening space. Most apartments only have a small concrete balcony, if at all. The chances of this balcony getting full sunlight every day varies greatly. Thus, container gardening while living in an apartment or condo can be quite challenging. However, there are many different varieties of vegetables and herbs one can plant that are suitable for these conditions. It is still possible to have a container vegetable garden in small spaces! All it takes a little creativity and a bit of determination.
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Choosing the best varieties of vegetables for containers is the first place to start when planning a container vegetable garden. Some vegetables do not do well if planted in containers while others seem to thrive if given the right conditions. Common container vegetables include tomatoes, green onions, peppers, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, cabbage and beans.
When choosing these vegetables, pick varieties that are especially suited for small spaces. Dwarf and compact types work best. For tomatoes (the most popular vegetable grown in containers), the patio variety does especially well.
Another consideration one has to make before vegetable gardening in containers is the size of the container. 3 to 5 gallon pots are generally the best when container gardening with vegetables. This ensures that the vegetable has plenty of room for root systems to develop. Some plants, like tomatoes, need as much room as possible since when in the ground they can develop root systems as long as 5 feet deep! Always go a bit bigger with the containers than you might think the vegetable needs just to be sure the plant has plenty of room to thrive.
Choose containers that have good drainage holes as well. One of the biggest mistakes people make with container gardening is over-watering. If the pot does not have good drainage, the plant can very likely drown and rot.
Another important aspect of container vegetable gardening is soil. Make sure to buy quality potting soil as well as some fertilizer for optimal vegetable growth. Since the vegetable cannot retrieve nutrients from the ground soil, it needs to be provided for them while they are living in a container. Apply a light fertilizer during transplanting and before fruit ripens for the best harvest.
If an area on a balcony does not receive full sunlight, simply move the container throughout the day to other areas that do. Another option is to plant only vegetables that can tolerate shade such as cabbage, green onions and other leafy vegetables.
Consider using the topsy turvy tomato planter if limited on space. These work great not only for tomatoes, but beans and strawberries can be grown from them as well. Get creative with the options around you!
Container vegetables gardens are rewarding and easy if certain basic rules are followed. Imagine stepping off a living room onto a balcony into a bountiful harvest! It is possible and feasible to have an apartment or condo garden. Choosing the right vegetables and containers as well as soil is all one needs to get started.
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