Vegetable gardening in containers can be just as rewarding as a full fledged plot. Nothing beats the taste and freshness of produce from your own efforts. The satisfaction is almost spiritual.

If you think you don't have a green thumb, let me tell you a little secret - when you look at someone else's lush garden, you see the successes not the failures. Much trial and error goes into gardening. Failures can occur for any number of reasons including weather, insects, disease, nutrients, suitability, etc. Seeds are cheap. If one plant or planting fails, try something else or sow seeds again.

First time gardeners can start simple.

Think in terms of a fresh garden salad every few days. You will want to grow a variety of leaf lettuces, radishes, carrots, onions, cherry or grape tomatoes, and cucumbers. Choose large containers at least a foot tall. Small containers quickly dry out and the soil depletes fast of nutrients as the roots grow. Bushel baskets work well. They can be spray painted or stenciled on the outside for asthetics. Use a trash bag as a liner with drainage holes poked in the bottom. Foresight into mobilty may be wise. Heavy winds, sunlight availabilty, or just plain make more space for party guests may require the need to move your pots around. There are pot stands available with wheels. Those glider pads may also work for you. Try your options before pots are filled and too heavy to move. You may also want to place a liner under pots to catch drainage water to avoid damage to decks or stairs. Fill liner with decorative rocks or shells to keep pots fom sitting in water.

Select suitable seeds or plants.

When deciding what to purchase, compact varieties are better suited for containers. Read labels for ideal yield and sun requirements. One tomato plant per person is sufficient. Plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash do better if planted alone in pots. Hanging pots of these can be used to decorate a fence or porch overhang. Lettuces, carrots, radishes, and onions can occupy the same large container.

Bush beans are excellent for free standing containers. Runner beans planted in window box containers at ground level can be used to grow up over arches or trellises. Containers placed at each fence post can be planted with cucumbers or pole beans and trained to climb as they grow. The back of window boxes can be fitted with a piece of lattice or decorative fencing for growing peas. Then a row of ferny short carrots can be sown. Now front with edible flowers such as pansies and nasturtiums or try some varieties of little hot peppers.

Even potatoes can be grown in stacks of at least 3 tires lined with a trash bag or in trash cans with drainage holes. Plant no more than 3 seed potatoes or sweet potato slips per container.

Herbs In Containers

Containers are more often preferred by herb growers. A container by the kitchen door or a kitchen window box makes it convenient for the cook when preparing meals. Most herbs do not require full sun and once established, are not fussy about their soil. Mints because of their voraceous spreading habit are best suited to container growing.

Decide which herbs you use most like parsley, dill, basil, thyme, chives, and oregano. Try to dedicate separate pots to annuals and perrenials. Use separate pots for herbs you will bring indoors for the winter like rosemary and chives.

Soil

Always use a good potting soil like Miracle Grow. These potting soils provide nutrients for a whole growing season, usually 3-6 months. They are formulated for good drainage and water retention. The right soil is half the battle. Don't skimp here.

Maintenance

Containers need to be watered frequently, sometimes twice a day in hot weather. Water thoroughly and let the soil dry slightly between waterings. To test, insert your finger into soil about an inch. If soil is damp, don't water. If soil is dry, water. Don't let containers stand in water. The roots will rot.

As season progresses you can replace one weekly watering with a liquid fertilizer mixed to half strength. Check your plants for insects. Use only insecticides formulated for fruit and vegetable plants. A couple of marigolds and/or garlic bulbs interplanted in your containers will stave off many harmful insects without interfering with growth or flavor transfer. If any plants develop disease or just plain don't look right, replace with something else. As you harvest radishes, lettuce, carrots, and onions plant new ones to keep a steady supply growing.

Enjoy your fresh vegetable harvest. The flavor is 100% better than store bought. While you await your harvest, collect some recipes to have ready to utilize your nutritious veggies.