Heather’s Gardening Service

Written by Heather Morren

Gardens come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are purpose made, rectangular and vast with room for everything to be evenly spaced in rows. Some are an afterthought, small squares cordoned off from the rest of the yard with a makeshift “fence” (for example, a 2×4 lying lengthwise half buried in the soil). Others still don’t have any room for a permanent garden. Perhaps their yard is dominated by an expansive patio or deck. Some outdoor spaces are limited to just a balcony. 

All this is to say, whatever your garden looks like, big or small, don’t be discouraged, there is always space to grow!

What is container gardening?

Container gardening broadly refers to growing plants, usually vegetables, in containers. These containers can range from individual pots, like the tomatoes shown below, to raised garden beds (see second photo) and include everything in between.   

 Tomatoes growing on a balcony in a terracotta pot

Raised garden beds made from pressure treated lumber

Common first containers might include rubbermaid bins, plastic garbage cans, or large 5 gallon “Home Depot” buckets. You can even make your own containers out of scrap/pallet wood. The possibilities are really only limited by your space, budget, and creativity. 

What do I need to know to get started with container gardening? 

If you are considering container gardening, the first thing you will want to do is assess the sun exposure that your yard, garden, patio, deck or balcony receives. Some plants, such as carrots, beets, and other root vegetables, as well as tomatoes and cucumbers, do very well in sunny locations while many herbs, leafy greens, onions, beans and peas, are more partial to shadier spots.

Lettuce, alongside marigolds and alyssum, both excellent flowers for warding off pests, growing in a large raised container

The second thing you will want to consider is the amount of space you have available to garden in. If your space is limited, herbs, lettuce and spinach are a great option. They don’t have very deep roots and can grow in much shallower containers. 

A variety of herbs (as well as a willow tree) growing in containers of different shapes and sizes on a balcony

Root or bulb vegetables like carrots, onions, and beets need a little more depth, at least 10-12 inches. Beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and peppers require even more space (approximately 13-15 inches) to ensure that they have enough room for their roots to take hold and don’t become too top heavy. Some plants, like sweet peas and tomatoes may even require extra above ground support.  

Sweet peas growing in a long, low container with poles and string for climbing, growing on a balcony

Are there other benefits to container gardening?

Absolutely! Container gardening isn’t just for small spaces. It also allows a lot of versatility. With your plants in containers, you can shift them with the sun so they don’t get scorched or get more exposure when needed. You can also move them with the rain so they get more or less water. I am reminded of going on summer vacation when I was a kid and my mum would place all of her potted plants under the large crab apple tree in our backyard and give them a thorough watering so that they would not get too hot or too dehydrated. Think about how useful that would be if you had your vegetables in portable containers and wanted to go on a holiday!

You can also simply rearrange your containers for aesthetic or functional purposes. Who doesn’t love a garden that can change on a whim?  

And don’t forget the weeds! Weeds are much easier to control in containers. Placing cardboard at the bottom of a raised bed will certainly keep your weeds to a minimum. Plus, smaller gardening space means less space for pesky weeds to grow to begin with. Also, if you struggle with mobility issues, weeding a container that is knee or waist height or that can be placed on a table will be much easier on your body than crawling around on hands and knees.

What should I be cautious of with container gardening? 

It’s important to consider the materials you are using for your containers. Terracotta tends to hold moisture. If you are using rubbermaid bins or “Home Depot” buckets, it’s a good idea to drill a few holes in the bottom to let excess moisture out. If you are making your own boxes out of wood, make sure to use pressure treated wood or to line your containers with some sort of plastic to ensure that the wood does not just rot and fall apart (a lesson my brother learned the hard way). However, you will also need to make sure that there is also a way for extra moisture to escape so the soil does not become mouldy. Also, if you plan to move your containers at any time, make sure they are small enough that you CAN physically move them. Don’t underestimate how heavy a 5 gallon bucket of dirt can be. 

What else should I know about container gardening?

One more neat thing about container gardening is that there are lots of really cool tools out there to help you make sure your containers are getting the right amount of water. Containers tend to need more watering during hot weather and sometimes require moisture removal during wetter parts of the season. Luckily, there are many different kinds of “self watering” products out there. You can purchase containers with built in reservoirs to collect and get rid of excess water. There are also in-soil watering tools such as terracotta watering spikes and above ground watering bulbs. If you have a creative mind and a knack for engineering, you could even set up a mini irrigation system connected to your hose or your rain barrel.

One final thing about container gardening, it’s not just for growing vegetables. All kinds of perennial and annual plants, both flowering and ornamental, grow very well in a variety of containers and can really beautify a small space. 

Sweet william, pink Veronica, and coral bells growing in a container perched atop a balcony railing 

Photos in this article were sourced from freepik.com, as well as, Adriana Webber and Andrew Morren. Information was sourced from my personal experience and a wide variety of online resources. Please ask, should you wish to see a full list.