Container gardening is great because anyone can do it, no matter where they live or how much property they own.

It doesn’t have to be expensive either. The sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing a container for your vegetable plants. If you visit your local gardening center you will find a lovely assortment of traditional planters in all shapes and sizes but you needn’t stop looking there. An old five-gallon-paint bucket, an unneeded garbage can, a slightly worn out wheelbarrow, a chipped pitcher or bowl, even an old tennis shoe can be used as a planter. You can use just about anything for container gardening as long as you prepare it properly.

How to Prepare a Container for Gardening
Basically, you need to choose a container that will be able to hold and support your chosen plant. The larger the mature plant will become, the larger the container needs to be.

Make sure there is a hole or two at the bottom, for drainage.

Add a layer of gravel or rocks to the bottom of the container first, also for drainage.

Fill your container to within two inches from the top with a quality potting soil. (I like Miracle Grow brand potting soil because it has fertilizer in it already, if you choose a plain soil then you will need to add the fertilizer yourself.)

Plant your chosen plant no deeper then it was already growing when you purchased it.

Things to Keep in Mind
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a container for your vegetable plants. If you are choosing a container made of terra cotta or wood, (or canvas) be aware that your soil will dry out faster and require more watering than if you are using a plastic, metal, or glazed pottery type of planter. The size of your container will also determine how much watering you will need to do, especially on those long hot summer days.

Watch the weight of your finished product. Don’t use anything too heavy if you are going to need to move it anytime during the growing season. (Unless of course it has wheels on it, like an old roller blade skate, maybe?)

If you are going to want to reuse your container next year, make sure it is frost-proof or else you will need to store it indoors over winter.

The only things that should limit your choices while choosing containers for planting is that the containers be the right size for the plant and that they will be able to accommodate proper drainage for the plant.

Why not be daring this year and choose an unusual container for some of your veggies.

Recommended Reading: McGee & Stuckey’s Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers A great reference book to have on hand when growing vegetables in containers.

Container Garden photo appear courtesy of of UFCThoughts and were found through a creative commons search.