Container Gardening Tips for beginners By Benedict T. Palen, Jr

 Maximum types of plants are not picky about the kind of pot they grow in. All they want is adequate space to spread their roots and a few good drainage holes to permit excess water to drain. Pots come in a range of materials, such as ceramic, terra-cotta, plastic, and wood. All of them work equally well, though terra-cotta pots have a propensity to dry out faster than ceramic or plastic, so you will need to water them more frequently.

Here are some tips that you should refer to when starting with container gardening:

• Select the correct soil

Fill your containers with a class commercial potting soil. Never use soil from your garden directly because, when dry, it will solidify into a solid mass. Quality potting soil should include munificent helpings of compost, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and/or rotted manure. Inexpensive potting soils are not always a deal, so read the label before you purchase.

• Match Light Conditions

When choosing plants, read the plant tags before you purchase so you know whether they grow best in shade or sun. You do not want to mix shade and sun loving flowers in the same pot.

• Choose healthy plants

You can grow everything you want in a container and this includes shrubs and trees. Most people prefer to grow herbs, vegetables, or flowers for their porch, patio, terrace, or deck. Enjoy an edible feast by mixing a few of each type in the same pot. Lettuce and strawberries, for instance, taste as good as they look and make great companions for perennial flowers and sun-loving annual.

• Plant in layers

For a stunning layered look, be sure to comprise a tall, showy plant, a shaggy medium-size plant, and a trailing blooming plant in your containers. 

• Fertilize Regularly

To keep vegetables and flowers in top form all summer, you will need to fertilize them. Some potting soils have slow-release fertilizer mixed in already, but it is still a good idea to add a few drops of liquid fertilizer each time you water. Vegetables and flowers are heavy feeders and will flourish with an additional dose of plant food.

• Water Frequently

Container plants necessitate more frequent watering than those budding in the garden directly. Water every time the soil surface feels dried out. During sunny, hot periods you will probably have to water every day. This is particularly significant for hanging baskets that dry out faster as they are buffeted by the wind. You can use a garden hose, watering can, or install a drip irrigation system with a timer that waters your plants every day automatically.

• Renew and Replace

Few perennials and annuals will start to look tired by late summer. Rather than trying to revive them, carefully eliminate the plants from the pot and pop in one or two replacements to give your container a new option.

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has over three decades of experience working in agricultural investments, operations, and management. As of now, BenedictT. Palen, Jr., serves as manager and co-owner for Great Plains Farms, LLC, managing all from the purchase and assessment of farmland to offering proposal on irrigation development and operator training.