Container gardens are best suited to small plants. Vegetables such as lettuce, leafy greens, green beans, radishes and peppers generally do well. Small varieties of tomatoes or cucumbers may also be used. Herbs tends to do good in containers as well.
You want to pick a good location for your mixed container garden. In general, you want to place the container in a spot that gets around five hours of sunlight a day. Most plants enjoy afternoon shade so that should be a consideration when determining your location.
To start your garden, select a container, keeping in mind the amount of space you have available. Make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess moisture to escape. Otherwise, you risk your roots sitting in water, where they may rot or mildew.
Fill the container with a good quality potting soil. There are several types available. Organic potting soil is a popular choice since plants in container gardens are often grown for food.
Add a thin layer (1/2-1 inch) of compost. While you can purchase organic compost, if you have time and space, consider starting your own compost pile. It will not only save you money, but also help build a sustainable garden, especially since many of the scraps will probably be coming from plants in the garden to begin with.
Seeds or young plants can be used. Some plants do not grow well from seeds. If you wish to include one of these plants or are new to gardening, you may want to start with young plants until you gain more expertise. When planting, pay close attention to spacing. Planting too closely is a common problem in mixed container gardens. You can typically find spacing guidelines on seed packets or the container or packaging for the young plant. If you are unsure, ask someone with experience in container gardening.
Watering is a common problem in all gardens, but even more so with mixed container gardens. When planting, try to use plants with similar watering needs. Otherwise, you may run into difficulties trying to make sure the plant on one side of the pot has frequent watering while the plant on the other side of the pot stays mostly dry. Many gardeners will use separate containers to prevent this problem. If you tend to underwater plants, you may want to use absorbent crystals or restrict yourself to plants that prefer little water.
Fertilizer should be used sparingly. If your container garden contains plants you plan to eat, use a fertilizer designed for use on edible plants. There are organic fertilizers available. If you have started composting, a little compost can give plants a boost.
With proper care, a mixed container garden can provide you and your family with a wide variety of fresh produce.
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