• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Home Garden Joy
  • Home
  • How to Garden
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Diseases
    • Raised Bed Gardening
    • Seed Starting
    • Tools & Equipment
  • Plants
    • Plant Profiles
    • Vegetables
    • Fruit
    • Herbs
  • Recipes
    • Canning and Food Preservation
  • Books & Classes
    • Books by Jeanne Grunert
    • Books for Christian Herbalists
    • Herbalism Classes
  • About
    • Privacy Policy

How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

March 31, 2017 by Jeanne

Tomorrow, I’m giving a free talk at the Local APX Market in Appomattox, Virginia at 11 a.m. on Growing Vegetables in Pots and Containers. I’m excited to share the basics with local folks, but I realized that so many of my readers aren’t local and still want the same information. The solution? A series here on the blog on how to grow vegetables in containers.

how to grow vegetables in containers

How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

Anyone can learn how to grow vegetables in containers. For those with limited space in their backyard, pots or containers are an ideal way to grow fresh vegetables.

Now, one word of caution: you know all those blogs where Suzy Creamcheese shows you the simple, easy, fast Pinterest-inspired way of taking an old boot, filling it with junk from her kitchen, and growing tomatoes that win first prize at the country fair? She insists that all you do is sprinkle magic Epsom salts onto your plants and BAM – instant vegetable garden!

Okay, I’m exaggerating…just a little bit. In all seriousness, some of those Pinterest-inspired posts and bloggers who don’t garden but like to write about gardening make me want to tear my hair out. They’re filled with a lot of promises and hope and not much else.

I’m not saying that growing vegetables in pots or containers is difficult. It’s not. But you do need to apply a modicum of common sense and a bit of smarts to what you’re doing in order to get at least something edible out of the deal.

 

The Series: What We’ll Discuss

This is going to be a huge series on container vegetable gardens! In this series, I’ll share with you the following:

  1. Choosing a location for your container vegetable garden.
  2. Considerations for containers; making recycled containers into a garden.
  3. Sizes of containers and a chart of vegetables you can grow in each size container.
  4. Companion plants for a container garden.
  5. Repurposing window boxes and even rain gutters for container gardens.
  6. Soil selection, fertilizer, compost, watering, and more.
  7. Preparing your garden – and taking it down for the winter.
  8. A chart of vegetables and the size pots they need.
  9. And much, much more.

If you cannot make it the local APX Market this Saturday, April 1, 2017, this blog post series is the next vest thing. I can’t wait to get started.

Be sure to follow my blog on Bloglovin‘ and “Like” us on Facebook for the latest posts.

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Gardening

Previous Post: « Replacing a Raised Garden Bed
Next Post: Why Should You Grow Vegetables in Containers? »

Footer

a wheelbarrow with bag of soil, trowel, pots and plants

Understanding Fertilizer: A Complete Guide for Home Gardeners

Understanding fertilizer is an important skill for beginning gardeners. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics. By the end of this article, you’ll understand fertilizer, what it is and what it does, and how to use it appropriately in the garden. Introduction: Why We Use Fertilizer in the Garden . Plants absorb nutrients…

Read More

red lettuce, mexican tarragon, and chard

The Best Organic Fertilizers

If you’ve been looking for ways to help your garden truly thrive — not just survive — organic fertilizers might just become your new best friend. They’ve become a cornerstone of sustainable gardening and farming, and for good reason: they don’t just feed your plants, they actually improve the health of your soil over time….

Read More

water droplets in sunbeams over a raised bed vegetable garden

Irrigation Tips for Home Gardens: Drip vs. Soaker Hose

Watering is one of the most essential tasks in maintaining a healthy home garden, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many gardeners rely on overhead sprinklers or hand-watering, both of which can waste water and fail to deliver moisture efficiently to plant roots. Two of the most effective alternatives are drip irrigation…

Read More

chive plants in bloom with lettuce

The 10 Easiest Herbs to Grow

Grow them in pots, containers, window boxes, raised beds, or tucked among your flowers. These are the 10 easiest herbs to grow in almost any temperate garden. They take up little space, are generally unfussy, and are used in lots of recipes. What Do I Need to Start an Herb Garden? You don’t need a…

Read More

  • About
  • Plant a Row for the Hungry
  • Awards
  • Privacy Policy

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Substack
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2026 Home Garden Joy on the Foodie Pro Theme