How to Grow Potted Vegetable Plants

Container vegetable gardening is a good solution not only for the space-challenged, but for people with limited mobility. Container vegetables are easy to water and care for and require no weeding. Nearly any vegetable that grows in a backyard garden can be successfully grown in a container.

Instructions

1. Select the right container for your vegetable plants. The size of the container depends on the mature size of the plant. An 8- to 10-inch pot containing 1 to 2 gallons of soil can support radishes, green onions or one pepper plant. A 12- to 14-inch pot containing 3 to 6 gallons of soil can support carrots, eggplant, beets or one dwarf tomato plant. Use a large pot that will hold 10 to 20 gallons of soil for cucumbers, squash, cabbage, Brussels sprouts or a full-sized tomato plant.

2. Prepare the container for planting. If the container has no drainage holes, drill at least four drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Fill the container with a good quality, all-purpose potting soil. Allow about 1/2 inch at the top of the container to allow for watering.

3. Mix a balanced, slow-release fertilizer into the soil. Use 1/2 tbsp. of fertilizer for each gallon of soil. Slow-release fertilizer will supply the plant with nutrients for several weeks.

4. Dig a hole for each plant, using a trowel. The hole should be no deeper than the size of the plant's root ball since planting too deep cause cause plants to rot. The exception is tomato plants, which should be planted up to 1/2 the length of the stem. Place the plant in the hole, then pat the potting soil around the roots.

5. Water the vegetable plants immediately after planting. Thereafter, check the soil daily and water if the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Containerized vegetable plants may need to be watered every day during hot weather. Water early in the day. Water at the base of the plants and avoid splashing the leaves as much as possible.

6. Place the plants in the appropriate level of sunlight. Most vegetables require at least six hours of sunlight per day. A few plants, such as cabbage, lettuce and spinach, and root crops such as onions, turnips, radishes and beets, will benefit from afternoon shade. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, green beans and eggplants require full sunlight.

7. Fertilize the plants with a supplementary fertilizer about 10 weeks after planting. Apply a general-purpose liquid fertilizer at the rate recommended on the fertilizer package label.

Source: eHow