In the Garden: No space? No problem, as many vegetables can be grown in containers

Growing vegetables in containers is an excellent option for folks living in an apartment or on a small lot with no room for a garden space.

The plants will perform best if they receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. If you anticipate needing to move your pots to follow the sun, consider placing casters underneath them. Vegetables that tolerate a bit of shade include beets, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce and spinach.

Containers are available in terracotta, plastic and wood. Cloth “grow bags” work really well, too; gardeners often use them for growing potatoes, but many other crops will flourish in them. There are even spacing-saving, vertical gardening containers that have multiple tiers.

Start with a large, clean container that drains well. This is crucial because vegetable plants will decline rapidly if their roots are wet all the time. Select the correct pot size based on the veggies you intend to grow. Look for recommendations in the information box.

Be aware that the soil in containers dries out quicker than the soil in a garden. The larger the container, the longer the soil will stay moist. Many garden centers sell self-watering containers that have a water reservoir below the growing area. The potting soil wicks the water up to the roots and provides plants with consistently moist soil. These pots are ideal if you occasionally leave town for a few days.

Use organic potting soil. Pre-moisten it before filling the pot. The top of the soil should be about 2 inches below the lip of the container to keep it from overflowing each time you water. Avoid using garden soil because it is heavy, can compact easily and might contain disease pathogens.

You can grow just about any kind of vegetable in a container. Look for compact, dwarf or bush varieties of vegetables rather than tall plants. For example, instead of growing pole beans, which require a vertical support, consider bush beans because they are much more compact. Choose a determinate tomato variety (Celebrity, Early Girl, Oregon Spring, Patio, Stupice or Tiny Tim, for example) for the same reason.

You’ll often have better success growing certain types of vegetables if you start them ahead of time indoors or purchase seedlings at a garden center. These include artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, eggplants, peppers and tomatoes. Vegetables that do best when started from seeds that are sown directly into the pots include beans, carrots, chard, kale, lettuce, peas and radishes.

Since most potting soil is sterile, provide your vegetable plants with the nutrients they require in order to produce a crop be it leaves, roots or fruits. Always use organic fertilizers, and check the labels to choose the ones that will benefit your crops.

Monitor the soil moisture throughout the season to ensure that the plants aren’t drying out or getting overwatered. At the end of the season, empty your containers and scrub them so they are clean and ready to use next year.

What about the used organic potting soil? The general rule of thumb is it can be added to your compost pile provided your plants didn’t have any disease problems.

Susan Mulvihill is author of “The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook.” She can be reached at susan@susansinthegarden.com. Watch this week’s video at youtube.com/susansinthegarden.