Blog about container gardening I wrote for a client on Fiverr

It is deeply satisfying to bite into a tomato you grew or eating berries straight from the plant you lovingly nurtured and tended to.

Learning how to grow your own vegetables and fruits in containers is a skill that can expand your garden, give you fresh produce and save money on your grocery bill.

Not having the space to garden doesn't have to hold you back from your dreams of gardening or not having enough space to grow everything you want. Container gardening takes up less space; you can move them around and customize your pots to make them part of your aesthetic.

Here are some tips for your container garden that will help you start your journey into the gardening world.

With some imagination and possibly some elbow grease, you can use just about anything as a planter for your container garden as long as it has good drainage and is a safe material to grow in.

The larger container you use, the easier it will be to maintain. The larger containers won't dry out as fast as the smaller ones, so you won't have to water them as much. However, if you only have smaller containers available, use what you have.

These are great pots to use for container gardening. These gardening containers are durable, easy to use, and come in assorted sizes. All you have to do is keep the water reservoir full, and the container will water your plant for you.

Using a wooden container for your container gardening is aesthetically pleasing. They are usually inexpensive; you can even make some yourself as a project. The only thing to remember is that they may only last a few years before the wood starts to break down.

You will find an endless supply of plastic containers at your local garden store, online, or even at garage sales. Plastic gardening containers are durable and come in various colors, shapes, and sizes.

There are many ceramic pots available and terra cotta pots for your plants. They come in many sizes; some may even have a glaze to personalize your garden a little more. Something to be mindful of with these types of containers is that they tend to dry out faster, so your plants will need to be watered more often, and if left outside during the colder weather, they may shatter.

If you are crafty or looking for budget-friendly containers for your garden, you make containers out of just about anything—items from around your house like old toy bins, laundry baskets, and plastic buckets. Drill some holes into the container for drainage, and you have a container to grow fruits and vegetables.

When choosing plants for your container garden, it is best to look for plants that are compact or dwarf. Plants like squash and melons don't generally do well in containers because they like to sprawl out.

Peppers. You have a lot of variety when it comes to growing peppers. You can choose from hot peppers to sweet bell peppers.

Eggplant. Eggplants are perfect for container gardening. They can be slightly sensitive to cooler weather, which is good to know if you have a shorter growing season.

Leafy greens. Growing your own greens is a real money saver and a lot of fun. You can harvest them over and over again if you like salad every day. Leafy greens are a must to grow.

Tomatoes. Your tomatoes will need a cage to support them and help them stay upright. Remember to pick off the suckers from your plant, and you will have a lush and productive tomato plant.

Peas. You will need to provide your peas a trellis or something for the peas to grow up, and you will be rewarded with delicious peas all summer.

Don't use soil from your garden in your containers. It will become compacted and won't drain well. You also are running the risk of exposing your plants to disease in the soil and weeds.

High-quality potting soil is perfect and will ensure your plants have optimal growing conditions.

It is always smart to fertilize your plants a couple of times during the growing season. You can use compost from your own pile or some you purchased; fish emulsions are also an excellent vegetable fertilizer.

Make sure that your pots are very well draining. Even pots you purchased, you may want to consider drilling a couple more holes in the bottom. Not having proper drainage in your containers can lead to root rot in your plants, and you will end up with a lot of dead plants on your hands.

Knowing how much light you get in the area you plan to keep your plants is vital. Having full sun will give you a large variety of plants to work with, but not having 6-plus hours of direct sun every day doesn't mean you can't grow anything. Look for plants that like partial shade; you will still have a thriving garden.

5.     Save your plant tags

If you buy seedlings, they will come with a tag with everything you need to know to care for that plant. Save them. That information is invaluable; if you ever need to refer back to the tag, you will be happy to have them.

If you are starting with seedlings or growing your plants from seed. They have likely been inside for a bit, and you need to harden off your plants before they are outside full-time. Plants can really struggle with sudden changes, and if they are inside your warm home and then outside all day and night, they may not like the sudden temperature change. Especially if the nights are still on the cooler side. You might think it will be fine to skip this step, but it can make the difference between a big, thriving plant and a smaller, stunted plant.

Sometimes, you have done everything right, and your plant still dies. It happens to us all. If your plant is starting to look worse for wear, you can cut it back and hope for the best or toss it in the compost pile and start over.

Container gardening can be just as satisfying as growing a garden in the ground. You can have a thriving and productive container garden with a bit of know-how and some trial and error.