If you have plants growing in pots in your home, you already have a container garden!

Gardening is very rewarding, and it’s wonderful not to have to visit the grocery store a few times a week.  However, not everyone has the time, space, or courage to grow a huge garden.  

Does that mean that you are doomed never to grow a bell pepper or green bean ever.  You can start small and begin by container gardening.  

I have had a lovely time growing a small container garden the last two years; here are seven reasons you should give container gardening a chance!

1.  A container garden is convenient.  

Even if you grow just a few of your favorite herbs on your window sill, a container garden is quite convenient.  When you are cooking a meal and discover that you are out of an herb you need, you can just go to your window sill, harvest how much you need, and resume cooking your meal.  You will not need to drive to the store for one ingredient or change your dinner plans completely.

2.  A container garden can be grown in a small space.  

You may have just a few square feet on a deck or balcony, but you can grow some lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers and have most of your salad ingredients on hand.

3.  A container garden can be moved. 

You can move the containers to follow the sun or to get them out of the sun.  You can also take a container garden with you if you relocate to a different home.

4.  A container garden can be brought inside during inclement weather. 

For this reason, a container garden can be started earlier in the spring.  It can be outside during the day when the temperatures are warm and brought inside should there be a frost warning.  If you see a forecast for strong winds, you can bring your container garden inside then too.

5.  A container garden can be small or large.  

It can fit the needs of your family.  If you have a larger family, you can plant more containers, and if it’s just you, you can plant less.  If you live in a home, you are not limited to space just on your balcony or deck.  You can have containers on the side of your house and in the back yard as well.

In this way, a container garden can supplement a “normal” garden.

6.  A container garden can lower your grocery bill while helping your family to be healthier.  

Even if you can grow enough lettuce to feed your family for the summer and early fall months, you can save quite a bit of money and not worry about what was sprayed on your lettuce!  You can harvest the lettuce and other foods as you need them and therefore have a lovely supply of fresh produce.

7.  Container gardening requires minimal weeding.  

If you purchase quality potting soil, you should not need to weed your container garden much at all.  This is an excellent reason for a busy person to have a container garden.  You will need to water and fertilize your garden but not spend hours weeding it.

Before you plant your container garden, it would be beneficial to know which plants do well in containers.  Cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, herbs, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and green beans can all be grown in containers.  Make sure the container is large enough for the plant.

Before you decide what to plant, it’s important to know how much sunlight you can guarantee your container garden.  Some plants do better with less sunlight, and other plants need a maximum amount of sunlight.  Lettuce and spinach do not need much sunlight; however, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and carrots do need quite a bit of sunlight.  Check specifications on seeds before you purchase them.

If you have a balcony or deck that faces north, it may be best to grow lettuces and spinach.  Go here to watch a vide on how to grow lettuce and spinach effectively in containers.

What benefits have you received from having a container garden?  What produce has grown well for you in containers?  Please share in the comments below.

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