Vegetable Garden Archives - Page 11 of 12

Most people face the problem of limited space so they can't grow but container gardening can solve this problem. You can place these containers on your balcony, patio and rooftop. If you are interested in growing vegetables then you will get a fresh supply of them for your kitchen even if you are growing them in containers or pots. There are many advantages to growing plants in containers. The first important benefit of container gardening is that they are easily portable so you can move them from one place to another. The other benefit of growing plants in a container is that you can maintain the fertility of soil very easily which is not possible when you grow plants in the ground. In this article, we are going to discuss how you have to grow your favourite vegetables in one-gallon containers. 1-gallon containers can easily adjust any small areas. By recycling, you can use many useless things for growing vegetables. These things may be water jugs, milk jugs, plastic tubs, large plastic bottles and many others. If you have an Empty container, high-quality soil and seeds then you can easily grow your favourite vegetables in it. Vegetables You Can Grow In One Gallon Container Store-bought vegetables are not healthy and fresh but if you grow them then you will get the best flavour and taste. Here is a list of vegetables which you can easily grow in a 1-gallon container effortlessly. 1- BASIL You can grow basil in a 1-gallon container easily. First, fill the container with high-quality potting mix. If you use a high-quality potting mix then it will contain all the basic nutrients which a basil plant needs. Make sure the container you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom so your plant will be protected from root rot and fungal diseases. Keep the soil moist by regular watering. When you water your basil plants the stem or leaves never get wet. The best way of watering is from the bottom of the basil plant at all times. Place your pot where it gets maximum sun exposure for healthier growth. 2- SPINACH Fresh spinach will give you iron, potassium, vitamins A and C and folic acid. Spinach can easily adjust in any environment so you can grow it in a one-gallon container. You can easily start it from seeds, the best smaller varieties of spinach are Melody and Baby's Leaf Hybrid. You can prepare the seedlings indoors and transplant them when their size is about 2 in or 5 cm. After transplanting the seedlings they need plenty of water. When you grow plants or vegetables in a pot or container they need more water because the soil in the pot will dry out quickly. Consistent moisture is the key to a successful spinach plant. This is an all cool-season crop and is ready to harvest after 40 to 45 days. Make sure, the soil you are using for your container must contain all the nutrients. You can also add compost to make your soil richer. 3- LETTUCE Lettuce likes to grow in the cold season. When you grow it in the container then you can control weeds and pests. Fill your 1-gallon container with rich soil for growing lettuce plants to keep the soil moist with a consistent supply of water for shallow roots of lettuce. Drainage holes at the bottom of the container will help to remove excess water from it. You can grow the letters by direct sowing or transplants before planting. You must add time-release fertilizer to make your soil full of nutrients. If pests attack your plants then you can use insecticidal soap or neem oil to get rid of this problem. You can cut the young leaves outside of the lettuce when you need them because the leaves will grow back. 4- CILANTRO For a moderate climate, you can start cilantro in spring after the last frost. For a hot climate, you can start planting in winter. Cilantro has long taproots so this plant doesn't like transplanting so it is suggested that you should put the seeds in the desired one-gallon container. Keep that's why moist by consistent watering but carefully. If the foliage of the cilantro plant may get wet then your plant may be affected by any fungal disease. When the height of the young seedling reaches up to two inches then you can fertilize your soil to make it richer. Cilantro is a fast grower and it will be ready for harvest after 3 to 4 weeks of showing the seeds. 5- STRAWBERRY For growing strawberries in the one-gallon container, you need strawberry seedlings or crowns, high-quality potting mix, a 1-gallon container and liquid fertilizer. The container you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom, fill it with loamy and loose soil. After transplanting you should keep the soil moist and place your container at a sunny spot where it gets maximum sun exposure 6 to 8 hours of light is essential for getting juicy strawberry fruit. You can check the surface of the soil with the help of your finger if it feels dry then it is time to water your story plants. You must fertilize your story plans every 3 to 4 weeks regularly. 6- GREEN ONIONS For growing green onions in your desired one-gallon container, you need to plant seeds or sets directly in the container. The best and easiest way of growing green onion is from sets rather than from seeds. You can also use the store-bought green onions for this purpose. Make sure you are using rich and fertile soil for growing green onions. Place your pot where it gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. When you see the top inch of the surface of the soil is dry then it is time to water. After 40 to 45 days green onions are ready to harvest. When the size of the bulb is about one inch in diameter then it is the right time for harvesting. Pull the green onions from the soil and use them fresh. You can't store them for a long time but before storing them in the refrigerator first wash them then wrap them in a paper towel and keep them in the refrigerator for a long time. 7- TURNIPS You should select a variety of turnip which is short and round because it is perfect for growing a 1-gallon container. If you choose a smaller variety then it will grow comfortably in the container. The suitable temperature for growing turnips is less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It means it is a cool-season crop and likes low temperatures. Spring or late summer is the best time of the year for growing turnips in containers. Usually, after 60 days turnips are ready to harvest but this depends upon the variety you are choosing for growing in the container. It is suggested that you should harvest turnip roots when their size is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Large turnips roots become very woody and you never want to eat tasteless turnips. 8- SWISS CHARD Swiss chard can easily grow in a one-gallon container. The things you need for growing swiss chard are seeds of swiss chard, your desired container and a high-quality mix. Fill your container with the soil after that sow the seed and water them so they can adjust easily to the environment. For quick germination, you can soak the seeds in water before sowing them. After one week of planting, you will see the seeds will sprout. When you grow plants in containers they need more water because the soil in pots or containers dries out very quickly. Maintain frequency of water for your swiss chard plants but avoid over watering because wet soil is not good. When the leaves of the plant are 4 to 6 inches taller, you can harvest it. You simply need a sharp scissor to cut the outer leaves of the plant so the plant continuously produces more leaves. 9- RADISHES You can get healthy, crispy and fresh radishes with tasty green tops from growing them in a 1-gallon container. The best time for growing radishes is when the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 5 degrees Centigrade. Fill the container with a high-quality potting medium and sow the seeds. After 3 to 10 days, you will see the seeds will germinate and young seedlings start sprouting from the seeds. A sunny location is perfect for your container where your radish plants get direct sunlight. 4 to 5 hours of sunlight is needed for radishes to grow fast. Their growth will become slow if they do not get enough sunlight. Never allow your containers to dry out because radish plants need moist soil. Slow-release fertilizer, compost or aged manure will make your soil richer. Keep in mind if you add too much nitrogen then it will encourage the growth of greens. It is suggested that you should use a fertilizer that contains low nitrogen. 10- LEEKS You can sow the seeds of leek plants before the last frost and transplant them after the last frost. You can get all the information about the dates of frost in your climate from the local nursery in your area. Fill your 1-gallon container with light and well-drained soil. Make sure the container you are using must have drainage holes at the bottom. Sunlight encourages the growth of leek plants, it can tolerate partial shade but result in slow growth. Place your pot in a sunny location where it gets maximum sun exposure for healthier growth. Usually, leeks are ready to harvest within 90 to 120 days. You can use a slow-release fertilizer to encourage the growth of leeks. You can also use fish emulsion to make your soil full of nutrients which are essential for leeks. How To Care For Vegetable Plants In One Gallon Container? When you grow vegetables in containers then you can place them on the patio, balcony or even on your rooftop. You can easily move containers from one place to another which is a plus point of container gardening. You can easily maintain your plants when you grow them in containers, only you have to care about feeding and watering. Regularly apply fertilizer to make the soil richer and your plant gets all the essential nutrients. You should use those fertilizers that are specially designed for vegetable plants. You will get all the instructions on the label. If you use a commercial potting mix then your vegetables will get all the major organic material from it. Maintain frequency of water so the soil gets the required moisture according to the needs of your vegetable plants. Never let the soil dry by regular watering but avoid it overwatering. A sunny location is perfect for your containerized plants. 6 to 8 hours of Sunlight is very important for the growth of any vegetable plant. Sunlight improves the growth of vegetable plants.