The choice of container can have a big impact on how productive your plants are and if they will survive. The primary factor to keep in mind is to make sure your vegetable plant has enough room for a deep root system to develop. If you are growing large plants (like tomatoes), make sure that the pot will be large and heavy enough so it won’t tip over in a stiff wind. To grow vegetables in a container, the bigger the pot the better: a minimum of 18 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep or five gallons in volume is required for larger plants like cucumbers, eggplants, squash, or broccoli. Large pots hold more soil thus can provides plants with sufficient moisture and nutrients. A 10-inch diameter pot is too small to provide enough soil for root systems to develop, and the soil in smaller pots dries more quickly than in larger pots. Some varieties of popular vegetables are better suited for growing in containers than others. Typically, varieties that are labeled as compact, miniature, or bush types are best suited for growing in containers. Earthboxes are somewhat pricey to buy, but they are very durable and are worth the cost. The manufacturer states that some of their Earthboxes are 25 years old and that they are still functioning like new. The best news about the Earthbox is that if you keep the water reservoir filled with water, your plants receive the right amount of water they need to thrive and this is perhaps (along with the right amount of sun) the most important resource for vegetables—particularly tomatoes. Other types of grow boxes are available from other manufacturers. You can also cut Xs into the sides of the fabric for side planting, which not only maximizes your growing space, it looks cool, too. One cautionary note: Some grocery bags are made of plastic that releases chemicals as it disintegrates. You will need some time to get your straw bales prepped before you plant them. By adding fertilizer and water over about ten days, the bales start to compost internally and after the heat of this process has diminished, the bales are ready to plant. Also, hanging baskets can dry out incredibly quickly—on a windy day, a warm breeze can suck the moisture right out of the soil. To combat this, line coir baskets with landscape fabric or moss and check them once a day, sometimes twice to see if they need watering. It’s also a good idea to give a basket made of cocoa coir some mid-day shade if you are gardening in a hot climate.
