Container Vegetable Gardening

                       CONTAINERS, POTS AND PLANTERS

Just about anything that will hold potting soil and has good drainage can be used as a planter.   If you are on a tight budget, look around your house for items that can be used such as buckets, large food cans, pails, plastic storage boxes or dishpans, or even a discarded child’s wagon.  Garage sales are great for finding inexpensive containers.

The most common types of planters are:

    * Unglazed terracotta, or clay, pots.  These are somewhat heavy and are porous.  Great for air circulation.  They dry out quicker and may need more frequent watering.

   * Glazed terracotta.  Glazed on the outside which seals the clay making it less porous. Many come in beautiful colors and designs, and are more expensive.

   * Plastic.  Inexpensive, lightweight and somewhat unbreakable, but usually unattractive.

   * High Tech Plastics such as polyester or foam resin, polyethylene, fiberglass or high density polyurethane.  Very durable and lightweight.  Somewhat expensive but can be gorgeous.

   * Wood.  Beautiful, but heavy.  May eventually rot from damp soil unless you use redwood or cedar.  You could also apply a sealer to the inside and outside surface of other woods.

   * Paper Pulp.  Made from paper pulp and looks like thick, bumpy cardboard.  Lightweight and very inexpensive but does not last very long.

     * Wire.  Usually used for hanging baskets – they need to be lined with something to keep the soil from dribbling through the wire.

It is a good idea to clean your pots after every growing season – especially clay ones – in warm water and bleach.

Next time I would like to tell you about some new and unusual containers.

“til then -

Barb