It’s time to get ready for spring!

Spring is around the corner and that means it’s time to start thinking about planting your summer garden. But if you’ve been feeling intimidated by the idea of growing vegetables in containers for the first time, here are some tips for getting your spring garden planters started.

Plant your first vegetable container garden ~ know your zone

You’re ready to plant your first container garden! As a beginner, it may seem like there are a million different options for plants that grow well in your climate. But don’t worry—we’re here to help you choose the right ones.

A great place to start is to identify which Plant Hardiness Zone you live in. Use this USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Finder—just enter your city in the Search field and use the color chart on the right to find your zone. It is critical to know your zone so your select plants that have the best chance of survival in your planters, flower pots and  garden.

Growing vegetables and herbs in containers

Planting in containers is a great way to grow food in limited space. Container gardening is especially popular around homes with patios or balconies because it allows homeowners to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings while growing fresh fruits and vegetables at home. Tomatoes and beans are favorites for container gardening

To get started with vegetable container gardening:

• Choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight but isn’t too hot during summer months.
• Use large pots or planters that hold at least 1/2 gallon (1 litre). This will ensure adequate drainage so roots stay healthy all year long! You can also use smaller containers if need be—just make sure they have enough room for at least one inch between the plants if you plant multiple seeds.

Hanging baskets for vertical interest

If you’re new to container gardening, a hanging basket is a good choice. They’re easy to move around and can be hung in places that get direct sunlight or a little shade as required. You can start your container garden in one of these baskets and add more plants as they grow—plus, the shape makes it easy for you to grow large pots of herbs like basil, parsley or cilantro!

You’ll also find that some plants need more light than others. If you want to grow tomatoes out at their tops (where the leaves will be exposed), choose varieties like Roma tomatoes that require lots of sun exposure.

Elevated planters are ideal for growing vegetables

This attractive planter is the perfect height for easy growing, eliminating the need to stoop, bend, kneel and reach. It’s a generous 10″ deep so you can grow big plants like tomatoes and root crops like carrots. With 8 square feet of growing space, there’s plenty of room for multiple crops, yielding a generous harvest.

Add a trellis or cork bark to your vegetable planters

A trellis is a structure that supports climbing plants. A good option is to use cork bark, which you can buy in 4-foot sections at many home improvement stores. Cork bark comes in many colors and shapes and is available in the same lengths as wire mesh (about 3 feet).

• For best results, attach your new trellis to one side of your hanging planter with small screws or nails so it doesn’t interfere with water drainage from inside the container. You can also add additional support by adding stakes at intervals along the length of your planter if necessary—do make sure they don’t block any ventilation openings!

Make your own DIY planter for herbs or vegetables

While hanging planters are a great way to add height and interest to your garden, you can also use them as mini-greenhouses, or grow herbs, flowers and vegetables in them.

• Choose a large, shallow container for this project. The plants will be growing vertically and you don’t want it to look like a tower!
• Use cork bark as an accent—it adds interest while keeping water off the soil surface below.
• If you’re using vertical supports like trellises or poles, make sure they’re strong enough not only for holding up the weight but also helping support other parts of your garden too!

Plan well and start early!

Spring is a great time to start container gardening, but it’s important to plan ahead. Planting early in seed starter flats indoors and transferring to your planters when the wether permits will give you a head start on the season and get you in the mood for spring and gardening.

So what do I need? Well, first things first—a few basic supplies:

• A bag or two of potting soil—choose a potting soil for vegetables
• Seed starter kit
• One or two seed packets per plant type

Start planning for spring container gardening today! You have plenty of time to get it done by the end of the growing season. With the right planters, plants and supplies, you’ll be harvesting your home-grown vegetables in no time.