46-Organic Container Gardening
You would either have to not eat vegetables or live under a rock to have not heard about the latest produce growing craze. Of course, this is a reference to organic gardening. With more and more reports and studies being released on the dangers of pesticides and fertilizers many people are making the switch to buying or growing organic vegetables. The idea of trying to grow produce purely organic can seem a little daunting. The perfect place to start is with organic container gardening. The smaller size is perfect for trying your hand at this healthy way to provide vegetables for your family.
The first step is to choose your container. It is surprising the amount of produce that can be grown in such a small container. You can choose just about any container you want. Galvanized steel pots and ceramic are popular. However, die hard organic advocates will suggest choosing wood or another completely natural material for your organic container gardening experience.
Deciding on what soil to use is important in the health of your crop and staying in the organic tradition. Aged compost mixed with sand or perlite is an excellent choice and helps to promote proper drainage. You could even buy a pre made potting mix. Just be sure that it doesn’t contain fertilizer. That is a no go in the organic container gardening world.
Just about any plant is fair game to add to your organic container gardening experiment. Some people like to go with a theme in their containers. For example a pot that contained only edible flowers would be fun. Or perhaps a container named “Pizza Night.” You could grow oregano, basil, and tomatoes in that one. Some plants you may want to consider that have proven to do very well in containers are numerous. In the lettuce category, Merlot is a red variety and Deer Tongue is beautiful and healthy with its fancy shaped leaves. Peppers of all varieties do well in this environment. For beauty as well as food, consider the many types of edible flowers. They could even be planted in a hanging basket or in a quaint window box. The possibilities are endless.
As more people are exposed to the idea of eating healthier, chemical free produce, this type of gardening is rapidly gaining in popularity. Learning what works well for you and your family is the first step to a tasty future. Organic container gardening is easy to do, inexpensive to begin, and a reward all on its own. Imagine your satisfaction when you cook your first meal with organic vegetables brought to the table with your own hands.