Kitchen Garden in Pots

There are a variety of reasons why people are enthusiastic about gardening to discover if one truly enjoys gardening, growing plants, first step is to try something simple like a little kitchen garden in pots.

Start Simple with Pots

Ideally, to start a garden a list of things have been considered, this includes the location, the soil quality  and other basic for maintenance, and most especially what to plant and its layout or placement.  In choosing a site, it is important to consider the sun’s path, the soil quality, direction of prevailing winds, the availability of water source, the local climate and such conditions.

With a simple garden in containers the long list of requirements is ease down to the basics like local conditions. Using pots provide freedom of movement in which one could easily manage the plant placement concerning sun exposure, as most plants needs 6 hours of sun while some grow in shade.  The soil quality could to tweak according to the plant preference. Gardening with pots it is easy to create a microclimate. Protection from prevailing wind would be as easy as just reposition pots from outdoors to indoors. On the quantity, one could start with just one then gradually increase.

Here are some things to consider when gardening with pots:

Types of Pots

Wooden pots keep the soil moist and cool. As terracotta and clay pots are the most beautiful and more natural but are fragile, heavy and expensive. It support good drainage and help in air circulation. On the other hand, plastic pots are light but get hot quickly.

Sizes 

Large pots don’t dry quickly and deep provide optimum growing space. A large pot can hold more plants, less need for additional pots, hence less clutter. Smaller pots are easy to move around and could serve as an ornamental.

Shapes 

Wide-rectangular containers are more ideal in growing lettuce and other salad greens. While, deep pots are perfect for plants like tomatoes and peppers.

Drainage

Ensure pots have proper drainage to save plants from disease like root rot and fungus. Avoid overwatering, water only when the soil is dry.

Grow Edibles: Kitchen Garden

A great garden starter is growing edibles or a kitchen garden since we consume food everyday and it would remind that one has a growing food source that needs some tending. It would prevent neglect and foster a nurturing habit without so much coercion.

A kitchen garden, or potager in French and kailyaird in Scottish, is not only a vegetable plot but a combination of vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible and non-edible flowers in a structured design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

As a beginner, choose edible plants that are easy to grow like herbs, as most are hardy and tolerant. Also consider one’s taste and/or most commonly used herbs and vegetables so nothing will go waste. Another item to consider is what grows best in one’s area or native plants. Choosing unsuitable plants create more work and often dead plants.     

Companion Planting

Consider planting tomato, basil and marigold together, it is an example of companion planting. It helps to keep plants healthy, as marigold repels insects and nematodes that are attracted to tomatoes. The symbiotic relationship is not only limited to repelling pests but also enhances taste, like chives improve the fiery flavors of pepper. Moreover, it is quite attractive compare to the monotonous one-crop planting.

A kitchen garden would always provide fresh and safe source of herbs and vegetables, fruits and flowers.  Citing Lisa Hubbard (2010), gardening is one-third science, one-third art and one-third Peace Corps. It is not just pure brawn but also understanding the basic, as this article hope to impart and build confidence to dive deeper in the wonderful world of growing plants.  

The next gardening article would be about herb garden as a continuance to kitchen garden. If you have comments, questions, reactions, suggestions and correction please feel free to post down below. And do not forget to follow. Thank you.

As always enjoy growing and nurturing green things!

References

1. Kinkead, E.B., Sehbai, D.S. & Tunney. C.J, (Eds.). (1972) Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia.(Vols 9).  Austialia: McGraw-Hill far Eastern Publishers.

2. Bartley, J. (n.d.). Who says a kitchen garden can’t be beautiful? [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.finegardening.com/who-says-kitchen-garden-cant-be-beautiful

3. Brenner, D. (2010, June 29). Connecticut Kitchen Garden. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-tours/g840/connecticut-kitchen-garden-0809/?