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Tips for Growing Vegetables in Containers
Containers
- Must have drainage holes in the bottom
- Should be opaque, not see-through
- 1-5 gallons
- Get creative and recycle: buckets, plastic tubs, cement blocks
- See chart below for sizes
Soil
- Lightweight soil which holds moisture but drains well
- Free of weeds and disease
- Purchased potting soil - peat, vermiculite, limestone, nutrients
Sun
- Most plants need at least 4-6 hours of direct sun each day
- Lettuce prefers some shade
Watering
- Need watering more often than plants in the ground- sometimes daily
- Water in the early morning or at dusk for best absorption
Fertilizer
- Plants in containers need fertilizer every few weeks
- A 5-5-5 blend works well
| Crop | Days for germination | Size of container |
Light required | Staking required | Days seeding to harvest |
| Beans | 5-8 | Medium | Sun | Yes | 45-65 |
| Cucumbers | 5-8 | Large | Sun | Yes | 50-70 |
| Eggplant | 8-12 | Large | Sun | No | 90-120 |
| Lettuce | 6-8 | Medium | Partial shade | No | 45-60 |
| Onions | 6-8 | Small | Partial shade | No | 80-100 |
| Parsley | 10-12 | Small | Partial shade | No | 70-90 |
| Pepper | 10-14 | Large | Sun | No | 90-120 |
| Radish | 4-6 | Small | Partial shade | No | 20-60 |
| Squash | 5-7 | Large | Sun | Yes | 50-70 |
| Tomato | 7-10 | Large | Sun | Yes | 90-130 |
Chart modified from: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html
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