Canister gardening often known as the container gardening is in practice with densely populated countries. Gardening is a relevant stress buster, if you haven’t known already it’s time you pack up the sack of mud and play around with the seeds to see the magic. Research shows that people who tend to have a garden at home or are into gardening are less likely to fall short of happiness.
It offers the benefits of growing healthy veggies, fruits and more to the atmosphere around your house, apartment and farmhouse. There are many pros to gardening if it is carried out well such as exposure to vitamin D, fresh air and a good workout.
Sense of independence!
Best of all – a garden gives us healthy fruits and vegetables to feed our families. This can increase our sense of independence. Every time we bite into a sweet tomato or a fresh green bean, we can say happily, “I grew this!”.
The benefit of growing container gardens is that it serves all the above purpose with less space. You can grow them anywhere like your balcony, terrace, rooftop, corridors or indoors too (exceptions that need sunlight). They can be done easily and is least expensive.
Selecting the saplings!
In your containers, you can control the soil and the amount of water, but not the sunlight. So, choose them and place the plants that can grow in the light conditions you have.
Many online sites or gardening experts say that most vegetables need at least six hours of sunlight every day or full sun. However, some plants can grow in partial shade. Meaning, direct sunlight for about three to six hours.
But the thumb rule here is, if you eat the fruit or root of the plant, it needs full sun. This includes tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes or carrots.
There are plants that can grow in the partial sun without any scarcity of nutrition or damage to the plant. This includes broccoli, cauliflower, beans, beets, kale and salad greens. Some herbs, such as mint, cilantro and thyme, grow well in partial sun.
The canister depth!
When growing in containers, the soil depth is important. For example, potatoes and carrots need a deeper container than other vegetables. Plants that do well in containers do not have very deep roots. However, you will have to research which plants grow well in your area of the world.
| Dirt Depth | Plant |
| 10-12 cm (4-5 in) | chives, radishes, lettuce and other salad greens, basil, coriander |
| 15-18 cm (6-7 in) | bush beans, garlic, onions, Asian greens, peas, mint, thyme |
| 20.5-23 cm (8-9 in) | pole beans, carrots, chard, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, leeks, peppers, spinach, parsley, rosemary |
| 25.5-39.5 cm (10-12 in) | beets, broccoli, okra, potatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, dill, lemongrass |
Grouping:
With container gardening, you can grow different plants in the same pot. This saves room. And some plants may grow better when paired with another plant.
However, not all plants grow well together. Some compete for the same nutrients. Also, do not grow plants in the same pot if they have very different water and soil needs.
These plants grow well together:
Beans, carrots and squash
Eggplant and beans
Tomatoes, basil and onions
Lettuce and herbs or
Spinach, chard and onions
That which do not grow well together:
Carrots with dill or fennel
Tomatoes or squash with potatoes
Onions or garlic with beans and peas
