Advanced Master Gardener March 1997 You might take the Gardener out of the Garden, but you can't taken the Garden out of the Gardener. No matter what type of container you use, there are some unique advantages to this form of Gardening. A balcony, patio, windowsill or porch can be the setting for plants that provide vegetables and flowers for months. If plants need extra protection from frost, container plants are easy to move to a location offering protection. Growing flowering plants in containers allows you to display them at their peak and then remove them when flowers fade.
Containers can be clay pots, boxes, barrels, tubs, window boxes or custom made containers.
Remember to consider root development when determining size, as the container should be large enough to contain the plants when fully grown. The principal requirement is adequate drainage. You must have a least two good-sized drainage holes for every square foot of bottom. A layer of pebbles, gravel or other coarse material at the bottom of the pot will help drain excess moisture and prevent soil from washing out and stopping up the hole. Fill containers with a fast-draining porous soil mix.