You may choose to experiment with different containers or choose a variety of types and see which works best for your location. I prefer to use black plastic pots with ample drainage for my vegetable plants, and the smaller clay pots for my herbs. I find that the black color helps absorb heat from the sun and maintains the soil at warmer temperatures. Whether you choose to grow vegetables in plastic milk jugs or whisky barrel halves, be sure to select a container with a one-gallon minimum capacity, even when growing miniatures. Soil depth is also important for the formation of strong and healthy roots.
Drainage is another important factor when selecting containers.
This will help to reduce the amount of soil lost during watering. Heavy containers set on dollies or wheeled platforms make it easier to move the pots, should you wish to provide either sunlight or shade for a particular plant at certain times of the day. It's important to thoroughly clean containers that have housed other plants or were former food containers to prevent the spread of disease. To do so, scrub the inside of each container with a solution of warm soapy water, with an added tablespoon of bleach for each gallon of water. Clay pots in particular will often have white-colored deposits of mildew and minerals clinging to their interiors.