Growing plants in containers provides gardening opportunities almost anywhere: on the patio, deck, porch, balconies, windowsills, or even inside under lights. Combining light-weight media, containers and some of the many cultivars of dwarf or bush vegetables and flowers allows those with limited space to grow productive and attractive gardens.
Container gardening has many advantages. A balcony or deck is always more inviting with a few plants on it. If you garden with containers, you can take your garden along if you move. Plants in containers can be arranged in different ways to take advantage of colors, textures, and times of bloom.
Nebraska’s weather can make container gardening challenging. Extreme summer heat, coupled with high winds, can quickly dry the relatively small root zone area of container plants. This drawback can be minimized by careful selection of plants, media, sit selection and water methods.
Containers are available in a variety of sizes and styles, from recycled buckets or tubs, laundry baskets lined with plastic, traditional clay or plastic pots, whiskey barrels, hanging baskets, tires, or traditional wooden planters. Plastic containers are lightweight and easily moved, and many window boxes are now available with trays.
Wooden containers can be custom-made, but choose materials carefully. Avoid using wood treated with creosote or penta (Pentachlorophenol), as their vapors can injure some plants. Pressure treated CCA (chromated copper arsenate) wood can also be used for containers. Proper treatment procedures developed and monitored by the American Wood Preservers Bureau should allow this material to be used without any fear of leaching of chemicals. Research has shown that very little, if any, chemical movement occurs after treatment. Look for “Foundation” grade wood which is required to be redried after treatment with the waterborne wood preservative.
If you have reservations about using CCA treated wood, consider using cedar or redwood for plant containers or other structures in the garden. Redwood and cedar are more expensive but resist rotting and do not require staining or painting.
The size of the container you use should depend on the eventual size of the plants it will contain. Larger plants, such as tomatoes, squash, or peppers, need 3 to 5 gallon containers. Smaller flowers and herbs, or vegetables such as lettuce, require pots or containers that hold ˝ to 1 gallon soil. Remember, the size of the container affects the eventual size of the plant and how often you must water and fertilize. Whatever container you use, be sure it has holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out.
