Maximize Container Garden Space With Plant Stands
By Assianir - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37435503
Container gardening has become a popular method for growing fresh food because it can be done anywhere you live, indoor or outdoors. Growing plants in containers does place limitations on the amount of food that can be grown, but a plant stand can remove those limitations. A plant bench can greatly increase the amount of fresh produce grown in containers by allowing you to grow plants in vertical tiers with minimal horizontal space usage. Invest in some simple shelving that’s affordable, attractive and portable, then use these container gardening tips for a bountiful harvest.
Container Choices
Any container that can hold potting soil can be used to grow plants as long as it’s deep enough to accommodate plant roots and has drainage holes in the bottom.
Shallow containers allow soil to dry out too quickly and will keep plants under stress, so avoid them and opt for containers that are at least 10 inches deep and equally as wide.
Recycle Newspaper
Place a folded piece of newspaper in the bottom of each empty container to cover drainage holes and prevent potting soil from leaching out when plants are watered. Poke small holes in the newspaper near the bottom drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out.
Use Some Charcoal
Place a few pieces of activated charcoal to the bottom of each container before adding potting soil. Charcoal absorbs excess water, making it almost impossible to over-water plants. The charcoal absorbs excess water and slowly releases it back into the soil so the plant will receive a constant supply of moisture without becoming water-logged.
Go Dwarf
Select dwarf plant varieties to grow in a container garden. Dwarf plants produce full-size vegetables and fruit on smaller plants that are better suited to life inside a container. All of your favorite vegetables, fruits and flowers come in dwarf plant varieties.
By Dinesh Valke from Thane, India - African Marigold, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51606164
Plants Need Companions
Companion planting provides two benefits; more food can be grown in the same space, plus companion plants directly help each other in some way, like providing organic pest control or flavor enhancement.
A good example of companion planting for a container would be a tomato plant, oregano, basil and a dwarf marigold. All the plants have the same soil, sun and water needs. The oregano and basil will enhance the tomato flavor and the dwarf marigold looks pretty while working to keep pests off of the tomato plant.
Portable Plant Stand
An easy to assemble and take down shelving unit will make container gardening more fruitful. You can grow double, even triple, the amount of food when using an affordable, attractive plant stand like the ones seen here. Perfect for renters who may have to move to a new location during the growing season.
