With people becoming increasingly intent on living a healthy lifestyle, there is a growing trend of individuals starting their own vegetable garden. A container vegetable garden is one of the best choices for garden lovers who want to grow some fresh vegetables during the summer but may have little yard space or simply don’t need a large garden area to grow a few fresh vegetables during the summer. If you want to enjoy some fresh vegetables and don’t want to spend a lot of time doing it, one of the easiest ways is to grow a container vegetable garden. Container vegetable gardens are becoming more and more popular. It is a great way to know exactly where and how your vegetables are grown.

Here are 6 easy steps to get your garden started:

1. Collect containers. You need large enough containers to provide adequate soil to the roots of growing vegetables (a well cleaned 10 gallon paint bucket works great). Stay away from metal containers or dark coloured pots, they will attract too much heat and the roots of the vegetables will cook.
   
   Purchase enough potting soil to fill the container. It is more efficient to purchase potting soil rather than using dirt from the yard. Potting soil already has the correct PH adjusted for growing plants and allows for plants to breathe because it doesn’t compact down. Add in some slow release fertilizer into the soil too to help your plants continue to flourish and grow.

2. Decide on the plants you want to grow. The best potting vegetables include tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, lettuce, onions, green pole beans, broccoli and many more. Talk to your local garden store staff for their recommendations.
3. Make sure to provide adequate drainage. Be sure to make some holes in the bottom of your container to allow for drainage of the soil while your plants are growing. Without this, your plants will develop root rot and end up dying.
4. Pick the right location. Most vegetables require full sun for at least six hours a day. You will need to locate your vegetable container in a suitably warm, sunny position. But remember, you need a good mix. Too much sun and heat can also be bad. Consider colder spots, shady areas and cooler temperature too. Many vegetables do not like the cold, especially frost. Bring them indoors on cold nights or cover them with garden fleece.
5. Now it is time to plant. Fill your container with soil, almost up to the top. Leave approximately 2 to 3 inches from the rim. Dig out 1 to 3 holes into the soil in which to plant your chosen plants. After planting, fill with soil and tamp down around the roots to provide stability. Water the new garden well.

Be sure to check your plants every day to see if they need water. As they grow, they will require more and more hydration to thrive.

Vegetable container gardening can bring joy and bounty. The simple pleasure of biting into a tomato still warm from the sun, picked and eaten on the spot, is almost unbeatable. You can grow just about any vegetable in a container garden and you can also save some serious bucks by growing your own vegetable container gardens. Whatever your reason for growing a container garden, it will be an enjoyable, tasty experience.

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