Growing up in Zimbabwe we always had a garden at home and my grandparents have farms, so we always had ample space to grow food.Here in Bermuda, that is a luxury I do not have. I have had to learn to grow food in containers, this has been especially helpful because I grow things like pumpkin leaves and mustard greens that I can always find at the grocery shop.
Here are some tips on how to start container gardening:
Containers
Anything can be used for container gardening from sacks, pots and big dishes. I used a broken laundry basket and it worked just fine. Just make sure your containers have holes in them so the water can drain away. Remember bigger is better.
Watering
You will have to water your plants so plan how you will do it. In the summer here I have to water every single day otherwise the plants dry up. In the winter, if you get frost you may also sprinkle some water but this is something we do in Zimbabwe where the winters are not as bad as in the northern hemisphere.
Herbs
If you are complete novice to gardening, start with herb transplants. You can even grow them on a window sill where they get sunlight. Make sure to water them often so they will not dry out often. Herbs to try are basil, oregano, chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary and many more.
Sunlight
The advantage of container gardening is that you can move your plants to get sunlight if they are not getting enough.So move your pots to follow the sun
Plants to try
- Greens like kale, mustard greens, lettuce and spinach
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Scallions
- Pumpkin and Butternut Squash
- Small trees like lemon, orange, pear
- Cucumber
Feed your plants
You will need to feed your plants because the soil does not have much nutrition. If you access to a compost use it or you can get fertilisers at the shop. I prefer the organic fertilisers.
Enjoy Gardening
Gardening like everything else in life is unpredictable. It may work and sometimes it will not. Plants sometimes die no matter what you do. It is a lot of work but it is worth it. Above all enjoy gardening and find what works for you!