Garden Planters

Garden Planters aren't just for flowers and herbs (though they work great for both). Vegetables can also grow extremely well in these confined spaces, so long as a few simple steps are followed. Depending on the planter size, most anything can be planted, especially is care is taken to choose more dwarf or bush varieties, which take up even less space than full-size plants.

Where
When deciding where to plant, take into consideration the space needs of different plants and their roots, along with what amount of sunlight certain plants require. For example, tomatoes, cucumbers and green onions have about equal watering requirements and sunlight exposure. Also, some plants, like tomatoes, will continue growing after other vegetables have ceased to yield their harvest for the season.

What
Choosing which garden planters to use is a matter of personal taste. Many people opt for the classic wooden garden planters because they are natural looking and attractive, hold up well outdoors, and are relatively easy to build by hand. Some other materials found in garden planters include metal, fiberglass and stone, each of which has its various advantages and disadvantages. When considering planters, one must also note that some planters are free-standing, whereas others are mounted or attach to window sills. If you have limited space or reside in an urban setting, you prefer the latter type.

Regardless of which material or model you choose, there are some basic things to take into consideration. All garden planters should come equipped with some sort of drainage system, which is usually as simple as holes on the bottom out of which water can exit. Excess water, especially in the case of strong rains, can easily kill a plant, especially those varieties prone to drier environments. If your planter does not have drainage, it is usually pretty easy to drill a few holes into the bottom of your vegetable garden planter. Another concern for planters is color. Not simply an aesthetic consideration, darker colored containers are apt to absorb more sunlight than light containers, the result of which is more heat. Too high of a temperature can damage a plant's roots. If you already have decided on a dark container, consider keeping it in the shade and planting vegetables there that also do not require direct sunlight.

Care
Aside from picking and arranging the planters themselves, soil and water are the other key elements. Using regular soil will work, especially when paired with a fertilizer of some sort, but pre-mixed synthetic soils, like peat-based mixtures, tend to work even better. Space permitted, starting your own compost pile can also add valuable nutrients to the soil. Finally, watering is obviously of the utmost importance, but too much watering can have the opposite effect. Vegetables in garden planters require more frequent watering than ground planted vegetables, especially once the plants have begun to mature and the roots expand. Check the moisture content of the soil using your fingers to really get an idea of how plants are doing. Also remember to adjust your watering schedule in light of temperature and weather changes.

Plants
Some of the best vegetables for garden planters include the following:

Tomatoes (Small Fry, Saladette, Toy Boy, Spring Giant, Pixie, Tiny Tim)
Radishes (Scarlet Globe, White Icicle, Cherry Belle)
Cucumbers (Spacemaster, Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Pickle)
Green Beans (Kentucky Wonder, French Dwarf, Blue Lake)
Green Onions (Beltsville Bunching, Evergreen Bunching, Crystal Wax)
Eggplant (Bambino, Slim Jim)
Leaf Lettuce (Bibb, Salad Bowl, Buttercrunch)
Peppers (Banana, Red Cherry, Jalapeno, Chipotle, Habanero, Cubanelle, Frigitello)
Squash (Gold Rush, Ronde de Nice)

Tonya Kerniva is an experienced research and freelance writing professional. She writes actively about Garden Planters and Vegetable Garden Planters.
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