How to start container gardening for beginners: a complete guide
Gardening, as you know, is not just a hobby; it gives you happiness and keeps you connected to nature. Gardening creates a positive and lively environment around us. Gardening is effortless to do; anyone can do it. Follow the steps below to learn how to start container gardening as a beginner.
Start with something easy and simple
New gardeners often get excited and plant too many things at once, and when they don’t get the desired growth, they become frustrated and give up gardening. Begin your container gardening journey with easy-to-grow herbs, vegetables, and plants. For example, basil, peas, radishes, and tomatoes are easy to grow in pots. Once you have some knowledge, you can expand your gardening. Gardening is a skill that is perfected with more practice.
Choose the best container gardening Spot
For container gardening, choose a location that has proper sunlight exposure, is easily accessible, and is also near a watering source.
To get direct sunlight throughout the day, it is best to have a south-facing garden in the Northern Hemisphere. Since most annual and perennial vegetables require full sunlight, i.e., at least 6-8 hours a day, such as tomatoes, capsicum, etc. If a south-facing garden spot is not available, an east-facing garden is a good option for sun-loving plants. Best for leafy greens, lettuces, and shade-tolerant flowers. A west-facing garden receives direct and bright sunlight in the afternoon and evening. This is good for heat-loving plants such as hibiscus, salvia, and sunflowers. But too much direct sunlight can cause them to dry out quickly.
Therefore, a shade or greenhouse can be used to protect plants from the harsh sunlight. A north-facing garden receives the least sunlight and is best for shade-loving plants. Only suitable for shade-loving plants (ferns, hostas, etc.)So you have to plant accordingly.
Gathering the Basics
Container gardening tools
Having the right tools saves time, protects the body from stress, and helps the plant thrive. Some essential tools for beginners are: a hand hoe, a shovel, a rake, a fork, a watering can, gloves, pruning shears, and a hoe.
Garden soil
Just as humans need nutrient-rich food to stay healthy, plants also need nutrient-rich soil to remain healthy and alive, which they get from good organic soil. Clay soil holds more moisture and becomes hard when dry. Due to this, proper air circulation does not take place in the roots of the plants, and there is a risk of root rot. If the soil is loose or sandy, more air pockets will form, which reduces water-holding capacity, causing water to drain out quickly.
Therefore, for the growth of plants, well-draining soil is needed, in which water flows out at a moderate rate, neither too quickly nor too slowly.
Organic Fertilizers for Container Gardening
We all know that fertilizers contain major and minor nutrients, which are essential for plants’ growth. The major nutrients required for a plant’s growth are NPK.
Nitrogen (N) is essential for the growth of foliage, which is the leaves of the plants
Phosphorus (P), which is essential for strong roots, flowering, and fruiting
Potassium (K) is essential for regulating important processes and plant growth.
Minor nutrients are also necessary for good growth of plants, such as Iron, Boron, chlorine, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, sulfur, and many more.
Above, we have learned how fertilizers are important to plants’ growth, but we also know that chemical fertilizers can be harmful and hazardous to health and the environment. That is why we can use organic fertilizers such as cow dung manure, vermicompost, coco peat, peat moss, Blood meal, Fish meal, Bone Meal, neem cake, and kitchen waste to fulfill the nutrient requirements of plants.
Clear the Ground
Removing weeds, old roots, stones, and debris is important to improve the quality of the soil. If the weeds are stubborn, you can easily remove them by sprinkling water on them.
Set up for container gardening
Fill the container
For container gardening, partially fill the pot with potting mix, place the roots in the center of the pot, cover the gap, and leave room to water the plant.
Things to remember before reporting…
Repotting the plants
Before reporting a plant, two points should be kept in mind: first, from where it was purchased, and second, when it was purchased. If it has been purchased from a nursery or a nearby shop, reporting should not be done immediately. It should be given time to acclimatize to the new environment, climate, and humidity. Reporting should be done at least a week after purchase.
If the plant is purchased online, it should be transplanted into another pot immediately, as the soil may become dehydrated due to prolonged transportation. Water the plants a day before repotting them. This will keep the soil moist and make repotting easier.
Remove the root ball
To repot a plant, don’t force it out of its previous pot or container; tap it gently on a hard surface to help it come out easily.
Inspect the root balls
Inspect the roots thoroughly for insects, pests, or root disease, or for any tangled roots that may need to be cut.
Choose the right container
To repot a plant, the pot should neither be too big nor too small. For example, if the pot is 6 inches, instead of planting it in a 14-inch or larger pot, plant it one or two steps higher (8 and 10 inches). The pot should have holes for water drainage. If the pot does not have holes for water drainage, water will stagnate in the pot, proper air circulation can not reach the roots of the plants, and there is a risk of root rot.
Right Potting Mix for Container Gardening
Just like we need additional nutrients apart from simple food, similarly, plants also cannot grow only in garden soil. They also need NPK elements and other micronutrients, which they cannot get from garden soil alone.
The right potting mix for most vegetables, flowers, and herbs
Well-draining garden soil 30%
Add Coco peat or peat moss 30%
Add compost (cow dung manure + wormy compost +kitchen compost) 30%
Add neem cake (fertilizer +Natural Fungicides) 1 pot= 1 handful
Add Bone meal (natural source of Phosphorous, it should be steamed) or Rock Phosphate for Vegan 1 handful
Add Mustered Cake (Rich Source of Nitrogen) 1handful
Terrace Gardening /seed Starting potting mix
Coco Peat / Peat moss 50%
Compost (wormy compost+ Decomposed cow dung manure + Kitchen compost) 30%
Perlite / Vermiculite 20%
Optional: – 5% add-on Bone meal, Neem oil, and Trichoderma or Pseudomonas powder
Remove the Air pockets: –
After filling the pot with the correct potting mix, level the soil to remove air pockets and gently tap the pot on a hard surface.
Water thoroughly: –
After repotting the plants, water thoroughly to remove any remaining air pockets. To avoid repotting and transplant shock, you can water your plants with an Epsom salts solution. The dosage is 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt per liter of water, weekly for a month. Finally, keep the plant in indirect sunlight or under shade for at least a week before shifting to full sunlight.
Planting of Seedlings
If the seeds are planted too deeply, they are not able to germinate. Therefore, the seeds should be sown only to a depth of twice or thrice the seed size. If the seeds are tiny, then sprinkle them directly and cover them with topsoil.
It is better to sow seeds too shallow than too deep, and also avoid putting heavy pressure on the tops of the seeds after planting them. You can also follow the instructions on the seed packet for seed planting. If the seeds are planted too deeply or too close together, then seed germination will not occur properly.
It is essential to plant according to the climate of the Zone where you live. Too high or too low temperatures can cause problems in seed germination. For this, follow the planting calendar for the Zone where you live, as it will help you plant according to the climate.
Egg trays can be used as seed germination trays. Use cardboard trays; if you are using plastic egg storage containers, you will need to make some drainage holes. You can also use eggshells to plant seeds and then transplant them directly into the soil.
As soon as the first leaf appears on the seedling, expose it to sunlight. Use the hardening process, i.e., expose the seed to sunlight regularly, for 1 hour on the first day, 2 hours on the second day, 3 hours on the third day, and so on.
Transplanting of seedlings
When transplanting new plants, beginners often have a habit of holding the young plants by their tender stems, which can damage the tubes that carry water and food, i.e., xylem and phloem. So, never hold young tender plants by their stems. Always keep new tender plants by the leaf and dig them with the help of a fork or spoon.
To transplant new growing seedlings into pots or raised beds, dig a hole at the same level they were growing before, sow the plant in it, cover it with soil, and then water gently.
Watering tips for seed planting
After sowing the seeds, gently sprinkle water from a small watering can with a fine spout or use a spray bottle. If water is poured harshly, the small seedling will get washed away with the water. The trick for watering plants is to use the bottom tray method. Keep the bottom tray filled with water and avoid watering the plants from above. As the potting medium dries out, it will absorb water from the tray.
Mulch Your New Garden
Mulching keeps the soil moist by regulating soil temperature. A thick layer of mulch prevents direct sunlight from reaching the weed seeds, thereby reducing weed growth.
Mulching protects the roots of plants from pests and diseases and also prevents soil erosion during heavy rains.
Therefore, after planting, spread a 2-3 inches of straw, shredded leaves, or bark around the plants to keep the soil moist and weed-free.
Maintain Your Garden Regularly
Watering: –
As we know, watering is a more common plant killer than under-watering. Before watering the plant, check soil moisture using the finger dip method. Check 1-2 inches of soil using the finger dip method to determine if the soil is moist or not. If not, then water it. Or check soil moisture using a soil moisture meter and PH tool.
Weeding: –
Weeds steal nutrients and water from plants, so for good plant growth, keep weeding the garden regularly, so that the plants absorb proper nutrients and water.
Regular pruning: –
Pruning is essential for bushy growth and improves the flowering and fruiting. Another advantage of pruning is that it allows you to remove the damaged or infected branches and leaves.
Pest and Disease: –
regularly inspect for pests and diseases, especially under the leaves, such as Aphids, Mealybugs, whiteflies, Thrips, and Mites, which can damage plants and cause leaves to yellow.