5 Steps to Starting Your Own Organic Container Garden of Herbs and Vegetables
You don't need a green thumb to grow your own veggies and herbs at home.
Who said you need a green thumb to have a garden at home? With a bit of know-how, anyone can grow plants, herbs, or even vegetables in their own space. Below, learn how you can make an organic container garden in your home.
1. Make DIY container gardening soil.
Creating a soil mix for your organic container garden is not as difficult as it may sound. All you need to do is mix compost with sand or other aggregates like pebbles, crushed stones or gravel, sawdust, rice husk, dirt, etc. (Click here for a step-by-step procedure to make compost.)
The ratio of compost to aggregates will depend on the plant you want to grow. For instance, if you want to grow vegetables, mix one part compost with two parts dirt, sawdust, or rice husk.
2. Find the right containers.
The two basic requirements to consider when looking for containers are the size and drainage holes. It is generally easier to grow plants in large containers since these hold more soil and stay moist for longer. Make sure that your containers also have lots of drainage holes so that excess water can escape and prevent your plant from getting waterlogged.
Clay containers are a popular choice since they are budget-friendly and allow for proper air ventilation. Note that light-colored containers might be a better choice because dark containers can absorb too much heat, which can damage a plant’s roots.
3. Choose which plants to include in your garden.
It’s necessary to research about what kinds of plants you want to include in your container garden because different plants have different needs. Consider whether you want to grow vegetables, herbs, air-purifying plants, etc.
Examples of veggies that are easy to grow are onions (need loose, well-drained, nitrogen-rich soil), tomatoes (grow quickly), and potatoes (need damp, moist soil). If you want to grow plants, you can try aloe (thrives in room temperature, needs lots of sunlight) or snake plant (low-maintenance, needs somewhat dry soil).
4. Prepare your soil.
Before you start your container garden, check the quality of your soil. Put some in a container then give it a generous amount of water. Observe how quickly excess water leaks out of the drainage holes and leave it in the spot where your container garden will be. After a few days, check the soil again. You want soil that is dark, moist and crumbling.
5. Take care of your container garden.
Whatever type of plant you decide to grow, remember that organic container gardens need to be taken care of. Make sure your garden gets at least eight hours of sun a day and is watered regularly (container gardens tend to dry out quickly, so water at least twice a day).
Fertilization is important so that your soil becomes rich with nutrients. If your plants get leggy or have wilted leaves, trim them accordingly. Lastly, protect your plants from pests and signs of disease or damage.
Did you know there are some houseplant varieties that can help improve your sleep? Click here to learn more!
This story originally appeared on Smartparenting.com.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Realliving.com.ph editors.
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