There are many benefits of container gardening, especially when the weather is constantly changing.
This spring , at least here in Indiana, has been a challege – to say the least – for gardeners who want to plant in the ground.
One day, the weather is warm and very spring-like.
The next day there is snow on the ground and the temperatures are below freezing.
Honestly, I don’t ever remember seeing spring weather like this before and the best way to combat this is to grow plants in containers this year.
Changeable Weather Conditions Do Affect Plants
I believe climate change is happening and that makes it difficult to maintain our gardens the way we always have.
One of the difficulties of maintaining a lush garden is fickle weather.
Changing weather patterns also inhibits plants’ growth and development.
Any slight variation in the weather pattern brings about drastic effects to plants and often makes gardening unsustainable.
One way to get around tricky weather conditions is to grow your plants in containers.
Container gardening is a good solution that you can scale up or down to suit your need.
There are plenty of benefits to this form of spring gardening including harvesting some vegetables earlier than if they were planted in the ground.
Aside from its space-saving advantage, it can help you produce flowers, herbs or vegetables despite tricky weather conditions.
Read on to find out how container gardening can help you get around your gardening issues with changing weather patterns.
You Can Position Container Gardens to Beat Lousy Weather
You can grow an adequate amount of herbs, vegetables or flowers even if you are experiencing challenging weather conditions.
Whether it’s due to prolonged dry or wet season, container gardening allows you to position your plants in such a way that they don’t get exposed to extremely cold or scorching weather.
You can move and space taller plants in strategic spots to serve as windbreaks and to protect smaller and more fragile plants from high wind or heavy rain.
Aside from windbreaks, you may place more heat-tolerant plants in such a way that they provide shade to plants that don’t need full sun.
Containers can also heat up quickly during the day, so always place less heat-tolerant plants on the north side of your property and the heat-loving ones on the south side.
Container Gardening Helps You Save Water During Dry Seasons.
Water is fast becoming an expensive commodity.
Some places have restricted its use during seasons of drought, resulting in steep environmental penalties if you do not follow the protocols.
Container gardens are an effective way to save on water and still achieve your desired harvest.
You can group your pots in a way that maximizes your garden’s mist or drip irrigation system.
Container Gardeners Can Take Advantage of Microclimates
Some areas of your garden will naturally stay shaded throughout the day.
Whether you are gardening in an urban or a rural landscape, you can take advantage of these microclimates to grow plants in warm — or cool environments.
Keep a look out on trees shadows, walls, and roof shade as these can provide an area for growing less heat-tolerant plants.
On the other hand, watch out for areas that receive plenty of light, so you can still grow your plants during colder seasons.
These are the main things you gain from container gardening in this period of climate chaos.
While some would recommend that you buy huge containers to plant more in little spaces, try to invest in pots and bins that you can quickly move in case the weather decides to change its mind.
Finally, you can practice other farming techniques with container gardening such as growing intensively in a small space and even companion planting to prevent pests and plant diseases.
Top 5 Container Garden Kits
If you are looking for container garden kits, here are the top 5 that I recommend.
- The EMSCO Group Big City Picker Raised Bed Grow Box is a fantastic product thatís going to make growing your favorite veggies a breeze. It comes with a self-watering system, itís easy to transport, and it protects your crops against weeds. Designed for those with limited space available, it is one of the best compact growing kits you can invest in.
- Considering the Earthbox 1010011 Garden Kit is one of the most advanced growing kits on the market, it comes at a surprisingly low cost. All you need to do is add your veggie seeds, water and follow the simple instructions provided in the kit. It does practically everything for you from soil control to self-watering. Whats more, it promises to double the amount of produce you yield, and its practically maintenance free.
- If you’re looking for a fun gardening kit that your kids will love, this Root-Vue Farm Garden Laboratory is just what you need. It allows you to see the roots of the veggies through the glass, giving you a unique underground view. It’s suitable for children aged 4 and above, and comes complete with soil mix wafers, a growth chart, seeds, a guide and ID labels.
- Ok, so you can’t actually grow tacos, but you can grow tasty taco toppings! The Grow Your Own Tacos Container Garden grow kit makes the perfect present for foodies and the best thing about it is its environmentally friendly design. The kit includes a small fabric container, a water catching saucer, a seed sheet and potting soil with added nutrients. It’s said to produce up to $54 worth of produce, making it exceptional value for money.
- If you’re looking to grow microgreens, the Simply Good Box by Home Greens is definitely the best option. It’s one of the most simplistic containers on the list, yet it boasts some pretty cool features. You’ll receive four different types of microgreen non-GMO seeds including sunflowers, radishes, pea shoots and wheatgrass. Overall, if you’re looking to get into growing your own container veggies, the above are the top 5 kits youíll want to consider. All are designed to work well in small spaces, so regardless of where you live and what type of veggies you’re hoping to grow, there is a kit above to fit your preferences.
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