Container Gardening

Container Gardening Module 1
Containers and Soils

The key to any container garden is the pot, box, or bowl you choose to hold your soil, along with the soil you will use.  Module 1 discusses the containers available, how to select a container, and how to prepare it for planting.  We then discuss the different types of soils, how to select the right soil for your plants, and how to test the soils pH.  We conclude by discussing proper nutrition for soils.  This module covers all the basics for setting up your container garden.

• Why People Container Garden
• Container Ideas
• Preparing Containers for Planting
• Potting Soil: It’s Not Just Dirt
• Mixing Your Own Soils
• Soil pH & Nutrition

Container Gardening Module 2
Planting and Watering

We start Module 2 with step-by-step instructions for planting different kinds of garden plants, from seeds and nursery plants to tubers, bulbs, bushes, and trees. Then we talk about keeping your container garden hydrated because containers can dry out quickly on hot or windy days. Next we discuss plant structure and how the different parts of the plant come together so it can make and store food, and transfer minerals and water from the roots to the rest of the plant.

• Step-By-Step Planting Instructions
• How to Water Your Plants
• Conserving Water
• Heat Stress
• Working with Vining Plants
• Extending the Growing Season

Container Gardening Module 3
Selecting Plants and Stopping Pests

If you are new to container gardening, you may be wondering just where you might find the plants to fill your garden. Module 3 helps you weigh all of your options, from purchasing and planting your own seeds to buying plants already started at your local nursery or garden center. We also cover how to recognize healthy plants so you don’t waste your money buying sickly plants that die once you bring them home. We conclude by discussing the pests and diseases you may encounter in your garden, and what to do about it.

• Buying Plants from the Local Nursery
• Starting Your Own Plants from Seed
• Buying Canes
• Buying Bushes and Trees
• Common Pests
• Common Diseases

Container Gardening Module 4
Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, & Flowers

Module 4 is dedicated to finding out just what you might like to grow in your containers. In truth, with enough yard space and the right climate, you can raise everything from sweet corn to sweet cherries in a container; you can even grow your own herbs, citrus fruits, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.  We conclude by discussing how to choose the right fruits and vegetables to fit your containers, as well as how to shelter your plants over the cold winter months.
Strawberries, Blueberries, & Raspberries

• Fruit Trees
• Overwintering Fruits
• Handling Pollination
• Growing Your Favorite Vegetables
• Herbs
• Flowers