If you haven’t started your summer garden yet, it’s not too late! Despite not having a backyard (just a really large back deck) I was determined to grow a few veggies for the summer and here’s how you can too!
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You can always pick up starter plants so you don’t have to start from seed, but if you live in an area that has a fairly long summer, there’s no reason you can’t start a few veggies from seed if you do it now.
I started out with one 66 quart plastic container. You can find these at Target, Fred Meyers, or Home Depot for a few dollars.
I drilled holes into the bottom and then filled the bottom two inches of the tub with large rock and gravel. This keeps the dirt from compacting into the drain holes you created.
Fill the tub ¾ of the way full with potting soil. Plant seeds or starter plants at the recommended depth and spacing. Water accordingly and watch your plants grow!
The nice thing about container gardening like this is that you can use the lid that came with the tub to cover your plants during bouts of extreme weather to protect them.
In one tub I started a row of beets, squash, and zucchini but needed to thin them out, so I started a second tub. In planter boxes I have red onion, jalapeno, brussels sprouts, and a cherry tomato plant that is growing a foot each day and might need transferred to something bigger. In various planters and containers I’m also growing Italian parsley, cilantro, mint, basil, snap peas, garlic, and roma tomatoes. Oh.. and a poppy plant for something pretty! 😉
If you don’t want to spend money on large containers or planters, you can also use recycled containers for smaller herbs or vegetables. For example, I used an ice cream tub for snap peas, large yogurt and cottage cheese containers to grow garlic, and another small container to start a tomato plant that I’ll be transferring to a hanging planter soon. If dealing with limited porch space you can try planter boxes that fit over railings, hanging planters, or window-box planters.
My recycled food container planters may not make the cover of Better Homes and Gardens, but it’s about function, not looking pretty. I’m not only able to reuse the container, but also grow my own food right at home.
Tips, comments, or questions? Leave them below! 🙂
Allison says
Don’t you make the cutest gardener! I’ve always wanted a vegetable garden and I have the room (a full acre) but creatures get my plants or it’s too far out to water them. Whoever is at blame (critters or laziness) I think I could keep up with a container garden! Loving it 🙂
Karen says
Really nice to see all the plants growing! What do you do to protect your deck from water staining? I guess the lid could be used for that. Not that you over water. I really want my own growing basil so I need to get after this project!
Sasha says
I try to move them around frequently so I haven’t noticed any watermarks yet. I’m not sure if our deck was treated when we moved in or not.
Brian Dungan says
another container idea is to use the small grills (yes a actual grill ) I see them all the time for like $15, even in grocery stores for the table top model ( about 14 inches around) , the one with real short legs about a foot or foot and a half tall . cute idea that makes a great conversation peice
Sasha says
That’s an awesome idea! It’s like the manly way to have a garden! haha I love it!
Sam Frank says
Love love love this! Very creative, and very Eco-friendly!! I can’t wait to see what you cook up once your plants start giving you fresh veggies! ^_^
Sasha says
They all might come out as mini versions of vegetables since the size of the container will limit how big they can get. I’ll definitely make good use of anything we can get out of it though!
Sam Frank says
Haha, aww, mini-veggies! They’d make for a good stir-fry, I bet!
C says
In the cheese containers did you put rocks as well? I am doing the same thing but with ice cream containers and no drainage (only holes). I am having a hard time with my plants.
Sasha says
In the small ones I did not, but I think next year I’ll use small loose gravel. The problem is that the soil packs into the holes you create making it much more difficult for the water to drain. Try repotting into a container with some rocks at the bottom and see how they do! I hope this helps and happy gardening! 🙂