Vegetable Gardening In a small space

Choosing Containers Large enough to support fully grown plants Adequate drainage Must never have held products that are toxic to plants or people

Drainage Be sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom or along the sides of the container Raise containers off the ground with slats or bricks to allow excess water to drain freely

Use small containers for … Lettuce Spinach Mustard Peppers Radishes Spring onions

Use medium containers for … Aubergines Carrots Beets Broccoli Beans Cherry tomatoes

Use large containers for … Cabbage Brussels sprouts Cucumbers Squash Tomatoes

Potting Medium Soil used in containers must be porous Ensures air and water movement around the roots Regular garden soil does not drain well in containers and should not be used

Mixing Your Own Potting Medium One part compost One part garden loam One part clean, coarse, builder's sand or perlite

Watering Soil should be checked for moisture at least once a day Plants should be watered if the soil is dry an inch below the surface. Excessive watering can be as fatal as too little

Sunlight Vegetables grown for their roots will tolerate partial shade So will leafy vegetables Vegetables bearing fruit require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day

Soil Ph Rhododendron, camellias, azaleas, blueberries, ferns, prefer soil with a pH of 4.0 to 5.0 Holly and rhododendron, grow well in soil with a 5.0 to 6.0 pH Soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 will grow pansy, asters, peaches, carrots, lettuce