The Suitable Pot for Growing Vegetables
The suitable pot for growing vegetables is the right place for the roots to extend and their ability to sufficiently supply the foliage with water and nutrients. Therefore, it is essential that the pot is suitable. Having pots at home, whether for rooftop gardening or balconies, is necessary for the success of cultivation and obtaining production.
How to Choose the Right Pot
The suitable pot depends on the size of the plants to be grown. There is always a direct relationship between the foliage and the roots; therefore, plants with large foliage have large roots and thus need a large pot.
Vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and eggplants have deep roots, unlike some vegetables like radishes, turnips, and lettuce, which have small foliage.
Pot sizes range from 1 gallon to 20 gallons, which are suitable for growing vegetables. Small vegetables need small pots, and large vegetables need large pots. We will divide them by pot size into five sizes as follows:
- Very Small Pots: Very small pots not exceeding 5 liters. They are suitable for growing very small winter vegetables, including all leafy vegetables like parsley, dill, chard, spinach, and cabbage. They are suitable for this size, and if the pot is bigger, it is better.
- Small Pots: These pots do not exceed 10 liters of soil. They are suitable for all leafy plants, as mentioned before, such as lettuce, chard, and cabbage, as well as small root vegetables like carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, and onions.
- Medium Pots: Medium pots hold 25 liters of soil and can grow the previous plants and larger ones. They are suitable for growing peppers, small and limited growth tomatoes, cauliflower, garlic, and other summer plants.
- Large Pots: These pots have a capacity of 60 liters and can grow most winter and summer plants. They can grow all the previously mentioned plants in addition to potatoes, cucumbers, climbing tomatoes, broccoli, beans, and climbing beans.
- Very Large Pots: These are the largest pots for growing vegetables, with a size of 70 liters. They can grow all vegetables, especially large and extensive ones like melons, watermelons, and squash due to their large foliage and roots. This does not mean they cannot be grown in larger containers, but pots should not be less than 70 liters.
Preparing the Pot for Growing Vegetables
We talked about the necessity of having the pot size suitable for the size of the plants, providing the space that allows the plant to grow naturally. Once the suitable pot is available, we start filling it with soil for planting as follows:
- Ensure excess water drainage by making a hole at the bottom of the pot.
- Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot as a type of aeration and to facilitate drainage.
- If you use smart pots, fabric pots, or smart pots, you will not need to make holes or place gravel as a type of aeration. The fabric pot itself provides soil aeration and drains all excess water through its porosity. Click to get it
Regarding filling the pot or containers, there are several soil mixes you can prepare, or you can buy ready-made soil mixes without having to buy each product separately. Generally, a mix of one part compost, two parts peat moss, and a quarter part or less of perlite is an economical, excellent mix with high porosity and good drainage. Click for more details on soil mixes
Here, we need to determine the planting times for vegetables and the good place that receives direct sunlight for no less than 6 hours. Prepare post-planting service tools and materials like irrigation, fertilization, pesticides, pruning, and other known service operations for each plant.
So far, we have learned about the suitable pot for growing vegetables. We agreed that it is necessary for the success of growing vegetables in pots. The pots here are diverse; they may be just containers formed in the shape of pots, whether circular or square or any other shape. We must not forget that artificial soil is better, especially in homes, as it is light and can be handled more easily than regular soil. We wish you successful gardening, useful information, and a successful season for everyone.
