Container Gardening for Beginners: Easy Tips for Growing Plants in Pots

Whether you have limited outdoor space or simply love the look of plants grown in pots, container gardening is fun, easy, and ideal for beginners. It allows you to enjoy growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs conveniently in small spaces like patios, decks, and apartment balconies. 

With the ease of growing fresh herbs and vegetables in any space, it’s no wonder that container gardening is so popular. And with the variety of dwarf and compact varieties of fruits and vegetables available, it's never been easier to grow the plants you love. Ready to get started? Here’s a guide to get you on the path to gardening success.

Container gardening has many advantages over traditional gardening.

• Portability – Containers add a level of flexibility. Move pots to optimize sunlight or protect plants from weather.
• Space-Saving – Perfect for small balconies, patios, or windowsills.
• Weed & Pest Control – Fewer weeds and less risk of soil-borne pests.
• Year-Round Gardening – Bring plants indoors to extend the growing season.
• Beginner-Friendly – No need to dig or prepare garden beds. Children especially love growing in pots - ask any elementary school science teacher!

Most vegetables, herbs, and flowers adapt well to container gardening. Take care to pick varieties that won’t be more than your space can handle. You won’t want to plant a massive pumpkin vine on your apartment balcony. But maybe some tomato and basil plants would be perfect, though. And there are many compact, dwarf, and bush varieties of your favorite flowers and vegetables that thrive in containers and have a small footprint.

Think of how big your plant will be when fully grown, and don’t forget to take the roots into account. Pots filled with soil, water, and plants can get heavy.

Best Herbs for Containers:

Basil

Mint

Rosemary

Parsley

Best Vegetables for Containers:

Tiny Tim Tomatoes 

Spacemaster Cucumber 

Bird Seed Thai Pepper 

Eggplant

Strawberries

Best Flowers for Containers:

Marigolds

Petunias

Thumbelina Zinnias 

Dwarf Sungold Sunflower 

Dahlia

• Size Matters – Ensure pots are large enough for roots to grow. The size of the pot can vary depending on what you are growing and where. You may want larger containers so that they don't dry out as quickly.
• Material – Use plastic, ceramic, or fabric pots, avoiding contaminated or treated containers. This is especially important when growing vegetables and edible plants. You can read more about the different types of containers and how to choose the right one for your garden.
• Drainage – Make sure that your pots have holes for drainage so that your plant doesn’t become waterlogged. You can drill or create holes for water to escape in pots that don't already have holes. This will keep your plants healthy to prevent root rot and disease. 

Your plants aren’t the only source of beauty in a container garden. Choose interesting pots that express your creativity. There are beautiful options for sale, or you could make your own containers. Like to upcycle or DIY? Almost anything that will hold potting soil can be a place for plants to grow. It can be fun to repurpose something that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

• Use high-quality potting mix, not garden soil.
• Water regularly since containers dry out faster than ground soil.
• Monitor fertilizer levels, as nutrients wash out more quickly with frequent watering.

Container gardens need more watering than in-ground gardens. Don’t allow the roots to dry out completely, or they may die. That extra watering means that the fertilizer in your soil or growing medium will leach out more quickly. This means you need to be applying fertilizer more frequently. Use either a diluted fertilizer each time you water or use granulated slow-release fertilizer in the soil.

You'll want to choose a spot with enough light for your plants to thrive. Since pots are portable, they're easy to move if your plants need more or less light. Don’t forget about wind conditions or other environmental factors. 

I grow different flowers in my containers in each location. My back deck gets afternoon shade and is just right for dahlias. However, the front porch gets lots of afternoon sun is better for zinnias and sunflowers.  

• Ensure adequate sunlight (6-8 hours for most veggies).
• Protect from strong winds that can dry out or damage plants.
• Consider shade-loving plants for low-light areas.