It is not difficult to start pot gardening, but with the proper equipment and planning you can easily have a successful, lucrative garden in no time. The process of pot growing is very easy once you have the correct equipment. Of course, you will need a good potting mix before you start. A 5 gallon bucket compost is just what you need. You will also need good soil and compost. A little research will reveal that your local nursery will probably sell potting mixes.
If you plan on making a container garden, you will also need to make a container to plant your plants in. A simple plastic garbage can or old washing tub is good. This can be washed and reused, so you won’t have to purchase a new container. Make sure the sides and bottom are completely clean of any mold or fungus. You can use bleach or mild soap to clean the sides, but make sure you rinse off the soap afterwards.
You should line the inside of the container with a loosely packed layer of sand or compost. Be careful to keep your feet on the floor, so that the water does not stagnate. Any excess water will evaporate over the course of a few days. Place a screen of some sort over the top of the container. This will help keep soil mites, spider mites and aphids out.
Once your container has been properly prepared, you are ready to start planting. Choose a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Do not plant your plants too close to structures or other heavy sunlight, as these can cause problems for the roots. One of the most popular container vegetable gardens is around an archway. Plant the vegetables facing away from the archway, allowing the archway to filter the sunlight. As the vegetables grow, they will naturally filter more sunlight until the container is finally free of sunlight and is in the best healthy condition.
Watering is another thing to consider. Make sure that the water is not too dry. A small fountain can be installed to automatically water the garden. Fountains can be a focal point of the garden and add color and vibrancy to the area.
Watering and fertilizing are important to the health of the plants. Ensure that you water the container thoroughly, especially if you are using chemicals. Keep the top of the container moist; do not let it dry completely. If you have hard water, a homemade water softener may be necessary to soften the water in the container.
Keep the mulch in the bucket. Mulch can protect the soil from erosion, keep it moist and prevent plants from getting too much sun or too much rain. When the mulch starts to get too long and turns yellow, it is time to change the contents of the bucket. This is also another good reason to buy a compost container with an automatic or manual lift system.
These are some simple ways to improve the health of your compost container. There are other things that you can do, depending on how large the container is, and how the container is maintained. Larger containers tend to need more frequent emptying. A manual lift mechanism will allow you to empty the container without lifting it and potentially damaging the sides of the container. Most modern compost bins have this type of system built in.
Check the contents of the container regularly. To keep the contents fresh, you should empty the container once a week. This will help your compost stay fresh longer and ensure that it is not contaminated with germs. It is also a good idea to add air to the container in order to make sure that it stays oxygenated.
You should also make sure that you clean the bin after each use. This will allow you to remove any waste material that is not nutrient rich and that can smell. This waste material can foul up the smell of the compost. A healthy container will smell pleasant and odorless.
In conclusion, a well-kept garden compost container is essential for a healthy garden. It will keep the contents fresher for longer. It will keep the air circulating around the container, which allows you to spread the nutrients more evenly throughout the soil. Your compost will smell better. And it will help your garden to flourish.