Home gardening is the number one hobby in the United States. Is there anything really more satisfying than walking out your back door, picking a juicy red tomato and enjoying that sweet fresh flavor? So, it's no wonder that more and more homeowners are starting a backyard container garden.
First, decide how much space and time you want to devote to your new gardening project. Like most new endeavors, starting small is a good idea, and as you learn from experience you can grow and grow from one season to the next. If all you have is a patio or deck, consider what is referred to as 'container gardening'. Look for things like a 5-gallon bucket or maybe a barrel (available at most hardware stores) or used wheelbarrow.
If you have more space, plant in raised to utilize some of the ground space. These are constructed with organic pressure treated lumber and often range in size from four feet wide, one foot deep and to as long as you would like (10 to 12 feet is most common). It is important to limit the width because you need to be able to reach the center of the bed without stepping on the soil. Should you decide to use raised beds, it is a good idea to put pencil to paper and figure out how large an area you are going to work with and how many beds you want to build.
Because your container garden is new, this will be your best chance to fill it with clean, weed free soil. If you are just doing only container gardening, you can purchase bagged potting soil at your local hardware store. For raised beds, you will need to have topsoil or loam delivered by a local landscape service or mulch supplier. You will need approximately 3/4 of a cubic yard for each 4x12 foot bed. Note: Make sure you specify composted loam for vegetable gardens. Upon delivery, mix in a small amount of peat moss and Perlite to lighten up the soil, about 5%. Fill up your containers or beds and you are ready to plant.
Garden Herbs are quite easy to grow and don't require much space, which makes them ideal for kitchen container gardens. Select whatever garden herb varieties you normally use such as dill, thyme, parsley, chives, sage, oregano, etc. Many garden herbs are perennials, meaning they will grow back year after year without replanting every season.
Regarding vegetables, tomatoes are an obvious choice along with cucumbers, lettuce and peppers. These four items alone will provide you with salads all season long. Green beans are very popular too and with time staggered planting, you will be able to harvest them for several weeks in a row. Onions grow very well throughout the United States and should be planted as "sets". These are just immature onions about 4 inches tall that have been commercially grown for transplanting to home gardens early in the spring.
