If you don't have enough space to have your own garden, don't despair.
You can build a small vegetable patch or create a small garden of flowers just by using containers.
Container gardening requires very little space and can be done in boxes, barrels, baskets or flowerpots.
In fact, you can use practically every kind of container that you can think of.
While selecting a container, make sure the opening is not too narrow as you will find it difficult to plant in.
Avoid using inferior quality plastic containers.
Pots made of glazed ceramic are a good choice but should have enough holes for water to drain out.
Most wooden containers are liable to rot.
A few exceptions are containers made of cedar and redwood.
Do not use very small containers as they prevent the roots of plants from spreading out.
If you plan on planting deep root vegetables, go in for deep pots.
You should also consider the number of plants that you plan on growing in the container.
The containers should have adequate holes for drainage.
The size of each hole should be at least half an inch in diameter.
Cover the base of the pots with newspaper so that soil does not leak out from the drainage holes.
If you live in an area where the year round temperatures are high, select containers that are light in color so that they absorb less heat.
Excessive heat absorption leads to uneven growth of roots.
If you decide to use pots made of clay keep in mind that clay does not retain moisture well.
Keep checking on the pots from time to time so that the plants have sufficient moisture.
Soil-less potting mixtures work best for container gardens.
These drain out quickly, are light in weight and do not contain weeds and pests.
You can buy such potting mixtures from your local nursery.
Whenever you pack soil into a container, leave about two inches space from the top.
This will let you add mulch later if required.
Most container gardens need about five hours of sunlight every day.
In case of vegetables, root vegetables need more sun while leafy vegetables can do with less sunlight.
Vegetables that bear fruits like tomato need the maximum amount of sun.
Use a weak liquid fertilizer each time you water the plants in your container garden.
Potting mixtures drain very quickly so if you add fertilizer just like in a regular garden, it will tend to drain out.
During the summer months you will need to water the plants daily since container plants lose moisture very quickly.