Balcony vegetable planting container selection

There are many containers to choose from for growing vegetables on the balcony. As long as the space is large enough and any container has good drainage, it can be used. Traditional flower pots and sinks, and many daily necessities can be modified and used, such as wooden boxes, buckets, iron boxes, plastic boxes, tires, bathtubs, jars, barbecue trays, anything you can think of can be used to grow vegetables on the balcony. Just keep a few things in mind when choosing:

Drainage holes

Whatever container you choose, make sure it has good drainage. If the drainage is poor, the roots of the plants are prone to suffocation and rot, while if the drainage is too fast, the plants will lack water and die. The flower pots bought from the market will have drainage holes at the bottom, but the modified containers need to have their own holes. The diameter of the unobstructed vent hole is 0.5~1cm.

Material

The choice of material is related to the quality of drainage. Pay attention to a few points

Unobstructed ceramic and wooden containers drain quickly and require frequent watering.

Try not to place plastic containers near windows as they may be blown over by the wind.

Do not choose wooden containers that have been treated with high pressure. Chemical preservatives are added to high-pressure treated containers. Although they can prevent corrosion and pests such as termites, they contain harmful substances and are not conducive to plant growth. The best wooden containers are pine and fir.

color

Black is not a color that can be used in containers as it likes heat and can damage the plant's root system. If you only have a black container, paint the surface with a lighter color and keep it out of direct sunlight.

size

The size of the container is important! It is better to have a larger container rather than a smaller one. A large container not only provides ample space for fertilizer, but also has a large water storage capacity so it will not dry up in the summer. Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc. require larger containers, usually 15 to 20 liters are enough! However, I suggest you ask the merchant when buying seeds what size container is needed, as well as the watering and fertilization requirements.