Hydroponic growing and hydroponic systems have been gaining in popularity lately in the gardening industry, and its easy to see why! A hydroponic system allows you to grow plants indoors, regardless of environmental factors like weather. This makes it appealing for both larger scale farming…
For beginners, attempting to grow basil hydroponically can be intimidating. However, we’re here to help! Growing hydroponically can be a great way to grow plants year round. Basil is a very beginner friendly plant to start your hydroponic garden with – keep reading to learn…
Container garden tomatoes can be tricky to master, but they’re definitely doable, even for beginners! There are several things you want to consider when selecting the soil to grow your container garden tomatoes in.
Tomatoes can grow in a wide variety of soils. However, if you pick a great option that is well aerated, provides ample drainage, and has the right amount of nutrients and PH, you’ll help your plants along to providing the most flavorful fruit throughout the grow season!
This article is specific to recommendations for container garden tomatoes, but many of these potting soil options will work for a variety of plants. When selecting a soil (specifically for container gardening) be sure to look for high quality ingredients and superior soil composition. This is important because in a container, your plant can’t draw nutrients from the earth like in an in ground garden.
Read also: How to Grow Tomatoes on a Balcony
Lets talk about our top picks for soil for container garden tomatoes.
The FoxFarm Potting Soil is our best overall pick. This mix comes with a pH adjusted soil ranging from 6.3 to 6.8, making it the perfect pH level for your tomato plants. Its ingredients are the biggest pro, made up of “a blend of earthworm castings, bat guano, sea-going fish & crab meal, forest humus, moss & more”.
This mix of ingredients will help ensure proper nutrients are in place for your plants, and for 2 12-quart bags under $30, this is our top pick of soils for your container garden tomatoes.
The Happy Frog Potting Soil is a great option for container garden tomatoes. It has an adjusted PH level that allows for maximum nutrient absorption. It also comes well aerated which is great for tomato plants.
At under $20 for a 12 quart bag this is priced just a bit above some of the other options. However, given the high quality mix made up of “beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi”, we consider this mix worth the splurge.
The happy frog potting soil is a well balanced all around soil, and can work for many other plants besides your tomatoes. If you’re looking for a soil that will work well for your whole garden, this is a good option.
For a budget friendly option, the Miracle Gro moisture control potting mix. This potting mix’s key benefit is that it protects against over and underwatering, and aids in nutrient absorption. At just above $10 for two 8 quart bags, this is a budget friendly option for anyone just starting out.
However, this potting mix does not contain any added nutrients or fertilizers, so you’ll want to consider that when potting your container garden tomatoes.
The type of soil you select for your tomatoes is likely one of the most important decisions when planning your garden.
Any time you’re creating a container garden, we recommend choosing a potting soil for your plants, as opposed to garden soil or topsoil.
Garden soil can be confused with potting soil, often because they’re both sold in large bags at gardening stores.
However, garden soil is different than potting soil. Potting soil contains the right balance of nutrients and materials to ensure proper drainage for your plants. This is especially important in container gardening.
Additionally, there’s more variation with garden soil or topsoil. Especially with topsoil (meaning soil from the ground) you risk bring bugs or diseases into your container garden that can be harmful to your plants.
Related read: How to Test Your Garden Soil Acidity
When selecting a potting soil, you want to look for high quality ingredients.
Specifically for container gardening, you want to ensure that you have a good balance of nutrients, and materials that will provide drainage for your plant. Perlite and coco peat or coco coir are some of the more common materials seen in potting soils.
Achieving the right balance of materials to deliver nutrients and provide drainage is key, specifically for container gardening. If your plants can’t get the right level of drainage then you risk them developing root rot, which is a condition that occurs when plants sit in water for extended periods of time.
The ideal PH level for tomatoes is between a 6 and 6.8 PH level, however you can go slightly outside of that without hindering the plant too much.
In general, potting soil will likely come pH balanced already so most types will work well for container garden tomatoes.
If you choose to use garden soil or top soil, we recommend testing the soil prior to use. You can use this meter to check for pH levels. It also has the functionality to check for soil moisture, which can be a useful tool in container gardening.
Container garden tomatoes need ample space for their roots to spread as the plant grows. We recommend a 10 gallon pot with holes for adequate drainage. Depending on the type of tomato, you might be able to get away with smaller, but a 10 gallon is the best option if possible.
Tomatoes need lots of light to thrive. If you’re planting a tomato plant in a container, there’s a chance you’re placing it in an area that does not get a ton of direct sunlight.
If you’re worried about the amount of light your plant will get, we recommend supplementing natural light with grow lights. Even just a few hours a day can make a huge difference in the plant’s growth.
Whether or not they’re planted in a container or in the ground, tomatoes absolutely need warm weather to thrive. Tomato plants should be planted in late spring to ensure they’re growing in the heat of the summer.
Container garden tomatoes need lots of water – even more so than regular tomato plants. Because they’re a planted in pots during summer months, they can tend to get quite warm and need additional water as a result. Another option is to use a grow bag to prevent overheating – check out the pros and cons of using a grow bag for more info!
That being said, you don’t want your plant to be sitting in water in the entire time. Tomatoes need to be watered regularly but the pots should have adequate drainage to prevent root rot.
The best way to ensure proper drainage is to buy a planter with holes in the bottom that allow the water to escape. Plant to water your tomato plants daily.
As we mentioned in the sections above, there are several considerations when selecting what you’re going to plant your container garden tomatoes in. You’ll want to ensure there’s enough space for the plant to set roots down (minimum 10 gallon container).
You’ll also want to consider the drainage, and the aeration for the plant. Another option besides a conventional pot is a grow bag, which will allow ample drainage and aeration for the plant’s roots.
Tomatoes can definitely be grown from seeds in a container. However, if you’re worried about factors such as light or weather as mentioned above, it may be easier for you to buy a seedling at your local gardening store. Seedlings are less fragile than starting directly from a seed.
Want to learn more about container gardening? Check out our container gardening section now!
Marimo moss balls are a trend that is sweeping the plant industry. Marimo is a Japanese word that translates to “seaweed ball”. These plants have been increasing in popularity due to its easy, low maintenance care, and the fun of adding a new type of…
Want to learn how to grow produce year round from your apartment counter top? Hydroponic systems are creating a lot of buzz in the gardening industry, and there’s a ton of options for those looking to get started. Today, we’re covering some of the basics…
Its no secret we love a good patio garden, or balcony garden. Spaces like these allow you to grow fruits and vegetables in a space that you can also enjoy and gather in (or enjoy alone time). There are many ways you can decorate your patio garden. Today we’re covering a few of our favorite renter friendly ideas for decorating your tiny garden space!
Our number one way to dress up any outdoor space is to add string lights. These are easy to install – just a few command hooks and a ladder and you’ll have these up in 30 mins. They’re also affordable, with most 50ft strands coming in under $50. They’re the ultimate renter friendly option to create an intimate ambiance in your patio garden.
We love options like the Edison bulb string lights or these hanging bulb lights. Make sure you buy weather proof options when using them outdoors.
If you have enough natural light, you could even consider solar string lights as an option. We love this option to reduce power usage, and they’ll automatically light up each night without you remembering to turn them on or off.
Outdoor furniture is almost an option to obvious to list. Once you determine the amount of space you have, and what portion of it you want to reserve for plants, the natural choice then is to decide what furniture you want in the space.
From lounge chairs to dining tables, the options are endless. You can place one lounge chair in a small space and make a lovely space to read a book. Or, if you want a space to entertain you can add a dining table and chairs for some outdoor entertainment space!
We love adding a hammock to an outdoor patio garden space. Hammocking on a warm Spring day is super relaxing, and can make your space more intimate and cozy. If you’re renting your space, you’ll most likely want a hammock with a stand. We love this hammock because not only does it come with a stand, the hammock is also super cute and comes in a variety of colors (our fave is the macrame white).
Alternatively, if space is super tight some other options are hammock chairs, which come with easy installation instructions. If you have a yard these can also hang from a tree branch if you have the right spot in your yard.
Rugs are a great way to incorporate some color into your space! They cover unattractive concrete (or other flooring), and for small spaces can be super affordable. They’re a totally renter friendly way to decorate and bring warmth and texture to a space.
We love the Safavieh Veranda Collection because they comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and have a mix of fun patterns as well.
Want a lot of plants in a tight spot? Plant stands are the way to go. They allow you to display a lot of plants in a tight spot, and can help ensure that you’re elevating your plants to get the most natural light.
Check out our post on the best plant stands for tiny spaces for more ideas!
Another renter friendly way to upgrade your patio garden’s flooring is by using these wood tiles to upgrade the flooring. We love them because they’re easy to install, and easy to remove when its time to move to a new space. They’re interlocking tiles so installing is as easy as laying the tiles down and clicking into place.
They’re also super affordable, with a pack of 10 12″x12″ tiles coming in at $49.99 on Amazon.
Just like your indoor space, you can decorate your patio garden space with throw pillows to add pops of color and pattern!
We love these Moroccan inspired boho throw pillows, especially in combination with these faux leather throw pillows to mix texture and pattern together!
Love these ideas? Have more of your own? Let us know in the comments how you choose to decorate!
Sprouts are one of the easiest items to grow and have a super short harvest timeline, making them excellent for beginners! They’re packed full of nutrients too and can be used in a variety of ways, such as salad toppings, sandwich ingredients, etc. Keep reading…
If you’re a plant lover living in a tight space – a plant stand is essential. Plant stands allow you to display multiple plants in a compact way. However – not all plant stands are created equal! Today we’re exploring some of our top picks…
You’ve evaluated your options and decided grow bags are the best option for your garden. what next? There’s a ton of options to choose from, and the options can be overwhelming! From size, to material, to aesthetic and beyond, we’ve done the research for you and picked our top options for grow bags.
Keep reading to determine which one is best for you!
Not sure if grow bags are the right choice? Check out our post on the pros and cons of using grow bags.
You’ll want to evaluate a number of things when choosing your grow bag. The most important is probably the size. If you get one that’s too small, you’ll end up needing a larger one as your plant continues to grow. If you get one that’s excessively big, you’ll end up using extra soil and likely paying more than you need to for the plant that you have.
The second consideration is what type of plant will you be planting in the bag. If you’re planting something like potatoes, you’ll want to be sure you get a grow bag with a visible compartment where the roots grow. This will make harvesting a snap, and allow you to check the status of your plants more easily than if you were using a pot or in ground plants.
Another consideration is easy of mobility – are you planning to move these plants around? If yes, you’ll want to make sure that your grow bag has sturdy handles, and is made of material that is thick enough to move around easily without fear of tearing.
Other factors that you’ll want to evaluate are drainage – we prefer material that is porous and can drain easily over some designs that have holes in the bottom of the bag. This will help prevent root rot in your plant and ensure that they’re not sitting in water after each watering. Many plants like tomatoes, basil, and other summer fruits and vegetables require frequent waterings, but can’t sit in standing water and thrive.
Another consideration when selecting grow bags is how durable they are. This can be hard to determine in a description of a product, but Amazon reviews can speak volumes here. Most grow bags will claim durability but we like to use brands that have multiple 5 star reviews where people have used their bags season after season.
Even the highest durability grow bags will most likely only last 5 seasons, but you want to ensure that you’ll be able to use it for a few seasons without the bag deteriorating.
After evaluating these factors – we’ve come up with our top picks for grow bags for 2021. Keep reading to learn more!
The IPOW Grow Bags have a mix of everything. They’re made with breathable fabric that provides great drainage, allowing plants to regulate temperature and aerate the soil.
The fabric is durable, and has built in handles allowing for easier mobility for people who may want to move plants around. This is a great feature for someone in an apartment or space with limited sunlight, as it allows you to move your plants to wherever the sunniest spot is.
The feature that sets these grow bags apart from others is the convenient flap that allows you to check the status of your plants. For plants like potatoes, it makes harvesting quick and painless.
The downside to this model is it only available in 10 gallon sizes, meaning you don’t have as much flexibility to size up or down depending on the type of plant you are using.
As the #1 Best Seller on Amazon, Vivosun had to be one of our top picks for a grow bag. Their price is one of the best, but you also get pretty decent quality for your money here too.
They’re made with durable non-woven material that allows for excellent drainage. They also come with handles built in, making it easy to maneuver and move plants around as needed. Its also worth noting that these bags are BPA free and environmentally friendly.
The 16k reviews on Amazon speak to their durability too – with many users noting they’ve used them for multiple grow seasons with no issue.
These bags come in a wide variety of sizes, with both a 5 pack of 10 gallon size option on Amazon. The affordability combined with durability makes this is our pick for a bargain grow bag.
We love the Wraxly Fabric Grow Bags for a few reasons. First – you’ll notice they have a great aesthetic compared to other brands. Their two tone design and variety of colors sets them apart from the competition.
Aside from the look, they are also crafted with great care. The sides have a unique waterproof liner to prevent leaking while watering plants. The bottom still allows for plenty of drainage to gain the porous benefits of grow bags.
You can order these grow bags in a pack of 5 bags that come packaged gift-ready in a bonus 2 gallon bag! Perfect for giving as a gift to your green thumbed friend. The downside to this brand is they only have two sizes available – 5 gallon and 7 gallon, which may not be big enough for some larger plants/trees.
Using grow bags is a method of container gardening that is not as well known, especially to beginner gardeners. There are several benefits to using grow bags though, and we think its worth considering when planning a container garden. In this article we’re going to…
We’re offering our free guide on growing your own herb garden. This 26 page guide covers how to care for your favorite herbs, including basil, chives, rosemary, and more!
