Benedict T. Palen, Jr - Understanding The Simple Benefits Of Container Gardening

There are simple things more pleasing than watching those little seeds you planted not so long ago, slowly spring from the earth to form nutritious vitamin rich food for you and the people you love. Despondently, in this age and day, not everyone has a big backyard with soil suited for growing vegetables. Some of us do not have any yard at all! But, even the back porch, smallest patio, doorstep or balcony can offer enough room for a stunning and prolific container garden.

If you are not persuaded about growing in pots and containers, here are some of the reasons why you should get started right now no matter where you stay:

• Multipurpose: Container gardens enable you to grow on a patio, balcony, indoors on windowsills, courtyard, or rooms with sufficient light, rooftop or the deck of a boat.
• Accessibility: Growing plants in containers makes gardening available to nearly anyone including elderly, children and those with limited mobility.
• More range: You can grow plants that may not be appropriate to grow in your garden soil and grow plants next to each other although they may have diverse soil needs.
• No weeding: Due to the small surface area, it is doubtful weed seeds will find their way into pots.
• Flexibility: Reorganize plants to suit the season or your personal taste.
• No heavy equipment and garden tools: Saves you money with less maintenance.
• Change your look: Easily differs your color scheme.  As each plant completes fruiting or flowering, it can be replaced with another.
• Mobility: Plants in pots can be shifted to suit your needs or to a more appropriate sunny or shady location during the day easily.
• Lesser pesky pests: Insects that move from plant to plant in the garden are less likely to discover plants on a deck, verandah or balcony.  Even if a problem is identified, you can separate affected plants by relocating the pot until the hitch is under control.
• Fewer disease issues: Most of the time plants that are grown in containers have lesser issues with diseases than plants grown in the soil.
• Time and labor saving: Less time is spent walking, weeding, and watering when plants are grouped all in one place.
• Fertilizing is easier:  Keeping your plants well-fed is much easier when they are limited to a small area.  Not as much nutrient tends to be vanished or absorbed by neighboring plants like when they are grown in garden beds directly.
• Near to the kitchen: Ease of only reaching out or taking a few steps to fresh home grown veggies and herbs. 
• Street Appeal: Well-designed container plants placed tactically at a home’s entrance can add value and make the home more hospitable.
• Indoor gardens: Enhance indoor air quality, health and safety with fragrance, color, food and ornamental plants.

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has over three decades of experience working in agricultural investments, operations, and management. As of now, BenedictT. Palen, Jr., serves as manager and co-owner for Great Plains Farms, LLC, managing all from the purchase and assessment of farmland to offering proposal on irrigation development and operator training.