plants

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Looking to eat healthier and grow your own vegetables this summer, container plants may be the way to go.

Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach advise plants grown in containers require a well-drained medium, garden soil alone isn’t good because it compacts. A potting mix with garden soil, peat moss and perlite, or a commercial mix is recommended. Vegetables can grow in all types of containers – plastic, clay, ceramic or wood. The containers must hold an adequate amount of potting soil and have drainage holes in the bottom. It’s advised leaf lettuce and spinach plants can be in a one gallon container, a single pepper or eggplant can be in a two-gallon container, and a single tomato plant will need at least a four gallon container. While some tomato cultivars like ‘Patio Hybrid’ and ‘Sweet Zen’ do well in containers, most cucumbers, melons and squashes are not well suited, since they’re large and sprawling. Compact, bush-type cucumbers and summer squash can be grown in containers.