The best soil for container gardening really depends upon what you are planning to plant. However, all plants do best in nutrient-rich soil that is somewhat dark in color and well drained. Most plants do best with medium or even light soil mixes which contain natural compost and soil lighteners for more loose soil.
Container vegetable gardening is one of the best ways to grow fresh, healthy food all year long. It can be done on a small scale for those who have limited space or even on a large scale if you plan to plant many plants. There are many types of container gardening including edible herbs, annuals, perennials and bulbs. The container type will depend upon the climatic changes and the time of year in which you live.
Most people that plan to plant a small family garden with small containers, will use a mix of compost and sand to create a base for the structure of the garden. They will also plant low growing seedlings that have a tendency to get larger than they should due to being planted too close together. Many times they will plant seeds that are smaller than they need just to fill up the space that they need. When these seedlings start to get larger, they will have a tendency to cluster together making the structure looks like a forest of mini trees.
Some vegetables like beans and peas will grow well in a sunny location but some require direct sunlight for at least six hours each day. Tomatoes, peppers and melons will also do better in the shade although some herbs do better in full sun. Fruits and vegetables should be planted early in the morning or late in the evening after the last frost has fallen. Sunflowers should be planted about one foot away from the edge of your home. If you plant these vegetables out in the yard they will usually survive one to two frosts but in the shade they will not.
When you are planning your garden, you want to plan it so that the vegetables will get all the nutrients that they need. Most gardeners believe that grass seeds germinate in a shallow layer of mulch, but they need a deep layer of rich soil if they are to germinate properly. Mulch can add moisture to the soil but it is not healthy for the roots of your grass seeds. The best mulches for planting spinach are straw, peat or pine needles.
There are many gardeners who believe that the best mulches are coconut coir. This mulch is fine when used on small plants but when it comes to larger pots it will hold much less moisture. In addition it will attract fungus that can kill your plants. Many gardeners will use shredded newspaper instead of coconut coir.
A healthy vegetable garden needs good drainage and this can be achieved with stone chippings or wood chips. They are porous and drainage will help to keep your plants healthy. Plants should be watered only when the soil is dry. Too much water will make the dirt too saturated and the roots will die. If you do have a lot of rain then you can put some organic moss on top of the soil to help prevent it from becoming too saturated.
For containers that are in small spaces frequent watering is needed. Watering every day should be OK as long as it is not too dry. When watering the smaller plants, it is best to only use a very thin layer. You do not want to water too often because they need to stay cool and moist. The best soil for container vegetables is potting soil that is porous and drains well.