Gardening might seem a bit difficult for persons that are not familiar with some gardening concepts. If you are new to gardening, the chances are that most often than not, you find yourself confused with no clue on how to start up gardening.
What happens if you have a knack for gardening but no garden? Well, it might interest you to know that some garden plants can grow in a 1-gallon bucket.
So, what can I grow in a 1-gallon container? Garden plants like basil, green onions, and carrots can be planted in a 1-gallon bucket.
The general rule of container gardening is that containers used for growing vegetables and herbs plants on porches, corridors, and shelter tops must be big enough for the crop to mature.
Now, let's look at the advantages of growing plants in a 1 gallon container and what plants you can grow in a 1-gallon container.
Table of Contents
What Size Is a 1 Gallon Container?
1-gallon container size is approximately 6 to 7 inches in height and width. These are the smallest sizes of nursery pots used to grow plant seedlings of suitable growth size.
However, you need not worry because you can substitute the containers with empty tins and cans.
What Can I Grow in a 1 Gallon Container?
Plants that are suited for growing in containers include tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, green onions, beans, lettuce, squash, radishes, and parsley.
Pole beans and cucumbers also do incredibly well in this type of garden, but they demand more space because of their vining growth habit.
Listed below are suitable plants for a 1-gallon container:
1. Basil
Fresh basil is an essential ingredient of traditional Italian food. Chefs consider this the perfect plant to grow. Its leaves can be harvested continually throughout the plant's lifespan.
Propagation is done from both seed and stem cuttings. The plant can be preserved longer when flowers are removed continuously.
2. Green Onions
Green onions can be planted almost anywhere because of their minor size. Since they do not produce a large bulb, they fit snugly with small containers.
Harvesting should be done periodically for the onion greens. Wait until the bulbs are large enough, then uproot the whole plant.
3. Carrots
For carrots, it's advisable to grow varieties that mature at 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in 1- to 2-gallon containers (4-7.5L). This way, they outgrow the containers or tip.
4. Lettuce
Lettuce is the criterion for all leafy greens because it is the easiest vegetable to grow. It is small-sized and compacted. Its capability to be harvested individually makes it a perfect garden plant.
5. Spinach
This vegetable plant fits into small garden spaces as well as 1-gallon containers. Its leaves are tasty and grow back rapidly to enable a continuous harvest during colder times.
Even when grown in smaller containers (like the 1-gallon containers), the plant is likely to bolt (getting on to seed).
6. Strawberry
Strawberries are fruits, but they make this list; nevertheless, they are among the smallest fruits grown in containers. The plant lives many years and can yield abundant harvests, banking on the variety.
Their root system can be well contained in small containers. With the plant in a container, it is much manageable to regulate the runners the plant sprouts out to reproduce.
7. Parsley
Parsley is an evergreen curled vegetable. The plant roots don’t take up too much space and can be planted three plant stands in a one-gallon container.
8. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a bi-annual vegetable that always yields large leaves. It is very much possible to harvest at a standard average of 1 giant leaf every week.
It is essential to keep the soil moist at all times to prevent the plant from airing out, especially when in a small container. Despite this, the plant will still produce strong.
9. Cilantro
Cilantro seeds can be broadcasted in a 1-gallon container. The plant is tap-rooted and is contained in the pot.
With the plants as closely clogged as they are, trimming parts will do the plants a lot of good as they will grow back as fast.
Advantages of Growing Plants in a 1 Gallon Container
Now that you know that you don’t need a large garden to start growing your plants, you can enjoy growing your vegetables. Using containers to grow plants is usually ideal if you live in an apartment without a lot of space.
Apart from the health benefits of growing plants indoors, the plant can be used for decorative purposes to beautify any space. Some of the apparent advantages of using containers to grow your plants are:
- You get quality soil that is easy to control
- Fewer weeds and less time weeding
- The plant can be used for the added beauty of multilevel garden architecture
- Ability to move smaller pots with the sun or season
Related Articles:
- Can You Grow Okra In a 5 Gallon Bucket
- How to Get Root Bound Plants Out Of Pots
- Potting Soil Vs Topsoil For Grass
- How To Grow Strawberries In Pots
- How To Grow Spinach In Pots
Conclusion
In all, above are a list of backyard vegetables that can reach full size in a 1-gallon container. There are options of plant varieties that can be grown in small containers before transplanted to either bigger pots or the garden site.
Growing plants in a 1-gallon container are usually adopted where there's little or no land space, and there are plenty of empty 1-gallon containers lying around.
In essence, the answer to the question, what can I grow in a 1-gallon container, has been successfully outlined in this article. Plants like parsley, carrots, green onions, etc., can thrive in small places, making them the perfect plants to grow in a 1-gallon container.
