Survival Gardening in Containers

Tomatoes, basil, and Greek oregano are great to grow together in a container garden. They are compatible, and you can create a little Italian garden with these plants.

Potting mix is necessary for container gardening because of its looseness and the way it wicks moisture, which helps prevent issues like root rot and provides constant moisture for the plants.

The wicking cup, made from a party cup with slits, wicks the moisture up from the bottom of the reservoir. This allows for constant watering, and the roots will grow into the water, providing them with plenty of hydrations without over-moisturizing.

You prevent overwatering by drilling overflow holes on both sides of the inner bucket, just below the inside bucket rim. This ensures that only so much water is held, preventing over-soaking and allowing excess water to drain out, avoiding issues like root rot.

Covering the container garden with plastic helps with heat regulation (using clear, black, or white plastic depending on the climate) and condensation. The condensation can help melt granular fertilizer placed in the soil, slowly seeping into the soil to provide continuous fertilization.

Mosquito prevention is important because stagnant water in the watering pipes or on top of the plastic covering can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You can prevent this by capping off the watering pipes or covering them with a screen.

Container gardens help avoid problems with pests that attack roots, like moles or grubs, especially in areas with poor soil quality like sandy grounds. They also provide the flexibility of being portable, allowing you to move the plants if necessary.