Module 6: Container growing

We know that many of you garden in small spaces, on balconies and in courtyards. Module 6 is all about growing food plants in containers, beginning with identifying the key requirements for success. We also look at different containers for use, growing media, and the cultivation of selected container-grown plants. The final section includes a brief look at different containerized systems, including hydroponics, living walls and green roofs.

Potted plants

Lesson 1 - Container environments and requirements for success

Growing food successfully in containers is very different to growing in soil. The nature of the container environment, the different types and unique features of containers, the growing medium or…

3 types of dirt

Lesson 2 - Growing media for containers

Growing media is the key to growing plants successfully in containers. Just a quick recap, just like soil, to support successful plant growth a growing media needs to provide five things: enough…

Guy holding plant with roots

Lesson 3 - Growing food plants in containers

When choosing the food plants to grow, do some planning to design your space and select your plants. Make sure you know the environmental conditions and constraints on site, the available space that…

garden beds full of plants

Lesson 4 - Alternative container growing systems

Other than a standard container for growing food plants, there are alternative systems that function much the same way as a container but are larger in size and scale. 

plants in pots

Quiz - Summing up container growing

Six modules down!  Only two to go.  We hope you've enjoyed your learning so far.  This quiz is a little refresher of what you will have learned about container planting. We don't keep the results.

We covered what you need to consider to be successful when growing in a container. We also looked at different containers for use, growing media, and the cultivation of selected container-grown plants. The final section includes a brief look at different containerized systems, including hydroponics, living walls and green roofs.