Have you ever wanted to grow your own garden? Are your kids curious about how plants grow? One way of having your own garden when space is limited is to grow plants in containers.

Some plants thrive in pots and allow people without the space for a garden to grow fruits and vegetables on their own back porch.

Gregg Eyestone, Riley County Horticulture Extension Agent, says there are many positives when it comes to growing plants in containers.

“You do not have to have land to grow something,” says Eyestone. “Containers can be mobile and moved to protect plants from cold, wind, hail and other weather occurrences.”

Prairie Star Flowers, a part of K-State Research and Extension, has a research garden where they have been studying the reactions of different plants to growing in containers. Their latest research focuses specifically on edibles in containers edibles in containers.

Cheryl Boyer, Nursery and Landscape Specialist for K-State Research and Extension, recommends trying one of the varieties that worked well in this study in order to yield superior results. Brazelberries®, which were used in the study and are from Fall Creek Nursery in Lowell, Ore., thrive in containers and are easy to grow. The nursery currently offers a variety of blueberries that thrive in many different climates.

“The main thing you really need to worry about when growing raspberries and blueberries is the pH in the soil,” Boyer says.

The main issues with container gardening include sufficient water supply, using the right soil and adequate sunlight. Make sure you water your plant enough, but be sure there are drain holes for excess water to prevent your plant from drowning. Self-watering containers are a low-cost alternative to this problem.

One downside to container plants, according to Eyestone, is the need for more frequent watering and more fertilizer management than most other plants.

Regular soil does not work well in containers and is often a reason for disappointment. Potting soil with fertilizer is the best way to ensure your plants start off growing right.

Right now, mixing edibles and ornamentals is a trend in the gardening world.

“Edibles are a growing part of the gardening industry, especially for first-time gardeners, because they are interested in gardening to help grow food for their family,” Boyer says.

Boyer suggests first-time gardeners check out local extension resources such as the Kansas Garden Guide, published by Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

“If you’re new to gardening, don’t be overwhelmed,” Boyer says. “There is no magic to it and any number of reasons for success.”