Container gardening when ground is bad — print version.
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SUS Farms · Utah Gardening
Container gardening when ground is bad
beds · beginner · ~5 min read
Renters, balconies, deck-only setups, or just bad native soil — containers solve all of them. Utah's heat and dry air make container gardening harder than in humid climates, but the right container size and watering routine make it work.
Container size by crop
Tomato or pepper: 5-gallon minimum, 10-gallon better. Eggplant or zucchini: 7-gallon. Lettuce, herbs, radishes: 1–2 gallon. Carrots, leeks: deep narrow pots. Bush beans: 5-gallon. The biggest pot you can lift is rarely too big.
Soil mix
Don't use straight bagged "potting soil" — it's mostly peat and dries out daily. Mix 50% potting soil + 30% compost + 10% perlite + 10% coco coir. Holds water longer, drains when overwatered.
Drainage AND saucer
Drainage holes mandatory. But in Utah summer, a saucer underneath that holds 1/4 inch of water buys you a buffer day during a heat wave.
Watering frequency
Containers in Utah summer often need water twice a day. Self-watering containers (Earthbox-style) cut that to once every 2–3 days. The single biggest container-gardening mistake is underwatering.