Just Grow Something | Evidence-Based Home Gardening

No yard? No tiller? No problem. If you've got a patio, a porch, a balcony, or even a sunny driveway, you can grow a real, productive vegetable garden in containers.

Today on Just Grow Something, we walk through the essentials of container gardening from the ground up: how to evaluate whether a crop is a good candidate for a pot, how to pick the right container size based on root system and mature plant size, what kind of soil to use (and what NOT to use), how to feed your plants organically, and the special considerations that make container growing a little different than growing in the ground — things like light, drainage, airflow, watering, and trellising.

Whether you're a total beginner or someone adding containers to an existing garden, you'll walk away knowing how to get your best start. Let’s dig in!

SHOW NOTES & RESOURCES

Resources

• Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook — https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

• Plan Like a Pro Course — https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com

• Days to Maturity reference chart — https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity

• The Cantry, Belton MO: https://thecantrypantry.com/?page_id=357

• Fabric Grow Bags: https://amzn.to/4vHDHSO

• Fish Emulsion: https://amzn.to/4sM7nvg

• Kelp Concentrate: https://amzn.to/4u0dcq7

Quick-Reference: Container Size by Crop

Small containers (2 gallons, 4–6 in. deep):

• Lettuce, spinach, arugula, salad greens, radishes, scallions, basil, cilantro, thyme, mint

Medium containers (3–5 gallons, 10–12 in. deep):

• Bush beans, Swiss chard, beets, short carrots, dwarf tomatoes, dwarf peppers, compact eggplant, kale, cabbage, larger herbs

Large containers (8–15+ gallons, 12–16+ in. deep):

• Standard tomatoes (determinate), peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, summer squash, broccoli, large herbs like rosemary

Extra-large containers (15–25+ gallons, 18–24 in. deep):

• Indeterminate tomatoes, winter squash, large sweet peppers, long-season superhot peppers, bush melons

Quick-Reference: Light Requirements

• Fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash): 6–8+ hours direct sun

• Root vegetables (carrots, beets, radishes): at least 6 hours

• Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, chard, kale) and most herbs: at least 4 hours

Simple Organic Feeding Schedule

• At planting: Mix a balanced granular organic fertilizer (e.g., 4-6-4) into potting mix per label rate.

• Every 2 weeks during the growing season: Water with diluted fish emulsion or fish-and-kelp blend (follow label; skip the first 2–3 weeks after transplanting).

• When fruiting plants start to flower: Switch to a lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorous and potassium feed (e.g., 3-4-6 tomato & vegetable formula).

University Extension References 

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/types-containers-growing-vegetables

University of Maryland Extension — Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/maintaining-container-grown-vegetables

University of Maryland Extension — Maintaining Container Grown Vegetables

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/growing-vegetables-containers/

University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension — Growing Vegetables in Containers (XHT1278)

https://extension.psu.edu/container-vegetable-gardening-four-keys-to-success

Penn State Extension — Container Vegetable Gardening: Four Keys to Success

https://extension.psu.edu/growing-vegetables-and-flowers-in-containers

Penn State Extension — Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Containers

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/container-gardening-grow-vegetables-even-without-yard-space

Oregon State University Extension — Container Gardening: Grow Vegetables Even Without Yard Space

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593

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Empty beds mean missed harvests. But with the right plan, they're completely avoidable. Today on Just Grow Something I'm walking you through succession planting and relay planting, the strategies that keep your garden productive not just across space, but across time.

Whether you're dealing with a four-month growing season or gardening in year-round heat, there's a succession approach that works for your climate. I break down the three types of succession crops, explain how to build a planting calendar that eliminates gaps, and get into relay planting, where you plant your next crop into your current one before it's even finished so there's never a moment of wasted ground.

I've also included a full dos and don'ts list, because a few key mistakes can turn a great succession plan into a depleted bed and a missed season.

In this episode:

The four types of succession planting and when to use each one

Rapid, mid-range, and long-season crops and how to succession plant each category

Why cucumbers, zucchini, and squash practically require succession planting (and exactly how I do it)

Relay planting: how it works, why it's different from interplanting, and some of my favorite pairs

Succession strategies by climate: short season, mid-range, and long hot season

A full dos and don'ts list, including the disease rotation mistake most gardeners don't see coming

This episode pairs with last week's episode on interplanting — together, they give you a complete system for filling every bed, every season.
Episode References

Episode 43: Succession Planting, Relay Planting, and Interplanting

Episode 204: Top Crops to Plant in Succession Throughout the Summer

Episode 295 (previous): Interplanting Done Right — High, Low, Fast, Slow

Resources

Days to Maturity reference chart — justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity

Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook — justgrowsomething.com/shop

Plan Like a Pro Course — justgrowsomething.thinkific.com

Succession Crop Quick Reference

Rapid Succession (plant every 2–3 weeks):

Lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, cilantro, green onions, baby bok choy

Mid-Range Succession (plant every 3–4 weeks):

Bush beans, cucumbers, summer squash/zucchini, determinate tomatoes, sweet corn

Split Succession (spring + fall, something else in between):

Carrots, beets, broccoli, snap beans (in hot climates), cucumbers & squash (in hot climates)

Great Relay Planting Pairs:

Spring lettuce → tomatoes → fall lettuce

Garlic/onions → peppers

Bok choy → summer squash

Carrots → sweet corn → carrots

Peas → beans or cucumbers

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com
Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if you could get more food from the exact same garden space, without expanding a single bed? That's the promise of interplanting, and today on Just Grow Something I break down exactly how to do it right.

Building on the "high, low, fast, slow" mantra I use in my own garden and teach in my Plan Like a Pro course, I walk you through the framework that makes interplanting work and the common mistakes that turn it into overcrowding. I cover what to consider before you ever put two plants together (mature size, water needs, nutrient timing, and allelopathy), then get practical with six beginner-friendly pairings that are low-risk and high-reward, plus advanced combinations and experiments for experienced gardeners ready to push further.

I've also put together a clear list of dos and don'ts to keep on hand when you're planning your beds.

In this episode:

What interplanting, intercropping, and companion planting actually mean

The "high, low, fast, slow" framework and how to apply it to any bed

What to know about your plants before pairing them (and what can go wrong if you don't)

Six beginner pairings: tomatoes + basil, lettuce + tomatoes, radishes + carrots, peas + spinach, garlic + peppers, cucumbers + lettuce

Advanced ideas: trap cropping, stacked seasonal beds, the Three Sisters and beyond

A full dos and don'ts list for interplanting success

Let's dig in!
Episode References

Episode 180: Interplanting to Maximize Your Harvest: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/interplanting-to-maximize-your-harvest-ep-180

Episode 247: Smarter Planting for Bigger Harvests – Interplanting Strategies: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/smarter-planting-for-bigger-harvests-interplanting-strategies-ep-247

254 – Spring Interplanting Strategies: What Worked, What Flopped, and Why: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/episode/spring-interplanting-strategies-what-worked-what-flopped-and-why-ep-254

Resources

"Gardening with the Moon Around the World" by Vergers du Monde: https://amzn.to/4cuSmcj

Companion Planting Chart download: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/companion

Days to Maturity reference chart: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/maturity

Just Grow Something Garden Planning Workbook: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop/p/just-grow-something-garden-planning-workbook

Plan Like a Pro Course: https://justgrowsomething.thinkific.com

Quick-Reference: Beginner Pairings

Tomatoes + Basil — HIGH/SLOW + LOW/MED

Lettuce + Tomatoes — LOW/FAST + HIGH/SLOW

Radishes + Carrots — FAST + SLOW

Peas + Spinach — HIGH/FAST + LOW/SLOW

Garlic/Onions + Peppers — timing/space efficiency

Cucumbers on trellis + Lettuce beneath — HIGH/SLOW + LOW/FAST

Next week: succession planting — the strategy that keeps your beds productive across time, not just space.

Get 10% off and FREE shipping on my favorite raised planters at Planter Box Direct using code JUSTGROW10: https://planterboxdirect.com/?ref=593
Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get my greenhouse selection guide to help you choose which protected growing structure is right for you: https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/greenhouse

A protected growing structure isn’t “set it and forget it” but a microclimate you manage. In this final episode of our greenhouse mini-series, you’ll get a practical operating manual for cold frames, low tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, high tunnels, and home greenhouses.

We’ll cover ventilation, heating and cooling strategies, watering and irrigation basics, container vs raised-bed vs in-ground considerations, pollination management, and an evidence-based approach to pest and disease control.

We’ll also tackle a topic many gardeners miss until something goes wrong: soil health under cover, including salt buildup, nutrient imbalances, and why protected soils often need a different fertility strategy than open-field beds.

Let’s dig in!

Resources:

The thermometer/hygrometer I use to monitor my greenhouse and other garden structures: https://amzn.to/4th56Ja

NRCS (USDA) — Controlling the High Tunnel Environment: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Controlling-High-Tunnel-Environment.pdf

Oklahoma State University Extension — The Hobby Greenhouse: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-hobby-greenhouse-2

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

 

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Get my free guide to choosing which protected gardening structure you should choose - https://justgrowsomethingpodcast.com/greenhouse

Protected growing structures like greenhouses can be game-changers - earlier harvests, fewer rain-splashed diseases, better crop quality, and more reliable timing. But they also create a new microclimate with new rules: overheating, humidity spikes, irrigation demands, shifting pest pressure, and sometimes pollination problems.

Today on Just Grow Something, we break down what problems protected culture solves, what it tends to make harder, and how to predict those tradeoffs before you invest. You’ll learn the core principals of tunnels and greenhouses, like temperature, humidity, airflow, and water, plus what changes when you grow in containers, raised beds, or in-ground under cover.

Let’s dig in!

Resources:

High Tunnels and Other Season Extension Techniques - SARE: https://www.sare.org/resources/high-tunnels-and-other-season-extension-techniques/

NRCS (USDA) — Controlling the High Tunnel Environment: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Controlling-High-Tunnel-Environment.pdf

 

Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com

Gardening Courses: https://justgrowsomething.com/courses

Just Grow Something Merch and Downloads: https://justgrowsomething.com/shop

Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18YgHveF5P/

Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething

Feed my coffee habit: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething

Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.