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Growing A Container Garden In Your Apartment Backyard With Plants Such As Tomatoes And Carnations

Updated on May 4, 2017

Growing a container garden in your apartment backyard is the perfect solution people with a limited amount of space. In the past I only had a few weeds growing in my backyard, which I usually only pulled out when these were large enough to reach without having to bend too far over. However, as time has gone by, I have missed being able to pick tomatoes like I used to in my mom's garden. Growing up I was always the type of person who liked to pick fresh vegetables and fruit, but who never considered herself to be much of a gardener. That all changed when I realized I could have a container garden in the small backyard of my apartment. All I had to do was buy some potting soil few containers, and I was in business!

Carnations that I planted in a larger container than the one these came in.  This was on the first day when we had the plants.
Carnations that I planted in a larger container than the one these came in. This was on the first day when we had the plants.

When it comes to purchasing soil for your container garden, choose a type that you would like best. For instance, if you want to raise organic produce then buy organic potting soil. You can find affordable potting soil at stores such as Lowes and Walmart, but I even found small bags of organic potting soil at the dollar store.

Photographing and filming your container garden is a stimulating and educational way to track plant growth. Kids will enjoy being able to compare pictures of plants at different stages in their growth cycle.

Buy a variety and containers for the various sizes of plants you want to grow in your backyard.
Buy a variety and containers for the various sizes of plants you want to grow in your backyard.
A golden oregano plant is a flavorful addition to a small herb garden.
A golden oregano plant is a flavorful addition to a small herb garden.
Growing tomatoes is more affordable than having to buy the organic variety at the store.  Even for the price of containers and potting soil, you will still save money over what you would pay for organic tomatoes.
Growing tomatoes is more affordable than having to buy the organic variety at the store. Even for the price of containers and potting soil, you will still save money over what you would pay for organic tomatoes.

Making Containers Out of Old Buckets And Coffee Cans

If you do not want to spend money on buying brand new containers at the store, you can recycle buckets and coffee cans into containers for your plants. However, you will need to poke holes in the bottom of coffee cans and buckets, which will allow the soil to drain properly.

An old coffee cup is perfect for watering small containers of flowers, such as the carnations pictured here.
An old coffee cup is perfect for watering small containers of flowers, such as the carnations pictured here.
The pot of African daisies.
The pot of African daisies.
The osteopermum flowers are quite beautiful to look at.
The osteopermum flowers are quite beautiful to look at.
The yellow and green containers remind me of sunflowers.
The yellow and green containers remind me of sunflowers.

Novice gardeners can experiment by purchasing a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors when it comes to propagating plants in containers. Personally, I find buying various colors of containers makes your garden more cheerful. Keep in mind you should also recycle old containers you were just going to throw away like I did by punching holes in the bottom of the coffee can and planting pansy seeds in it.

Small containers allow anyone to enjoy flowers in their own backyard, even if it is a small one.
Small containers allow anyone to enjoy flowers in their own backyard, even if it is a small one.
Purple African daisies are fun to photograph, and make an interesting subject for those of us who like to sketch.
Purple African daisies are fun to photograph, and make an interesting subject for those of us who like to sketch.
The convenience of potted plants is that you are able to arrange these however you like, whereas plants rooted in the ground are a bit more permanent.
The convenience of potted plants is that you are able to arrange these however you like, whereas plants rooted in the ground are a bit more permanent.
Buy large containers for propagating tomato plants as they tend to grow quite a bit, especially in the warm weather of Southern California springs and summers.
Buy large containers for propagating tomato plants as they tend to grow quite a bit, especially in the warm weather of Southern California springs and summers.
Flowers planted in a containers add beauty to what would otherwise be a boring apartment backyard.
Flowers planted in a containers add beauty to what would otherwise be a boring apartment backyard.
You can even begin to propagate pepper plants in smaller containers, and transplant these to larger ones later on.
You can even begin to propagate pepper plants in smaller containers, and transplant these to larger ones later on.
Tomato plants in the late afternoon.
Tomato plants in the late afternoon.
If you love tomatoes, then planting your own tomato plants is the way to go.
If you love tomatoes, then planting your own tomato plants is the way to go.
A green container with lettuce seeds that have just been planted.
A green container with lettuce seeds that have just been planted.
Looking down on the tomato plants.
Looking down on the tomato plants.
The tomato plants have grown quite a bit in the last few days.
The tomato plants have grown quite a bit in the last few days.
It is aesthetically interesting to have various colors of planters in your backyard.
It is aesthetically interesting to have various colors of planters in your backyard.
The sun is beginning to hit the tomato plants.
The sun is beginning to hit the tomato plants.
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