A Simple Guide to Container Gardening for Renters

Over the past month, I have taken up the hobby of gardening. It has been a simple and enjoyable way to spend time outdoors and learn something new. If you live in the southern states, February is an ideal time to begin planting for a spring harvest. The temperatures are mild, and many plants benefit from getting established before the hotter months arrive.

In this post, I will share the methods I am using, the plants I am growing, and a few tips for anyone starting a garden. I am container gardening because we are currently renting our home and cannot plant directly in the ground. Through reading and research, I have learned that container gardening is just as effective as traditional gardening and, in some cases, even easier. Containers allow for better control over soil quality, watering, sun exposure, and pest control.

Gardening and Catholicism

Gardening has also been a meaningful practice in my Catholic life. Working with the soil is a quiet reminder of God’s creation and our role as stewards of it. From the very beginning of Scripture, humanity is placed in the garden and entrusted with caring for what God has made. Tending plants, even in small containers, reflects that responsibility in a simple and practical way.

Gardening encourages patience and humility. Seeds do not grow on our timeline, and no amount of effort can replace God’s role in giving growth. This has been a helpful reminder that while we can prepare the soil and care for the plants, the outcome is ultimately in His hands. It mirrors the spiritual life, where consistency and trust matter more than immediate results.

Christ Appears to Mary Magdalen as a Gardener (or Noli me tangere) [detail] by an unknown artist, c. 1503-4 (from the Vaux Passional) [National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth].https://www.thecatholicthing.org/wp-content/uploads/Gardener-1.jpeg

There is also a strong connection between gardening and gratitude. Growing food makes meals feel more intentional and encourages thankfulness for daily provision. Harvesting even a small amount of produce is a reminder of God’s generosity and care in ordinary life.

For me, gardening has become a quiet, practical way to live out stewardship, patience, and gratitude. It is a small daily practice that points back to larger truths in the Catholic faith and helps keep those values present in everyday routines.

Whats in my Container Garden?

For the spring season, I am growing a mix of vegetables, herbs, and fruit that do well in containers and warm climates. My garden includes carrots, yellow onions, green onions, eggplants, yellow bell peppers, red bell peppers, jalapeños, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, sun tomatoes, a meyer lemon tree, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and basil. These plants are practical, productive, and easy to use in everyday cooking.

In my garden, I have two large planter boxes dedicated to carrots and onions. I chose larger and deeper boxes so the roots have plenty of room to grow straight and develop properly. Shallow containers can cause root vegetables to grow short, misshapen, or crowded, so depth is especially important for success with these plants.

Root vegetables like carrots and onions do best in loose, well-draining soil. I used a light potting mix rather than garden soil so the roots can move easily as they grow. I also made sure the soil was free of large clumps or debris, which can interfere with root development. Good drainage is essential, since these plants do not tolerate sitting in water.

For watering, I treat carrots and onions differently. Carrot seeds are small and need consistent moisture to germinate, so I water them almost every day, using just a small amount of water. The goal is to keep the top layer of soil slightly damp without soaking it. Once the carrots are established, I can gradually reduce how often I water.

Onions prefer less frequent watering. I wait about two or three days and allow the top layer of soil to dry before watering again. This helps prevent the bulbs from staying too wet, which can lead to root rot and other issues. Paying attention to the soil rather than following a strict schedule has been helpful, especially with changing temperatures.

Using large planter boxes has made it easier to manage both spacing and moisture. It also allows me to keep these root vegetables together in one area, making care and monitoring simple as they grow.

Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and strawberries need full sun and consistent watering to produce well. I planted each of these in its own large pot to provide enough space for root systems to develop. Larger containers also hold moisture more evenly, which helps prevent the soil from drying out too quickly. At the same time, having each in a separate pot allows me to control watering more carefully. These plants prefer evenly moist soil, but they do not like sitting in water, so good drainage is important.

Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and strawberries are considered heavy feeders, meaning they use up nutrients quickly as they grow. By keeping them in individual containers, I can fertilize them regularly without affecting other plants that need less food. This makes it easier to adjust fertilizer amounts based on how each plant is growing and producing.

Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow and do well in smaller pots. My basil and parsley are planted together in one pot, and my thyme and rosemary are planted together in another. I grouped these herbs based on their similar watering needs and growth habits, which makes them easier to care for.

Basil and parsley both prefer consistently moist soil and do well with regular watering. They grow best in full sun to partial sun and benefit from frequent harvesting, which encourages new growth. Keeping them in the same container allows me to water them on the same schedule without worrying about overwatering one or under-watering the other.

Thyme and rosemary prefer drier conditions and well-draining soil. These herbs do not like to sit in wet soil and are more tolerant of missed waterings. Planting them together makes it easier to let the soil dry out between waterings, which helps prevent root rot. They also prefer full sun and do well in containers that allow excess water to drain quickly.

Methods I am using

For my garden, I use a combination of lava rock and leftover Christmas tree branches at the bottom of my pots and planter boxes to improve drainage. The lava rock creates air space at the base of the container and allows excess water to move away from the roots. The tree branches help keep soil from compacting at the bottom and slowly break down over time. This setup helps prevent water from pooling, which is especially important when growing in containers.

For feeding, I follow a simple schedule. Every other week, I feed my vegetables with tomato food. Even plants that are not tomatoes benefit from this because tomato fertilizer is higher in the nutrients needed for flowering and fruit production. I apply it directly to the soil around the base of the plants, following the directions listed.

On the weeks in between, I spray Garrett Juice on the leaves. This foliar feeding provides nutrients directly to the plant and supports healthy growth without overloading the soil. Spraying the leaves rather than the soil helps give the plants a quick boost and keeps the feeding schedule balanced. Garrett Juice is also a natural pesticide that will keep away the bugs! I prune all of my plants regularly for healthy growing as well.

Using good drainage and a consistent feeding routine has helped keep my plants healthy and growing steadily throughout the season.

Wrapping Up

If you are new to gardening, start small and focus on learning as you go. Make sure your containers have good drainage, use quality soil, and pay attention to how much sun each plant needs. Overwatering is a common mistake, so it is important to let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Container gardening makes it easier to adjust as needed.

Whether you are renting or simply working with limited space, container gardening is a practical way to grow your own food. With the right timing and a little consistency, February can be a great starting point for a productive spring garden.

In my next post, I will be sharing different container recipes I have created that brings life to my garden! Stay tuned!