10 Fruits and Vegetables You Can Grow in Containers at Home to Save Money
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We all know that fresh fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet, but if you’re short on space, you might think you can’t grow your favorites at home. You can grow many fruits and veggies in containers, though–even some you might not have known about.
Save money on your grocery bill this summer by growing the produce you’d spend a lot of cash on yourself. You’ll keep your wallet and your family healthy by doing so.
10. Lemons
Even if you live in a cooler climate, you still have the option to grow lemons (and make lemonade from them, if that’s your thing!) in a container. Even on the smallest of porches, Meyer lemon trees will flourish in a pot and give your a sweet, tangy lemon that is slightly smaller than its full size counterpart.
9. Blueberries
Blueberries can easily be grown in a relatively shallow container that’s around a foot deep. You’ll need some supports to assist plant growth, but with some rich soil and a nice little container, you can be baking muffins and sprinkling those blue nutrient powerhouses right into your yogurt in no time.
8. Strawberries
Much like blueberries, strawberries don’t need much room to grow. In fact, they can even be grown upside down! Strawberry plants have vine-like qualities, so give them some support and watch your strawberry shortcakes reach supreme status.
7. Zucchini
Prolific growers, zucchini plants are. While many people think you need ample ground space to grow these versatile squashes, the truth is that they can still be prolific even in tight quarters. Zucchinis are one of the vegetables you can grow in containers. A large box or crate makes a great home for zucchini plants, which will likely produce a great crop if properly cared for even in a container garden.
6. Cantaloupe
These sweet orange melons are the quintessential summertime snack. Much like zucchini, people often think they need a lot of open ground to grow this fruit favorite, but cantaloupe plants can produce delicious fruits for your family even when you plant them in a container right on your porch or patio.
5. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are yet another one of the vegetables you can grow in containers .The vines will likely sprout this salad staple outside the container, however, so be sure to keep the ground around the plant clear. There’s nothing quite as delicious as a freshly picked cucumber topped off with a little salt and pepper, so get to planting.
4. Apples
Did you know there are dwarf apple tree varieties that will flourish in containers? That’s right– farmers have perfected these tiny trees so that even apples can be grown in tight quarters. A tip for you, though: you’ll need at least two so the trees can cross pollinate each other (unless you happen to live near another apple grower).
3. Peaches
Much like apples, there are a few peach varieties that can be harvested from dwarf peach trees. This means you can grow your own juicy, delicious peaches right on your patio!
2. Pineapples
Here’s where container gardening gets even cooler: you can actually grow your own pineapples in a container in your own home! Even if you do not live in Hawaii, simply bringing the plants indoors when the weather cools off is enough to keep your crop safe. Pineapple upside down cake, anyone?
1. Bananas
That’s right– tiny banana trees can be grown in pots no matter what your climate! Keep your banana tree outside in the summer, but bring it inside in the winter. Be sure it gets lots of sunlight and sure enough, it’ll provide you with ample baby bananas that make the perfect snack!
Tips
Growing each of these fruits and vegetables in containers means you may have to invest in some fertilizer or soil conditioners. For more information, speak to a professional at a local garden center near you.
Think you could use a little more space for gardening and don’t want to limit your choices to vegetables you can grow in containers? Consider homeownership. If gardening is your dream, your own home can help to get you there. Call NLC Loans for a free no-strings-attached mortgage consultation today at 1-877-480-8050.
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