Most of us are intimidated when it comes to learning how to grow vegetables upside down in containers. There is certainly a learning curve, especially for a beginner, but it does not have to be difficult if you follow some simple guidelines. If you follow these basic steps, you will find growing vegetables a breeze.

The first step in learning how to grow vegetables in containers is to choose a container that has ample drainage. The soil should drain easily and it should remain damp but not wet. This allows air to circulate around the seeds and the roots so they get the best possible start in the garden. You should also dig holes in the location where you plan to plant your seeds so they receive good air and light. Just keep in mind that your potting mix needs to have plenty of drainage for your burpee pots and potted vegetables.

For seedlings, you should go with what grows best in your area, or go with a variety that is highly adaptable. If you live in an area with warm summers and mild winters, consider planting red peppers and tomatoes in large pots. Other vegetables you could grow are beans, broccoli, carrots, spinach, radishes, peas and onions. Be careful to plant all of these vegetable varieties in water tight containers so they do not dry out.

You can also choose to go with an indoor/outdoor hanging vegetable garden. Here, you will be able to grow many of the same varieties of plants you would in a traditional container garden, only they will be planted upside down. Some of these varieties, such as squash, can be planted in the ground and left there through the growing season, then put into the pots after the harvest. Others varieties, such as onions, will need to be seeded beforehand and put into the pots when they are about two to three inches tall. It is not necessary to transplant these varieties when they reach that size, only set them in the potting mix and water until they are ready to transplant into their hanging pots.

Another option is to use a combination of the two options. Start with a small bed of either dwarf varieties or other hybrid varieties that can be planted directly into the soil. When the growing season comes, remove them from their pots and place them into the larger containers. This will give them time to acclimate to the larger amount of sunlight and warmth provided by the larger container. Once they are comfortable with their new environment, plant tomatoes or other hybrid seeds into the holes provided for them.

For many people, the appeal of growing vegetables upside down comes from the fact that you can see exactly what’s going on inside the container. While it’s not necessary to actually look inside the container, it certainly adds a bit of ‘machinery’ to the gardening experience. Just like real plants, pests and diseases can be controlled through proper watering and fertilization. You can monitor the temperature by monitoring the growth of a plant. And of course, like real plants, you can transplant an upside down crop without any problems at all.

However, you do need to be aware of a few things while transplanting crops from one level to another. For instance, if the gap between the bottom of the container and the first rim of the pot is greater than three inches, it’s best to place a screen or something similar between the plants so that insects cannot access the roots. Likewise, if the gap between the second rim and the second pot depth is less than three inches, the plants should be placed on a slanted table or glass. And if the gap between the second pots depth and the first rim is less than nine inches, you should consider using a raised bed with a shallow-bottomed container.

Now, if you’re growing potted plant such as arugula, onions, and garlic, the recommended pots are those which have the least pot depth. If the roots are simply touching the surface of the pot, the plant will not grow sideways but vertically. To maximize growth, you should provide them with a minimum lot depth of three to four inches.