Maybe you always thought about growing your own vegetables, but you just don’t have the garden space.

Well, did you ever think about growing your vegetables in containers? Planting vegetables in containers is not much different than planting them in the ground.

I particularly enjoy container gardening because it is mobile, there are less weeds to contend with, water is always close by and I can harvest my produce quickly because the containers are right on my patio. The best thing about container gardening is that my plants do well provided I plant them in large enough containers.

So, how do you get started with your garden? You can do what I did.

I checked seed catalogs and followed their recommendations for container growing. If you prefer to buy plants, choose dwarf, compact varieties or fast-maturing vegetables.

Choosing containers can be challenging. There is plastic, wood, terra cotta, metal and fiber containers. It is a good idea to choose very large containers with adequate drainage. Also, keep in mind, you are going to have to move these containers around once they are filled with soil and they will be heavy.

A lightweight soil that will hold nutrients and moisture, yet will drain well, is the best type to use for the containers. Be sure to add fertilizer to the soil.

When planting seeds or plants, consider the size and shape of the mature plant. You are going to want to thin or space transplants so that the outer leaves barely touch one another.

If you plan to grow tomatoes or any other plants that may require stakes, be sure to place the stakes in the soil before planting. This will prevent any damage to the roots.

Most vegetables require full sun, at least six hours a day. Leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage) can tolerate less than fruiting ones (tomatoes, melons, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants). Because the soil tends to dry faster in containers, I found I had to water frequently. I always checked the soil to prevent overwatering.

Many of the vegetables that are planted in the ground are suitable for container gardening. Beets, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, peppers, pole beans, radishes, spinach, summer squash, Swiss chard and tomatoes are all plants that do well in containers. You can even grow some of these vegetables together if your container is large enough.

For instance, lettuce, onions and beets or leaf lettuce with parsley.

No matter what you decide to plant in your container garden, I can assure you, when you bring in your first harvest, it will be a rewarding experience.

Happy gardening!

Kostelic is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.