Container Gardening: Why It Works for Me in Zone 9b
If you’ve ever stared at your yard and thought, “There’s no way anything is growing in that,” you’re not alone. That’s exactly how I felt when I first got the itch to grow my own food here in Central Florida. The solution? Container gardening. It's become the heartbeat of Major Mater’s Urban Farms, and in this post, I want to share a little about what it is, why it works for me, and what I’ve been able to grow in it—successfully!
So, What Is Container Gardening?
At its simplest, container gardening is exactly what it sounds like: growing plants in pots, tubs, buckets, or really anything that can hold soil and has drainage. It’s an ancient method of gardening, dating back thousands of years. Think of the classic hanging gardens of Babylon or the ornamental pots in ancient Rome—people have been growing things in containers long before “urban farming” was a hashtag.
These days, container gardening is especially popular with folks like me who want to grow their own food but might not have ideal soil, tons of space, or the time to maintain a big in-ground garden. It brings the farm to the patio, porch, balcony—or in my case, a little sunny corner of my backyard.
Why I Chose Container Gardening
Here in Zone 9b, the native soil can be… let’s just say “challenging.” It’s sandy, nutrient-poor, and honestly not super friendly to a lot of the plants I wanted to grow. I found myself fighting an uphill battle trying to amend the soil enough to make it workable.
Container gardening gave me a fresh start. I could build healthy, living soil from the ground up—literally. I’m able to control exactly what goes into each pot, which means my plants get the nutrients they need without competing with tough native soil or battling as many weeds. Fewer weeds also mean fewer pests, since a lot of garden pests tend to hang out in overgrown areas or poor soil.
Plus, container gardening gives me flexibility. I can move plants around to catch the best sun, keep them safe during storms, or just rearrange them when I’m in the mood to switch things up (which happens often, let’s be real).
What Grows Well in My Containers
I’ve done a lot of experimenting over the past few seasons, and I’ve found quite a few winners in containers. Tomatoes are my all-time favorite—there’s nothing better than picking a sun-warmed tomato right off the vine. Peppers thrive too, especially the heat-loving varieties that do well in our long growing season.
I’ve also had great luck with herbs like basil, mint, and oregano (just keep that mint contained—trust me). Berries, especially strawberries and blueberries in the right-sized pots, have done well. Lettuces and leafy greens love the cooler months, and I can easily tuck them into partial-shade areas as needed. And let’s not forget flowers—marigolds, nasturtiums, and zinnias not only brighten up the space, but they also help attract pollinators and keep pests away from my edibles.
Container gardening has truly changed the way I approach growing food here in Florida. If you're thinking about giving it a try, I say go for it. Start small, pick a couple of containers, and experiment. That’s what Major Mater’s is all about—growing, learning, and sharing the journey, one container at a time.