Hey everyone! I'm a 17-year-old from Germany starting my veggie gardening journey but feeling a bit confused about the basics. I have limited indoor space on a window sill with some sunlight and a little outdoor space in the shade. I've got a bunch of seeds for different veggies and herbs, some pots, water containers, and what I think is coconut coir soil. I noticed a lot of people using smaller starter pots for seedlings and I'm wondering if they are a must-have. How can I kick off my gardening adventure successfully, especially on a budget? Thanks a lot for your help!
3 Answers
Small pots can be tricky since they dry out quickly, and you might have to water them more often. If you have limited space, starting with smaller pots is probably best. Just keep in mind that cucumbers like a bit more room; they need around a liter of soil to really thrive. You can also try planting greens in a shallow container without needing small pots. I suggest monitoring how much sun your outdoor space gets, as most veggies need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day to grow properly.
A key factor is water management. When starting plants in pots, just remember that if there’s too much soil without roots, it can get too wet and cause rot. You don't need fancy pots to start your seeds—egg cartons or toilet paper rolls work great too, as long as they drain well. Just start small and move up in pot size when you notice roots coming through!
You don't necessarily need starter pots to grow your plants! I use things like ice cream containers and yogurt cups for most of my plants. All I really spend money on is soil, so there's no need to buy specialized pots. Just make sure you have something to hold the soil and let it drain a bit!
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely keep an eye on the sunlight and start with herbs and salad first.