Growing Food
30 minutes
Global
How to grow vegetables in containers with no land
Why this matters
You do not need a garden to grow food. A single container of tomatoes, beans, or leafy greens can provide fresh vegetables for a family for months, reducing food costs and improving nutrition.
What you need
Any large container with drainage holes (buckets, old pots, cut plastic bottles)
Soil or a mix of soil and compost
Seeds or seedlings
Water
These are everyday items. If you don’t have one, look for the closest alternative — the steps will tell you what to use instead.
How to do it
Follow these steps in order. Take your time. You’ve got this.
Choose your container. Almost anything works — a 10-liter bucket, a cut-open plastic drum, even a row of large plastic bottles with holes cut in the side. The minimum depth for most vegetables is 20cm.
Make drainage holes in the bottom if there are none. Use a nail and hammer or a heated metal rod. Without drainage, roots will rot.
Fill with soil mixed with any available organic matter — compost, decomposed leaves, or dried animal manure. This enriches the soil and retains moisture.
Plant seeds at the depth shown on the packet, or twice the diameter of the seed if there is no packet. Leafy greens, radishes, and beans are the easiest to start with.
Water gently every day, checking that the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Place in the sunniest spot available — most vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Your one thing today
Identify one container in your home right now that could become a planter and set it aside for this purpose.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Do this one thing now, even if it’s small.
Come back tomorrow
A new skill will be waiting for you tomorrow. Or if you’d like to keep learning today, explore the full library.