Terra cotta or Terra Firma

Five reasons why it's better to grow vegetables in the ground than in pots.

Pick up any popular gardening magazine and you are bound to see at least one article on growing vegetables in pots. I can understand why people are drawn to this approach to gardening: there’s the apparent simplicity of it (pot + soil + seed + water = plant); there’s the aesthetic of colorful pots decorating the back deck/porch/balcony etc.; there’s the modular aspect of pots in that they can be easily moved and rearranged as needed; and there’s the small-scale aspect of pot gardening that makes it ideal for the new gardener who does not want to be overwhelmed by taking on too large of a project.

Does it get any more simple? Fill pot with soil, plant seed, water and wait. [source: https://pixabay.com/photos/cucumber-bud-potted-plant-support-2453437/]

All of that makes perfect sense, but it’s all about the gardener. None of it is coming from the plant’s point of view - which should be the primary consideration when trying to get plants to grow. To be healthy and productive, plants need the right amounts of sun, soil, water, nutrients, and room to grow. Apart from sun - all of those other things are less abundant in pots than they are in the ground, and are only available in pots if the gardener makes them available, and are only available in the right amounts if the gardener knows how much to add, and when they should be added. In the article that follows I will explain how is so much easier to ensure that plants get what they need when they are in the ground.

Of course, before I begin, it goes without saying that some people do not have access to conventional growing spaces, and can only grow on a deck, balcony, fire escape, etc. It is also the case that some people lack the physical ability to work the ground, or they just don’t have the time or inclination to do anything more than grow a few things in pots. There are also advantages to growing in pots - such as the avoidance of many pest problems. So to all people that love their pots - I say go for it - and it is entirely possible to grow just about anything in a pot given the right approach. This article is not meant to make anyone feel bad. The point is to contrast planting in the ground vs planting in pots for the benefit of those who have the option to do either, so they can give that decision adequate consideration.

1. Soil

Good soil has the right ratio of pore space (50%), mineral matter (45%) and organic matter (5%). The pore space holds air and water. The mineral matter (40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay) provides the right structure to accommodate the ideal amount of pore space, allows plant roots to spread throughout the soil, and provides a structure for the retention of nutrients. The organic matter hold water, and provides nutrients for soil organisms and plants. When planting in the ground, the soil rarely has the ideal composition mentioned above - but it is usually much closer to that ideal than the bagged potting soil that is typically used in pots. It is also arguable that