What type of containers can be used? Get creative. Use the large shell you brought back from the beach last summer, your child's old wagon, a Lego planter made by your child, or try your child's favorite old shoe. Before tossing out a toy that your child no longer uses, consider using it as a planter. Of course garden shops also sell pots that are intended for planting. Before potting your plant, be sure the container you have chosen has holes in the bottom for proper drainage. If it doesn't have drainage holes, don't worry. Most of the time you can just drill your own. Place a few stones or several layers of newspaper over the drainage hole. This will hold the soil in place, yet allow the excess water to drain.

The amount of sun needed for your container garden will depend on the plants you have chosen. Most seed packets and plants bought at nurseries tell how much sun that particular plant requires. Certain plants, like ivy, thrive in areas where there isn't much sun at all, while most flowering plants, and those producing vegetables, often require lots of sunlight to do their best. Do some research together at the library or through Internet gardening sites to determine what plants will work best in the area you have chosen. It's important if mixing several plants in one container to choose those that have similar sun and watering requirements.

You can enjoy the taste of homegrown vegetables even if you don't have (or want) a big garden. Start with a container that's at least a foot deep and about a foot wide. Fill with soil to within 1 inch of the top and add seeds or young plants. Try putting more than one kind of vegetable in a pot for a pretty growing salad. Leaf lettuce is easily grown in a container. It doesn't mind being in partial shade, and if you place near your house, you can pick the outer leaves for your salad, while encouraging further growth. Cherry tomatoes also do well in a container. You might even want to try them cascading from a hanging basket. Place in an area that gets at least six hours of sun each day.

Taking care of your container garden is simple and fun! Place it in an area where you will pass by often. Check your plants every day to see how they are growing. Just as plants have different sun requirements, not all plants benefit from being watered every day. Check the soil. Plants in containers do tend to dry out more quickly than those placed in your garden. Most plants do best when watered as the soil begins to dry out. Very few plants do well in soaking wet soil.