How to plant an urban vegetable garden

Choosing appropriate soil trips up beginning gardeners. Filling a container with backyard dirt is never an option. Plants need to sink into something that lets their roots grow easily and soak up the water, air, and nutrients around them. Think of the appropriate soil as being a spongy bread with evenly spaced air pockets. Use a good-quality soil specifically designed for containers. Or, add a good-quality soil used for the garden in a 3:2 ratio with compost, which is derived from the decomposition of organic materials.
(Globe Staff / Bill Greene)
Read A plot in a pot
Choosing appropriate soil trips up beginning gardeners. Filling a container with backyard dirt is never an option. Plants need to sink into something that lets their roots grow easily and soak up the water, air, and nutrients around them. Think of the appropriate soil as being a spongy bread with evenly spaced air pockets. Use a good-quality soil specifically designed for containers. Or, add a good-quality soil used for the garden in a 3:2 ratio with compost, which is derived from the decomposition of organic materials.