Container vegetables

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 07:54 PM

It's possible to grow a wide range of vegetables in containers. Container gardening has advantages over growing vegetables in soil as you can move your containers to the best position, take them to shelter if the weather is cold or if there's a big storm and you can manipulate the conditions to best suit your plants. You will also avoid many of the diseases that might be in your soil that can effect tomatoes and other vegetables.

But there are also disadvantages. You can't grow as many plants as you can in a garden bed, you must have perfect drainage and as containers will dry out faster than a garden bed, you'll need to water your plants more. You also have to buy a lot of potting mix unless you can make your own.

This link is the best one I found on container vegetable growing. It gives details on size of containers, the amount of light needed, number of days for germination and common problems.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/e...container.html

CONTAINERS

The size of your containers will depend on what plants you want to grow. Each tomato plant will require a 5 gallon tub or half barrel, so will cucumbers, peppers amd squash. I've grown lettuce in a white poly-styrene shallow box that I carried home vegetables from the green grocer in. If you can get a few of these, they can be any size from 6 - 24 inches in depth, the 6 inch one is good for a couple of short rows of lettuce. Another can be used for spinach or silverbeet, another for herbs.

The containers can be made of just about anything that will hold soil and support the plant. Half barrels, large pots, tubs, wooden plant boxes, strong plastic bags, hanging baskets, old wheelbarrows, buckets. Just make sure whatever you use has drainage holes in the base. Each container will need several drainage holes.

SOIL

You'll need a soiless potting mix that you add nutrients to. The nutrient can be well rotted manure or liquid organic fertilizer. One thing is for sure though. You will not grow vegetables unless you add nutrients to your potting mix. It's very important. Many people cut a hole in the side of the plastic bag of potting mix and plant their vegetables directly into the cut hole. If you do this you must make sure to poke drainage hole under the bag as well as well as adding fertilizer to the mix.

WATERING

Feel the potting mix every day to see if it's dry or moist. Remember, there isn't much potting mix in your container and if the container is in a hot spot, you'll need to make sure it doesn't dry out. As a rule of thumb, you probably need to water almost every day, in hotter zones, it will be more frequent. Water all vegetables from the bottom, avoid water on the leaves.

FERTILIZING

Container vegetables grow really well if they are watered with a weak organic fertilizer a couple of times a week. Try to buy organic water soluble fertilizer and you'll get nice clean vegetables with no chemicals lurking in the leaves. Read the instructions about how to dilute and use the fertilizer but make your weaker and use it more frequently than they suggest. So, for example, if they suggest you use two capsful to a bucket full of water once a week, then you use one capful to one bucket ful of water twice a week. The vegies will love it.

SUPPORT

If you plant tomatoes, unless they are in a hanging basket, you'll need to use a stake. Put this in to your container as you platnt the seedling. For things like cucumbers, they can probably just spill over the side of the pot but you can also put a stake in for them too if you like.

I'll add to this tomorrow.

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 10:11 PM

Thank you for the info Rhonda. I really appreciate the link. I am debating whether we are going to do container vs. no digs. I am trying to weighing the pros and cons of each.

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 10:15 PM

Michelle, if I were in your shoes, I'd do the no dig. You have a family of five and although you won't get huge results in the first year, you'll get more with the no dig method than you will with containers.

I don't want to push you either way though, it's your decision entirely. I'll be there to support you along the way no matter what you decide to do.

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 11:08 PM

I am leaning more to the no dig method because it looks like it would have more advantages, but I am wondering where to get the soil for it?

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 11:42 PM

Michelle, work out how many square feet of garden you want. Then go to a place like the one in the link, it's in Texas but I don't know where you live. If I had access to a supply of cow manure, I'd go for the top soil, which is $13.95/yard, and mix it with your cow manure in your yard. Tell the people at the depot that you want a 4 - 6 inch covering on your garden within whatever the square footage is. they'll work it out for you.

http://www.fertilegarden.com/bulk.asp

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 11:56 PM

Thank you for the info Rhonda. I clicked on the link which takes me to a San Antonio website. That is a little too far, but I think I know what to look for with your info you gave.

You are wonderful!!!

**PurpleButterfly** · 03-16-2005, 11:57 PM

Thanks for the article Rhonda. I have a question, i need to learn when to plant things. Most likely, I will be buying some strawberries and veggies already started from a nursery, when is the best time to buy them? Probably yesterday, huh? Can you start them to early? i cant wait to get my new herbs going.
Thanks for all the help.

**forestdale** · 03-17-2005, 12:56 AM

Lynn, Kimberlina posted this very useful link last week. You'll probably find all the info you need in that link. You'll need to know your frost dates (approximate dates will do).

http://www.chestnut-sw.com/growform.htm

Good luck, Lynn. Let me know if this helps, if not, we'll try again.