Weather The Storm

There are many advantages using Container Gardening:
•    Perfect for people of all ages.
•     No digging or tilling is needed.
•     Virtually weed free.
•     Does not cost much.
•     Plant a garden with limited space.

There are any number of various containers that can be used. Just make sure you know the width and depth of the container needed  for the particular plant you want to grow. The cheapest containers are the approximately 3 gallon and 4 gallon plastic frosting containers from bakery shops. And also 4.38 quart plastic ice cream buckets can be used.. For instance. The 3 gallon frosting bucket is about 9 inches wide by about 11 inches deep. The 4 gallon frosting bucket is 11 inches by 12 inches deep. Whereby, the 4.38 quart ice cream bucket is 8 inches wide and 6 inches deep.

Here are some general guidelines that can help decide what size container is best for a particular plant.

•    Lima beans – 12 inches wide X 8 – 10 inches deep
•    Snap beans – 8 inches wide X 8 – 10 inches deep
•    Beets – 6 inches – 12 inches deep
•    Broccoli – 20 inches deep
•    Brussel sprouts – 12 inches wide X 12 inches deep
•    Cabbage – 20 inches deep
•    Carrots – 10 inches wide X 10 inches deep
•    Chard – 8 – 12 inches deep
•    Chinese cabbage – 20 inches deep
•    Collards – 12 inches deep
•    Corn – 21 inches wide X 8 inches deep
•    (Need 3 plants per container for pollination)
•    Cucumbers – 20 inches wide X 16 inches deep
•    Eggplant – 16 inches deep
•    Horseradish – 5 gallon or bigger container
•    Kale – 8 inches wide X 8 inches deep
•    Kohlrabi – 12 inches deep
•    Lettuce – 8 inches wide X 6 – 8 inches deep
•    Onions – 10 – 12 inches deep
•    Peas – 12 inches deep
•    Peppers 16 inches deep
•    Pumpkins 5 gallon tub
•    Radish – 4 – 6 inches deep
•    Spinach – 4 – 6 inches deep
•    Summer squash – 24 inches deep
•    Winter squash – 24 inches deep
•    Tomatoes – Dwarf-12 inches deep & reg.-24 inches deep
•    Turnips – 10 – 12 inches deep

You can use any size or virtually any kind of container as long as it provides adequate drainage, and is large enough to accommodate the plant. Regardless of the container, adequate drainage is needed.

A rule of thumb is the hole should be one-half inch in diameter. A minimum of 4 holes should be drilled in the bottom of each container. Place either newspaper or screening on the bottom to hold the dirt in the container. Be sure to avoid all containers with narrow openings.

One word of caution. Any container that drains water will discolor or stain concrete and wood flooring or deck. With container gardening more watering is needed than with a traditional garden. However, the water must drain out of the container. If it does not, the roots do not get the oxygen they need. Plus the roots will rot. You can get very inexpensive plastic saucers to put under the containers you are using. Discount stores have them in the gardening section.

Be aware that cheap plastic pots may deteriorate in UV sunlight. Terra cotta pots dry out more rapidly, and wooden containers are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar make excellent containers since they take much longer to rot than regular untreated wood. In addition, DO NOT use any wood that has been treated with creosote, penta, or other toxic compounds. The vapors can damage the plants.

Next comes the planting of the Container Garden. First is the growing medium. Make sure that your growing mixture drains easily, but still retains moisture. This will help keep the roots of the plants or evenly moist.

Soil less potting mixes work very well. A few brand names are Jiffy Mix, Bacto, Promix, and Jiffy Pro.

This type of growing medium drains quickly, is relatively free from disease and weed seeds. The nice part is the soil less medium can be bought at any garden center, and even the discount super stores just to name a few. However, when this type of growing medium is used, more frequent fertilizing will be needed.

Soil mix is another way to go. This growing medium is usually made up of one part sphagnum pet moss or compost, one part pasteurized soil, one part vermiculite or perlite, and possibly some composted manure. There are even some that have slow-release fertilizer mixed in. One brand comes to mind and that is Expert.A big difference between soiless mix and soil type medium is that the soil type holds more water.

The availability of  sunlight needs to be taken into consideration. The vegetables need at least five hours of direct sunlight a day. Generally, leafy vegetables like cabbage and lettuce can handle a mostly shady area. Whereby vegetables like beets and carrots need more sun. However, vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers need the most sun of all.

Vegetables grown in containers need more watering than plants grown in a regular garden. Since the volume of medium is fairly small, the containers dry out faster. In fact smaller pots dry out faster than larger pots.

To be on the safe side, check containers at least once and twice a day. When it is hot, dry, or windy, the medium dries out the fastest. However, remember that too much water can be just as bad as not enough watering.

It is advisable to buy an instrument that when stuck into the growing medium will tell you if water is needed. This may seem like a pain in the neck, but is well worth it. Especially when you harvest a bountiful crop that has been well cared for.

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Tags: alternative gardening, container gardening, containers, gardening

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 • Food