It hadn’t occurred to me until Teacher Girl asked that perhaps I have something to offer the worldwide web about gardening.
I myself have found most of my information about gardening from the web, from planting dates to the depths of containers needed. I also have had a great resource in my Dad, longtime gardener and definitely source of my green thumb.
I know there are many people, especially young urbanites, that would love to garden, but they don’t think they have the space. While I’m sure that there are some who absolutely have no way of managing it, I think that most of us can figure out something: balcony, windowsills, plant lights, etc.
What can you plant in containers?
Anything. Well, I’m sure that there are some things that wouldn’t work too well (like say, a tree), but for the most part, you can plant anything in a container garden that you might want. Some plants that I know do well in containers: lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, radishes, and herbs.
What kind of container do I need?
There’s no need to get fancy. The containers does need to have holes in the bottom for drainage, but you can always add these yourself with a knife. It’s also a good idea, particular in warmer areas, not to have a dark-colored container. These will make the soil quite warm in the sun and may fry the roots.
The size of the plant will also help determine the size of the pot needed. I plant my tomato plants in pots that are about 2 feet across and 2 feet deep. Lettuce and spinach grow great in window boxes. Root vegetables (onions, carrots, radishes, beets, etc.) will need to be in soil 10″ deep.
This 65-quart container is perfect for root vegetables like onions
“Real” pots can be expensive, but plastic tubs are perfectly usable, as I did with my onions this year. You will just need to add the holes in the bottom yourself.
Note that tomato plants will need cages/staking and other plants like peppers and vine plants do best staked.
What about soil, sun, and water?
I use potting soil, which is not necessarily cheap. You may be able to get some dirt from a cheaper source. The good thing is that you don’t have to buy new soil every year: I do a version of “crop rotation,” mixing the soil between containers and adding some fresh as I am always expanding my garden.
Plants also need to be “fed.” I use MiracleGro (because my daddy did), but I’m sure there are other good options out there. This is absolutely the secret to my 6′ tall tomato plants. I feed them every 1 or 2 weeks according to the instructions on the box.
As far as sun, follow the instructions that came with the plant or seeds. Most garden plants like full sun (6+ hours a day). The good thing about planting in containers is that they are easy to move. In fact, last year I moved and took my full-grown garden with me!
Container plants need more water, as they lose it more quickly. My balcony is also covered, so my garden gets very little rain. In their early stages, they usually only need watering every other day, but once they get going, they must be watered daily. In the hottest part of the summer, depending on your location, you may even need to water twice a day.
It’s best to water in the cool parts of the day: early morning or late evening. If you do have to water during the day, do your best to avoid watering the plant itself, but just the soil around it.
Speaking of water, try collecting “waste” water for your plants. I keep a container in my sink that I put pasta water and water that has been sitting out in a glass all day. (Make sure you let the boiling water cool before pouring it on your plants!) I’ve even heard of putting a bucket in the shower, but I haven’t gone that hippie…yet.
When do I plant?
This varies greatly by location. You can usually follow the map found on the back of seed packets or do some research on your area online. I was able to find a document put out by our local university with very specific times to plant various plants which I found very helpful. My dad is a great gardening resource, but he’s never gardened in North Carolina!
Some plants can be started indoors. I always like to start cucumbers indoors. I’ve also started growing herbs indoors this year, but since I’ve never kept any herbs alive, I won’t give any advice in that. Some plants, like lettuce and spinach, don’t like the heat and need to be planted in the spring and fall in warmer areas. I’m going to try them indoors this summer as well, but since I haven’t yet done it, it’s still a bit of an experiment.
Well, that’s about all I have. I find gardening exciting and rewarding. I love watching my green babies grow up, and love that I can save some money and eat fresher veggies.
