Now that it is late February, this is the best time to plan and prepare for container gardens on your patio, deck, balcony, or in your landscape gardens.<\/p>\n
Just to let you know that I AM A CONTAINER GARDENING NUT! Now more so than ever because I recently moved and will be doing more growing in containers than ever before.<\/p>\n
Before we get started, you need to ask yourself, \u201cDo I have enough sun to successfully grow herbs and vegetables?” Keep in mind that vegetables and herbs are sun lovers and need a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight to grow well and produce. If you answer the question with a \u201cyes,\u201d then we can proceed further.<\/p>\n
You may ask yourself is \u201cWhat do I use for a container and what size?\u201d Simply put, a container is anything that can hold soil. So, a container can be simply a clay pot or a half whiskey barrel, or a colorful, glazed container. I have them all and then some. I have an old black cauldron and even an old Red Flyer Wagon that I use as containers. With any container, it is very important to make sure that the containers have sufficient drainage holes. Good drainage is key to being a successful vegetable and herb grower.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the size of the container, my personal feeling is that the bigger the better. I feel that larger containers, with more space and soil, require less maintenance and give you more options when it comes to planting selection and companion planting.<\/p>\n
What soil is best for growing vegetables and herbs in containers? No question that soil is important to being a successful container gardener. I prefer a mixture of a good quality potting soil that is mixed with some organic matter, such as composted cow manure or earthworm castings. This combination will provide a loose, well-drained soil that is full of nutrients.<\/p>\n
Can some of my chosen and favorite vegetables and herbs be grown in the same container? This is a very good and logical question, and the answer all depends on the plants and whether they can be compatible within one container. You need to know the eventual growing dimensions for each plant. For example, a tomato plant needs a large container to grow in because of the size it grows to. There would be very little room for companion planting. However, you could try growing English thyme in this tomato container since thyme is a creeper and will spill over the edge of the pot very nicely.<\/p>\n
What about watering? Watering is a key ingredient to being successful in growing vegetables and herbs in containers. We can\u2019t always rely on Mother Nature to provide us with all the water needed by the containers. You need to use your finger and stick it down into the soil and feel for moisture. If the soil feels dry to the knuckle then you may want to water. When you do water, then water slowly and thoroughly saturate the soil until the excess water comes out of the drainage holes.<\/p>\n
How often do I need to fertilize my vegetables and herbs? Personally, I like to stay as organic as possible when I grow vegetables and herbs. So, at the time of planting, I use and highly recommend adding ESPOMA BIO-TONE<\/strong> to the soil. Bio-Tone is an organic product that promotes root development, which will lead to healthier and stronger plants. Bio-Tone lasts in the soil and dramatically reduces any need to do any further fertilizing with any fertilizer. To stay organic, then use some of the other Espoma plant foods, such as Tomato-Tone, which has added calcium, or Garden-Tone.<\/p>\n What about insects? Good question. Plants that are strong, healthy, cared for properly, and happy, and not in any stress, seem to have few problems with pests. However, it is always a good idea to keep an eye out for any insects. A common insect is aphids, which will appear on the newer growth. If you want to stay organic, as I do, then a soapy bath with Ivory soap and water can do the trick to ward off any unwanted insects. By not using any chemical sprays, you are helping to keep our bees and other pollinators healthy and safe.<\/p>\n One more thing that I want to stress, and that is DON\u2019T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE!! With failure comes experience and knowledge, so embrace any failure and turn it around. Don\u2019t let failure win. I have experienced plenty of failures with container gardening over the years. And, at the same time, I have enjoyed some wonderful successes.<\/p>\n Give container gardening a shot. You will have fun picking fresh vegetables and herbs that you grew yourself. A very rewarding feeling.<\/p>\n Happy Gardening!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Managing Pests Organically<\/h2>\n
Embracing the Challenges of Container Gardening<\/h2>\n