Container Gardening Tips Organic Gardening 101

Container Gardening Tips

trigger 16 years ago

Adequate sunshine, water, and fertilizer plus a well drained
growing medium are essential for successful
container gardens.
Containers
Almost any type of container can be used if it provides
good drainage through holes in the bottom or around the
sides near the bottom. If adding holes, drill four or more
1/4 -inch holes evenly spaced around the container bottom.
To further help drainage, put about
1/2 inch of coarse gravel,
Small stones, or pieces of a broken clay pot in the bottom.
These items are not a substitute for drainage holes.

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trigger 15 years ago said:

jrt_mom raised the question about container gardens.
She lives in the Philippines if anyone from here area could help her with your success then by all means chime in.

In the meantime here is what I suggest:
~Leila, Metro Manila is in the Philippines a place I am not that failure with as far as climate and lighting goes.
However the basics still apply.

Full sun is ideal for tomatoes and peppers so long as you have adequate drainage.
Remember low nitrogen is preferred for tomatoes and peppers or you will wind up with bushy plants instead of those that are loaded with fruit.
Herbs like lost of drainage and do best in full sun also but can be grown in partial shade.

Containers are a great way to stretch your garden rather then plant all your vegetables in one area you could place some plant in a few different places making sure you have three feet of space between plants or you will wind up with fungus or wilting problems if you have a humid climate. Air circulation is critical for the plants to thrive in a humid zone.

You could grow your cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets and train the vines to grow downward from the pots.

I would save the larger varieties for half whisky barrels or a raised bed.
Even the smaller squash and cucumbers can be grown on vines that are trained to grow vertical such as acorn, delecata or summer squash and zucchini if they are not left to grow to large.

I believe your soil may be too rich in nitrogen and that is why your harvest is lite. Use less fertilizer especially nitrogen.

Good luck
Michael

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juels 15 years ago said:

Nice tips, Michael! Love this group!

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

Container pots usually have drainage holes as well as a water holding saucer on the bottom of the pot.

Most plants do not like wet feet and will not perform well or even drown if the roots get into the water reserve saucer.

To prevent this, put drainage gravel in the bottom of the pot up to the top of where it holds water, as trigger has said, then cover the gravel with some landscape cloth and cover with a little soil. The gravel will fill the area of the water retention while still letting reserve water stay in the pot. The landscape fabric will keep the soil from clogging the rocks and drainage holes while also preventing the roots from growing into the water reserve. The soil on top of the landscape fabric will act as a wick to suck up water as needed.

Finish filling the container pot with soil and the selected plant.

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momto5 14 years ago said:

That's alot to say with a sore beak points!

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

Squawk

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crazycookinchick 14 years ago said:

I could seriously get some tomato plants growing in my lil space, from a container?
Hmmmmm.... maybe I should do peppers.
My problem is they get going then they get killed by something..... grrrrr

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pointsevenout 14 years ago said:

Peppers need a rich soil and also take 80 degrees to germinate. Use a fruit tree spray that is a fungicide and insecticide. Maybe someone can offer an organic alternative. Do you have an enclosed porch or stoop that you can use to keep some big critter from munching on the plant, if that is the case. Or maybe sprinkle some ground hot peppers around the plant outside to discourage critters. Or maybe some fox urine crystals. Nothing like the scent of a predator to keep your wildlife at bay.

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crazycookinchick 14 years ago said:

OK I'm determined this year to have herbs growing in my kitchen. I don't have outdoor growing ability. I googled it and they said to use only potting mix, w/out soil as soil brings diseases and things that can/will kill your plants. I thought this very intriguing.
I do have an enclosed backporch, but I'm hesitant to use it again. I A. forgot to water daily and they dried up, B. Sometimes watering daily wasn't enough., C. I feel like things sitting in my kitchen windows flourish the best.

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dixiesmom 14 years ago said:

Just a little tip regarding containers.

If the container is quite deep, squish a plastic milk jug or soda pop bottle and place in the bottom of the container.

Not only does it improve drainage but you use a lot less soil, potting mix etc.

And the container isn't near as heavy if you have to move them around.

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silentexplorer13 13 years ago said:

Dixiesmom - Good point! My first go-round with containers I filled a few big ones all the way with dirt, only to realize they're a bit heavy and I really didn't need all that dirt in there. Since then, I add a good amount of sticks/twigs/etc that I've accumulated to the bottom, then add soil.

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pleclare 13 years ago said:

Great information!

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