Think you’re a plant killer, or haven’t ever tried to garden? Growing a garden in a container is a great place to start. A
complete novice can create a spectacular container garden. All you really need to get started is a container, some potting
soil and either seeds or plants. Gardening in containers can be economical. You can use almost anything for a container.
Bucket found at a yard sale, with a few holes punched in the bottom, can make a great container garden. Just look around your
house and you’ll be surprised how many things will work: from outgrown toy bins to bright plastic tubs. Put drainage holes in
the bottom, fill them with potting soil, add pansies or nasturtiums and for a few dollars you’ve made a lovely visual
statement.
However, there are some “deadly mistakes” that many people make. Are you unwittingly killing your plants?
1. Pick the right container
Some containers are lightweight, a strong wind can blow plants over, resulting in major damage. Making sure the container is
both deep and heavy, and you want to be able to move it, consider using plastic packing peanuts in the bottom to ensure that
your pot will drain. The size of the container will be determined by the vegetablegrown. Generally, most vegetables grown in
the soil can be grown incontainers as long as ample space is provided for root development. Shallow rooted crops like
lettuce, peppers, radishes, and herbs needa container at least 6 inches in diameter with an eight inch soildepth. Bushel
baskets, half barrels, wooden tubs, or large pressedpaper containers are ideal for growing
tomatoes, squash, pole beans,and
cucumbers. The ideal planting medium for containers should provide rapid drainage with sufficient water retention to keep the
root zone uniformly moist.
2. Pick the right spot
What are you planting? Do those plants like lots of sunlight? Or just a little? The beauty of above ground gardening is
that you can move it to suit the needs of the plants. Are there any reflective surfaces such as bricks or walls will reflect
heat onto your veggies?
3. Containers are not natural.
A container is not a natural place for a plant to grow. A container is confining, and without natural insulation, its
contents dry out quickly. The root system requires water and food in adequate doses. Roots run out of space and demand
repotting. With containers, you can provide exactly the right soil the plant needs, move the plant around when weather
doesn’t suit it, and protect the plant from pests. Plus, you get to know individual plants better as they respond to your
care. Designing with container plants. Containers can do all the things that a whole garden can: announce the seasons, flash
bright color, and create miniature slices of nature. Your designs really depend on maintenance considerations – plan
placement of plants, whether in the same container or in several containers grouped together, according to their shared
requirements for care.
4. Pick the right soil.
Most container gardeners have found that a”soilless” potting mix works best. In addition to draining quickly,”soilless” mixes
are lightweight and free from soil-borne diseasesand weed seeds. These mixes can be purchased from garden centers invarious
sizes under many different brand names. The do-it-yourself individual can make a planting medium by mixingequal parts of
sand, loamy garden soil, and peat moss. The mix shouldbe heated in an oven for 1 hour at 210.
Think you’re a plant killer, or haven’t ever tried to garden?
Growing a garden in a container is a great place to start. A complete novice can create a spectacular container garden. All you really need to get started is a container, some potting soil and either seeds or plants. Gardening in containers can be economical. You can use almost anything for a container. Bucket found at a yard sale, with a few holes punched in the bottom, can make a great container garden. Just look around your house and you’ll be surprised how many things will work: from outgrown toy bins to bright plastic tubs. Put drainage holes in the bottom, fill them with potting soil, add pansies or nasturtiums and for a few dollars you’ve made a lovely visual statement.
However, there are some “deadly mistakes” that many people make. Are you unwittingly killing your plants?
1. Pick the right container
Some containers are lightweight, a strong wind can blow plants over, resulting in major damage. Making sure the container is both deep and heavy, and you want to be able to move it, consider using plastic packing peanuts in the bottom to ensure that your pot will drain. The size of the container will be determined by the vegetablegrown. Generally, most vegetables grown in the soil can be grown incontainers as long as ample space is provided for root development. Shallow rooted crops like lettuce, peppers, radishes, and herbs needa container at least 6 inches in diameter with an eight inch soildepth. Bushel baskets, half barrels, wooden tubs, or large pressedpaper containers are ideal for growing tomatoes, squash, pole beans,and cucumbers. The ideal planting medium for containers should provide rapid drainage with sufficient water retention to keep the root zone uniformly moist.
2. Pick the right spot
What are you planting? Do those plants like lots of sunlight? Or just a little? The beauty of above ground gardening is that you can move it to suit the needs of the plants. Are there any reflective surfaces such as bricks or walls will reflect heat onto your veggies?
3. Containers are not natural
A container is not a natural place for a plant to grow. A container is confining, and without natural insulation, its contents dry out quickly. The root system requires water and food in adequate doses. Roots run out of space and demand repotting. With containers, you can provide exactly the right soil the plant needs, move the plant around when weather doesn’t suit it, and protect the plant from pests. Plus, you get to know individual plants better as they respond to your care. Designing with container plants. Containers can do all the things that a whole garden can: announce the seasons, flash bright color, and create miniature slices of nature. Your designs really depend on maintenance considerations – plan placement of plants, whether in the same container or in several containers grouped together, according to their shared requirements for care.
4. Pick the right soil.
Most container gardeners have found that a”soilless” potting mix works best. In addition to draining quickly,”soilless” mixes are lightweight and free from soil-borne diseasesand weed seeds. These mixes can be purchased from garden centers in various sizes under many different brand names. The do-it-yourself individual can make a planting medium by mixing equal parts of sand, loamy garden soil, and peat moss. The mix shouldbe heated in an oven for 1 hour at 210.
Gardening In A Box
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