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Posted: Mar/20/2006 3:37 AM PST
What do you use for your containers? How big are they and for what? I'm thinking: small trees, veggies, etc. to be grown on small balconies. My balcony (about 2'x5') is the only place that gets a full day's sunshine; I have started lots of things on it and have some things down in the yard, but soon the leaves will come on the trees and those plants that need more than a morning's or afternoon's sunshine are going to have to move up. Would you suggest trying veggies that need more room in separate containers or trying a few in one large (maybe about 20"x30"x15"d) container? And if you have that big a container, do you need holes in the bottom? Thanks, Cantate :strawberr |
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Posted: Mar/20/2006 4:13 AM PST
Cantate, Welcome to the world of container gardening! I think there are a number of opinions on whether to just have one kind of plant (veggie, herb or flower) in a pot/container or group them or work on companion planting. I have to admit that I fall into the category of companion planting. The upside is that it keeps down on pests.....and the flowers or foliage from the companion plants seem to work well from an artistic standpoint too....and attract bees for pollination of the veggies. The downside is that you have that much more fighting for space and water! I plant garlic chives and marigolds around the base of my tomato plants in the containers. It helps keep down the weeds and the amount of mulch I need. I also use large saucers underneath - so yes you do need drainage holes or your roots might get a tad too soggy. In a container that is 18"dia and about the 18" high, I tend to fill the first 3 inches with a combo of broken terra cotta shards, clam/mussel shells and gravel. That way there is better drainage. I also add perlite or vermiculite to the potting soil if it doesn't already have it......and sometimes that much more, to cut down on the amount of "weight" of the soil. This might be important if you're considering putting your pots/containers on a balcony - weight load being a structural factor to be considered. Hope that helps some. Good luck! |
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Posted: Mar/20/2006 5:57 AM PST
Wow, very helpful, Zana. I think companion planting sounds good too. I can just see all those plants with their little picket signs in the air, though: "More Water for Chives!" "More Space for Tomato Plants"! My potting soil already has vermiculite. Do you mix peat in with it? Cantate |
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Posted: Mar/20/2006 12:20 PM PST
I am not too good at companion planting. Would like to learn / know more. I am doing container planting this yr.also |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 7:23 AM PST
Yes I do mix peat in with it. Especially in very hot summers. It helps to hold water in the potting mix longer - at least in my experience.....but I think it would also depend on what you plan to put in the pot/container, so that you have the right PH levels. |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 2:32 PM PST
I love planting in containers, it's great to move them around whenever you feel like it and try different combinations. I just started companion planting a few years ago but not with veggies, just with foliage plants, ornamental grasses, and some flowers. I too make my own recipe for soil but it depends on the plant. More perlite or the like for plants that don't like wet feet, 3" of styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot (I take the peanuts from work - I figure it's the only way to reduce/reuse/recycle them). For things that dry out quicker or need more water retention, I add some peat and make sure I mulch them well. I've also found that spraying them with a Dawn dish soap/Neem Oil mixture (at night) consistently helps keep the buggies at bay. The type of container is imporant too, I mostly use plastic in all sizes. I find many of the cheaper ceramics/terra cotta dry out the plants too much and they don't weather all that well. I only use them for cactus (sedum, aloe, ice plant). Cantate, you might want to also check with your building people and see if there are restrictions on balcony planting. An online friend was forced to take all his plants off his balcony, it broke his heart to do it since they couldn't survive anywhere else. It was either that or be evicted though, so he had no choice.  I'm looking forward to creating my own containers this year. Hooray for in-lawn sprinklers! 
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 3:01 PM PST
I do toms in containers since I have a deer problem......5 gallon buckets, nothing fancy, good soil, fertilizer during the summer, punched many holes in the bottom.......and I can move them when I want....beans also worked out well in containers-put a small trellis in the bucket....and they climbed right up the house... |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 3:09 PM PST
Quote: Which veggies do you have in mind?Originally posted by cantate7 What do you use for your containers? How big are they and for what?I'm thinking: small trees, veggies, etc. to be grown on small balconies. My balcony (about 2'x5') is the only place that gets a full day's sunshine; I have started lots of things on it and have some things down in the yard, but soon the leaves will come on the trees and those plants that need more than a morning's or afternoon's sunshine are going to have to move up. Would you suggest trying veggies that need more room in separate containers or trying a few in one large (maybe about 20"x30"x15"d) container? And if you have that big a container, do you need holes in the bottom? Thanks, Cantate :strawberr Some work well in containers some you can forget. I've done Container Gardening for a few years and love it. I have enough room to garden in the ground but I'm hooked on containers. Here's what I'd do. Decide which veggies etc. I want to grow then research its requirements then conclude which can go where. Also know what soil mix I'll will be using and make certain I have holes for drainage and have them off the wood like Ron suggested, a few bricks will work;maybe a flat dish under to catch the water also. If you mix peat in with your mix make certain you wet it completely before you add it. It is a real time consumiing task once you add it so I wet well before hand. Make certain you water well (slowly for best results and in the AM) each time you water and a little mulch or pea pebbles on top layer will retain moisture. Happy Container Gardening...:broccoli: :carrot: Kale 
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 3:14 PM PST
I just saw this at the Burpee site. It's a patio princess hybrid. |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 3:18 PM PST
I also found this website: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/co ntainer/container.html It tells you what sort of veggie varieties can be in a container |
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