Container Gardening Growing Vegetable in Containers For small

Container Gardening

Growing Vegetable in Containers • • • For small spaces Temporary residence Moveable gardens Exterior design Accent gardens Able gardening for limited mobility of the gardener

Is your sun only in the front yard, but you would like to grow vegetables?

Good news! • Veggies grow in the front yard as well as in the back yard! In this workshop we will explore many options for growing healthy vegetables in containers to be beautiful, as well as delicious!

Container Gardening can be moveable or stationary

Containers can be an accent in the landscape • On a corner of a garage • Corner of a house or yard • Corner of a porch or deck

Varieties of Styles A complete garden for one person in a condo Containers within a perennial bed

Back yard container vegetables in June, planted in May

The same containers in July

Abundant, Continual Harvest Begins

More from the same containers!

Able gardening

Please consider some of these ideas. And come up with a few of your own!

Vegetables and flowers in the front yard in June

Three Tomato plants in containers within a perennial flower boarder

Two containers for March planting of peas, in the front corner • followed by May planting of climbing string beans, in the same space • with nasturtiums as a companion planting • Followed by August planting of peas

The containers are deep and separate the soil of the vegetables from the flowers

The containers are easier to maintain and are decorative as well.

Accent container of Cucumbers!

This container accents the corner of the garage

Containers are a nice way to move into edible landscapes • Consider containers of patio tomatoes with basil and marigolds for an edible accent to a porch or patio. • Consider cucumbers, squash varieties or string beans with a trellis in containers – All will climb

More containers to consider: • A lettuce mix in a container in a shaded area of a porch, patio or yard • Carrots and radishes in a container of sandy soil

Potatoes • In a deep, large container of sandy soil – Maybe a half whisky barrel or a large storage container with holes in the bottom for drainage – Planting them in one foot of soil and cover – Wait for sprouts to show leaves – Plant another layer between the stems and cover – Wait for sprouts of both to show leaves – Add one more Layer and cover

Potato container care • Water daily until one week after the last planting • Each stem of the potato plant should be in full leaf • Water deeply twice a week until the foliage starts to die back in the early fall and then stop watering. • Add garden-tone fertilizer to plantings monthly

Container Potato Harvesting • In mid September, or later, • Have baskets or paper bags available • Lay out a tarp to catch the potatoes and soil • turn the container over on to the tarp • Pick up your potatoes and save the soil for next year!

More veggies in containers Salad greens; harvest outside leaves to keep the harvest going Cherry tomatoes, basil varieties and chives

Salad Gardens

Be creative with your landscape! • Consider the foods you enjoy • Think about incorporating them into your containers through your gardens • Merge beauty and function • Gardening will be more fun and delicious!

The whole family will enjoy the fruits of their labors!

Establishing or converting your landscape takes time • Consider how much time, energy and resources you have • Consider the environment you live in • Consider the reality of tending this new landscape • Be patient with your progress

Tending vegetables and fruits in containers is a little different than tending them in the landscape.

Containers need water more often

I go out to check and water my vegetables each morning • To make sure none of them are stressed • To make sure there are no predators of bugs or animals • To provide a drink for them in the early morning when they need it most

Water for the garden is best given in the morning • Plants sleep through the night • They are thirsty in the morning • Water from the evening will not be available in the morning for the plants • Watering in the evening will encourage mold and mildew – Mold and mildew grow in dark, moist places

Tap Water, or Rain Water • If you use “municipal” water supply – Contains chlorine to kill bacteria in the pipes – Chlorine also kills beneficial bacteria in the soil – So, leave the containers of water out, overnight to let the chlorine dissipate before using it – OR Collect rain water in a rain barrel from the gutters. That is the best water for containers!

A bucket garden of vegetables

Tomato and pepper plants in storage containers

Clusters of small containers Herbs and strawberries More herb ideas

Harvesting herbs and greens Pick the outer stems and leaves to let the plant continue to produce

Remember to water the plants regularly

Cucumbers up a trellis

Or squash, or string beans up a trellis

Cucumbers in a container behind the fence, as well as in the ground poking through the fence!

Vegetables in containers along the driveway

Squash, Cucumbers, String Beans all can climb up a trellis

Try a large container of radishes, carrots and trailing petunias for the children

What have you already done in your own yard? ?

By growing your own food and noticing more, you will: • Eat more healthy food • Have more control over what is in your food • Save money on food • Be more healthy • Get more fresh air, sunshine and exercise

Enjoy more of life!

Back yard or front yard

Wherever you have your vegetable garden Enjoy the “fruits of your labors” And be healthy !

Happy Gardening!