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Container Gardening Tips and Tricks


Gardening in small spaces

Imagine wanting to produce your own homegrown vegetables. It is a practice that would not only save you money but would allow you to ensure that what you are eating is healthy and safe from chemicals. Almost any vegetable can be grown in an appropriate-sized container. For those gardeners who enjoy adding colour to their garden or living spaces, container gardening works the same for ornamental plants.

If you are on a budget then these basic tips should help you to successfully grow your vegetables or ornamental plants.


What is it?  
Container gardening involves planting your vegetables and seasonings in any item that can hold material for planting. This works well if you do not have a lot of space around your home or yard, or you do not want to set up a permanent grow box.


Where can it be done?

Container gardening can be done in any area with adequate sunlight ( patio, yard, side of the house, etc.). It is perfect for persons who live in apartments, townhouses, etc.


What type of containers can be used?

A variety of containers can be used. If you want to go cheaper you can use old buckets, pans, basins, kegs, barrels, old tires, old Styrofoam food containers, vegetable growing bags, or anything that can hold the growing medium (soil). If you are seeking a more aesthetically pleasing or attractive look, then you can purchase plastic, ceramic or concrete pots, planters, etc.
















What can you plant?

A variety of vegetables can be planted. These include:
Vegetables: lettuce, pak choi, tomatoes, melongene, sweet peppers, and beets. 
Herbs and seasonings:- thyme, parsley, chive, celery, hot peppers, seasoning peppers.

Getting started

Size of container
The size of the container you should use would depend on the type and size of the plant you are growing. Taller larger plants have roots that spread more and go deeper into the soil, therefore you would need a larger deeper container (e.g. tomatoes, melongene, sweet peppers). Leafy vegetables like lettuce and pak choi are shallow-rooted crops and thus the container chosen can be shorter and wider. The container for herbs and spices would depend on the number of plants you would like to plant.

Drainage

Regardless of the type of container, you have chosen, proper drainage is important. If you purchased a container then it may already have drainage holes. For containers without holes, depending on the material, you can either drill holes or punch holes at the bottom of the container using a nail, ice pick, etc. I have found that it is better to make numerous small holes rather than a few large holes. This way the growing medium does not seep through the holes during watering. Ensure that you make holes around the outer edge of the container for better drainage.

It is wise to cover the holes at the bottom of the pot to prevent them from clogging and preventing proper drainage and to prevent the soil from seeping through. While some individuals have found the use of gravel, stones, rocks, or broken bricks to be effective. I have found the use of broken-up or S-shaped packing Styrofoam is extremely successful. Stones and rocks can make your containers pretty heavy. Styrofoam, on the other hand, keeps my containers light and allows me to move them around regularly. The  Styrofoam does not deteriorate and can be reused time and time again.



Growing medium (soil)

Whilst using soil-less media such as sawdust, promix, rice hulls, coffee hulls, and bagasse combined with sharp sand (for drainage), is highly recommended for container gardening because they are lightweight and usually free from soil-borne pests and diseases. In Trinidad, I have found that they are either relatively expensive or not always available. I have also found that these materials require large quantities of chemical fertilizers for plants to grow successfully, as they lack the nutrients required by the plants.

For persons interested in organic gardening, the use of a mixture of soil, animal manure, and/or composted material, and sharp sand, which is then sterilized, can be ideal as a potting mix.

The potting mix is placed on top of the layer of material used for drainage, and the container is then filled to about 2-3 cm from the top edge (rim) of the container. This ensures that the soil does not run off the edge of the pot during watering.

Water the dry soil thoroughly and set it aside for planting your seedlings. You will know that the soil has enough water when you see water running out from the bottom of the container.



Transplanting seedlings
You can either purchase seedlings from a nursery or garden shop or you can sow your own seeds. Seeds must be sown 4-6 weeks prior to transplanting into the final container, or when the seedlings have 2-3 leaves.
Ensure that the seedlings are healthy (free from pests and diseases, and have a strong root system). When transplanting be careful not to damage the delicate roots and leaves.




HAPPY PLANTING





3 comments:

  1. Love your site, very informative. I will definitely be asking you for your expertise and advice in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for your interest. I am happy to help you with your gardening

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your sight has been a great help

    ReplyDelete

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