CONTAINER GARDENING

BASIC CONTAINER GROWING INFORMATION:

Even if you live in an apartment you can grow something. One of my first projects was growing tomatoes on the patio in a container. Another project was to grow a few herbs in a window box. It is easier than one may think and it is something anyone can do.

Growing tomatoes doesn't have to be a big task. If your family is small, one or two tomato plants in a couple of containers on the back porch will provide enough tomatoes for a whole season. In fact, my first year of container gardening was so surprising that I was giving tomatoes to the neighbors.

Select a good sized container with drainage holes in the bottom. A good container that costs less than $10.00 can be purchased at any discount store or garden center. It isn't necessary to buy a heavy pot. In fact, I prefer the lightweight containers that look heavy. They work just as well and are easier to move if that becomes necessary.

Place a few rocks in the bottom of the container to assist in drainage. Use a good quality potting soil. Some potting soils comes with time released fertilizer already mixed in. Fill the pot about two-thirds of the way with the potting soil.

Bagged commercial potting mixes are the very best choice for filling containers.

You will need to purchase enough container soil to fill all your planters. Your very large planters and pots may be cumbersome to move around, so consider setting them in position before filling them with your potting mix. Even with the lighter pots, it is often easier to fill them where they will eventually reside. Just move around with your container mix and plants and fill up your planters with those flats of beautiful new flowers, herbs and perennials.

Always moisten potting mixture before filling containers. Pre-moistening is essential. Potting mix may be difficult to wet and you may end up with pockets of soil that stays dry. This dry soil will just pull the water right out of the plant roots and damage them. Some gardeners even consider pre-soaking their plants before filling the pots and containers.

Check your garden supply stores for tomato seedlings, small plants that are ready for planting. The variety is amazing. Whether you prefer cherry tomatoes or Big Boy tomatoes, you can easily find your favorite variety. For container gardening, I prefer Roma or grape tomatoes. But, the choice is up to the consumer.

Plant one seedling in each container. Before putting the container outside make sure that the last frost of the season has occurred. Tomatoes need sunlight so find a location that will be suitable.

Usually, it is best to cage the tomato plants when they are small. Once set up, remember to water the tomato regularly and fertilize occasionally, if necessary. Tomatoes are mostly water, so be sure they have enough water to help them grow to full size. One thing to note is that too much water will cause the tomatoes to split as they grow. But, all in all keeping the soil moist will grow the best fruits.

Growing a couple of tomato plants each year is a simple activity that requires little time. However, when you weigh the time invested, the cost of the set-up against the safety of the fruits you grow and the availability of fresh fruit daily, chances are you will decide that you have made a terrific investment. Who knows? Maybe next year you will plant a full garden

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

When you only have a few feet of balcony or patio but love the idea of gardening, try some container gardening. The basics are simply, easy and great fun. What you plant inside your container is entirely up to you; just make sure that you have the right size and type for your plants. In containers you can grow anything from pansies to petunias, from tomatoes to peppers the choice is yours.

One upside to container gardening is that you have the ability to guarantee yourself a great and an ideal gardening soil. The use of a good potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite will hold moisture longer and it also helps to make the soil well draining. First thing is to decide what sized container you want for which area, then what you want to plant. Know how much sun you will be getting at what time of day, some plants don't need all day sun while others only need partial sun and when planting plant, plants that will thrive in the same amount of sun, heat, and water, containers heat up faster and hotter than an in ground garden.

Keep in mind also that a container regardless of size should have adequate for drainage holes in the bottom and be large enough for the plants root system to grow downward after the container has been filled with soil. Container garden plants can't move deep down for surface water and the lack of it will kill them quickly. If you end up with a pot that does not have drainage holes add a minimum of a half inch of gravel to the bottom of the container for draining purposes, or insert a smaller plastic pot with drain holes inside the larger pot.

Plant your plants in the largest containers that you can afford and tailor your plants to the availability of sunlight of the day. In the hot summer months, a daily watering may be necessary so some self-watering containers are a good buy too, they will also help to give your plants a fighting chance. Keep your plants in balance with the container, wide enough and deep enough for what you are growing. Many potting soils come with fertilizer mixed in and many don't so a replenishing of soil nutrients on a regular basis will be necessary. Use good water soluble times released fertilizer and apply every two to four weeks is often enough.

A note to remember, container garden can be started in the spring as any other ground garden whether its veggies or flowers and as they start to dwindle away you have the option of starting another, because you have control of what you plant. A fall garden grows well in containers too.