Container gardening how to?

Question

I want to grow my own vegetables for my family. The problem is i live in a townhome with no yard. I know using large containers is best. Last year i grew tomato's and strawberries. I would really like to branch out and try carrots, peas, onions, potato's, garlic?, and lettuce types. Are there any other vegetables or fruits that are suited for containers? Books or websites that will offer pictures and step by step instructions. I also dont have alot of money (3kids in our family) so suggestions on containers that dont cost alot.

thanks

Answer 1

There are several basic reasons for wanting to garden in containers the most obvious, as you state, is not having space for a traditional garden. We then move on to other reasons such as wanting to have fresh vegetables for your family or growing them to save money.

An easy trap to fall into when considering container gardening is the cost of purchasing some of these systems. Earth box's website states that you can grow 16 corn plants in one of them. Assume that you will get two ears of corn from each plant. That works out to about $1.50 per ear of corn. Hardly economical.

We would suggest using recycled five gallon buckets or getting the large plastic storage containers when they are on sale. Be sure to drill some drainage holes in the bottom of the containers. Buy potting soil on sale and in the most economical size.

Visit our website for more container gardening information at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/container-gardening.html

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 2

Whenever you have limited space you want to grow those things that have the most value. For example, carrots are fairly inexpensive, and you would tie up an entire 10'-long container to grow 20 or 30#. Meanwhile, you don't need anywhere near that many carrots, and yet they basically mature at the same time, or within a month.

The same container used to grow tomatoes - if you do it right - can give you 300# of tomatoes, and they will be spaced over a period of 4 to 6 months. Go figure, each pound is more expensive to buy than carrots, and yet you can grow TEN TIMES as much in the same space.

Granted, it will take more work, but wouldn't that be worth some effort - to have tomato plants that gave you more than a pound of fruit EVERY DAY for up to 6 months in just 10 feet of space?

Now, let me hasten to say that all of the other items you said you want to grow will do FINE in a container, if cared for properly. They just don't justify the space as much as ever-bearing plants, such as peppers, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, pole beans, and so on.

As to the place to learn how to do it, I recommend www.growfood.com in the Learn section. There is a free e-book that has a whole section, with I think 8 chapters on Container gardening. You can learn ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW to get going in your container garden in the very best way.

Best wishes for success,

Jim Kennard, President
Food For Everyone Foundation
www.foodforeveryone.org
[e-mail]

Answer 3

Growing food outdoors in pots or other places is not really an option right now. It's too cold. We have pepper plants that grew in the summer, but the summer wasn't hot enough and they didn't do well. Now its even colder. Last year we grew the same plants, the same exact way and they did phenomenal. We had so many peppers we didn't know what to do with them. This year we also had a flower bed of vegetables and we grew zucchini, but again, not hot enough and many never developed before they became rotten due to the lack of heat. If you grow something, grow anything that doesn't need pollination becuase they will be indoors away from wind and bees. Make sure you can grow them in a plater on a window sill. If they don't get real sun light nothing with happen other than growing straight up looking for sunlight until they find some. Some good ones would be radishes, onions, and carrots.

Answer 4

I've grown potatoes in a big trash bag. That worked out very well, but as they grow,you need to add more soil to the bag. I've grown Sweet Corn in a 4x4 wooden box I made with scrap wood and it got so much corn , I was giving it away. Not to mention it looked really cool. You can grow anything you want. We used those big plastic tubs that are dirt cheep during the summer months. I've grown cantaloupes but the only problem was supporting them off of the ground. They where hanging over the tops of the pots,so I put them in an old pair of nylons,and hung them on a stick. They where very good! You can grow anything you want to in pots, but you'll need to change the soil every other year. Good luck,byee

Answer 5

Ironically, these containers cost. But, oh they grow well. I have six Earthbox and grow peppers and tomato's till my wife screams. In one Earthbox I can grow two tomato plants or six pepper plants. The good thing about these containers is they can be moved in and out of the sun, they only weigh 60 lbs. Have a look: http://www.earthbox.com/

Answer 6

I tried growing cucumbers, eggplants, lettuce, beans in containers...You'd be surprised how easily they grow.

i would check out the personal care needs for each thing you'd like to grow online for the best crops

I live in Sydney and found that the recent rains and frequent humid weather is helping everything grow very quickly.

I noticed on the gardening australia show on ABC that you can buy mini apple trees, mini orange trees and mini lemon trees that are very happy in pots.

i learnt to how to be a gardening after watching this show 3 years ago

Answer 7

you will discover any form of field for planting in simple terms determine it has drain holes interior the backside. And, as nicely the shops, you additionally can discover a great number of bins at flea markets etc. in case you employ those be sure you steralize them first with warm, soapy water and a splash of bleach. Then rinse them nicely. this could do away with any micro organism that the different flora would have had that lived there until now yours. lol desire this permits:}

Answer 8

Get the Earth Box. Its by far the best for the money.

Answer 9

challenging issue. look over bing and yahoo. that could help!