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The Hollyberry Lady · 10-20-2010, 03:53 PM

Great thread, Ante!

I've been growing veggies & fruits in pots for many years and have tons of experience. Here's a pic I took today of my Determinate "Patio" tomato plant I am currently growing in a 3 gallon pot in my sunny living room window...

Vegetable Container Gardening...

Many fresh veggies, strawberries, and some shrubby berries can be grown productively in containers. I've been doing it for over seven years now and it's not difficult. You can have your own mini-farm on a patio, deck, or balcony. You can also use containers to overcome problems of poor garden soil, heavy root competition, or shade.

For success with growing veggies in containers, you need to consider the location and size of the container, the soil mixture in the container, and the watering and fertilizing needs of the plants.

Nearly all veggies and berries require full sunlight. Crops will grow faster and produce more in full sun than in partial shade. Plants grown for their fruits, such as tomatoes, squashes, and strawberries, need at least 6-8 hours of daily sunlight. If all you have is a partially shaded site, you can still get a harvest of root and leaf crops. Using the descriptions of individual crops, match your choices to the location of your containers.

Many vegeatables are available in dwarf varieties, or varieties that have more restrained growth than usual. These are ideal for growing in containers. "Patio" tomatoes, finger or round carrots, and bush type beans, cucumbers, melons, and squash are examples of small versions of normally very big plants.

Nearly anything that will hold soil and allow water to drain from it, can be used as a container. The most important consideration is that the container offer enough room for the roots of the crop you intend to grow. You can raise a stand of Chives in an 8" pot, but a squash plant in the same container will fail resoundingly. Most crops need soil that is 12" deep and bigger is definitely better.

Large wood boxes, wooden barrels, and large (1 foot in diameter or greater) clay or plastic pots will hold enough soil for all but the largest of veggies. Remember that the smaller the container is, the faster it'll dry out and the more it will be subject to changes in temperature.

Hanging containers...which you might plant tomatoes, for example...can dry out rapidly because they are so thoroughly exposed to sunlight and wind. Be sure to water regularily, and since the hanging pots can become quite heavy when filled with mature plants, be sure to use sturdy hooks and wire or chain for suspending them.

Container soil must provide free penetration of water and air, but ideally it should retain moisture as well. A liberal quantity of organic matter in the soil mixture helps. Usually a combination of peat moss or other organic material and sand, perlite, or vermiculite works well...but they dry out quickly, and often contain no nutrients.

Container veggies need lots of water...and fertilizer. In the heat of the Summer you could find your self watering your veggie pots daily. To maintain steady growth, potted veggies need a regular and consistent supply of nutrients. I like to add Blood & Bonemeal to my new container veggies to get them off to a good start and then I hit them with a water-soluble organic solution weekly thereafter.

Another concern, is that veggies in pots can become very top-heavy and the containers can fall over as a result. Heavy clay pots will remedy this, or putting heavy rocks in the bottom of your pots before you plant in them will also help.

Peppers grow excellent in pots too. Here's some of my indoor plants today still producing fruits...

Hope this information is useful to vegetable container gardeners.

: )

10-20-2010, 03:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,456,759 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Growing potted vegetables Great thread, Ante! I've been growing veggies & fruits in pots for many years and have tons of experience. Here's a pic I took today of my Determinate "Patio" tomato plant I am currently growing in a 3 gallon pot in my sunny living room window... Vegetable Container Gardening... Many fresh veggies, strawberries, and some shrubby berries can be grown productively in containers. I've been doing it for over seven years now and it's not difficult. You can have your own mini-farm on a patio, deck, or balcony. You can also use containers to overcome problems of poor garden soil, heavy root competition, or shade. For success with growing veggies in containers, you need to consider the location and size of the container, the soil mixture in the container, and the watering and fertilizing needs of the plants. Nearly all veggies and berries require full sunlight. Crops will grow faster and produce more in full sun than in partial shade. Plants grown for their fruits, such as tomatoes, squashes, and strawberries, need at least 6-8 hours of daily sunlight. If all you have is a partially shaded site, you can still get a harvest of root and leaf crops. Using the descriptions of individual crops, match your choices to the location of your containers. Many vegeatables are available in dwarf varieties, or varieties that have more restrained growth than usual. These are ideal for growing in containers. "Patio" tomatoes, finger or round carrots, and bush type beans, cucumbers, melons, and squash are examples of small versions of normally very big plants. Nearly anything that will hold soil and allow water to drain from it, can be used as a container. The most important consideration is that the container offer enough room for the roots of the crop you intend to grow. You can raise a stand of Chives in an 8" pot, but a squash plant in the same container will fail resoundingly. Most crops need soil that is 12" deep and bigger is definitely better. Large wood boxes, wooden barrels, and large (1 foot in diameter or greater) clay or plastic pots will hold enough soil for all but the largest of veggies. Remember that the smaller the container is, the faster it'll dry out and the more it will be subject to changes in temperature. Hanging containers...which you might plant tomatoes, for example...can dry out rapidly because they are so thoroughly exposed to sunlight and wind. Be sure to water regularily, and since the hanging pots can become quite heavy when filled with mature plants, be sure to use sturdy hooks and wire or chain for suspending them. Container soil must provide free penetration of water and air, but ideally it should retain moisture as well. A liberal quantity of organic matter in the soil mixture helps. Usually a combination of peat moss or other organic material and sand, perlite, or vermiculite works well...but they dry out quickly, and often contain no nutrients. Container veggies need lots of water...and fertilizer. In the heat of the Summer you could find your self watering your veggie pots daily. To maintain steady growth, potted veggies need a regular and consistent supply of nutrients. I like to add Blood & Bonemeal to my new container veggies to get them off to a good start and then I hit them with a water-soluble organic solution weekly thereafter. Another concern, is that veggies in pots can become very top-heavy and the containers can fall over as a result. Heavy clay pots will remedy this, or putting heavy rocks in the bottom of your pots before you plant in them will also help. Peppers grow excellent in pots too. Here's some of my indoor plants today still producing fruits... Hope this information is useful to vegetable container gardeners. : ) Last edited by The Hollyberry Lady : 10-20-2010 at 05:20 PM. Reason: damn spelling!!!