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Garden Gate:  Container Garden  |
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 11:32:58 AM
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I'm planning on starting a container garden this year. Anyone have any tips on what grows the best in containers?
Thanks  |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4749 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 11:46:08 AM
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What do you plan to grow, vegetables, herbs or flowers?
Dawn in IL |
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 12:00:48 PM
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| Vegetables. Sorry I forgot that piece of info |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4749 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 12:11:57 PM
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I have grown herbs and tomatoes successfully in containers. The tomatoes need to have cages put over them after you plant them. They'll grow tall enough to fill it out before you know it. The containers need to be anchored to something to keep them from falling over in the wind. I had my containers on my back deck, so I tied them to the fence. Herbs do great too, you can grow them individually, or make up arrangements in larger containers. I use organic seeds and potting soil. Make sure they get plenty of water & use an organic fertilizer according to its directions. The plants don't get any nutrients when they are in containers. Good luck on planning your container garden.
Dawn in IL |
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 12:21:59 PM
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| Thanks! From your experience what is the best type of tomatoe to grow? |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 12:33:01 PM
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I have done lettuce and radishes in one container, tomatoes in another, using a stake and stockin's to tie them up. I am attempting peppers this year and I would like to do some sweet onions. Fertilizer is very important as well as watering. I bought some inexpensive lazy susans to put the pots on so I can spin the containers around to get just the right amount of sun and make watering easier.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2008 : 1:33:05 PM
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I have grown all sorts of things in containers. A fun summer one is a Salsa Garden. Lettuce, peppers, a patio tomato (cuz it stays small, but has nice tomatoes). They grow nicely together. Add a dwarf Nasturtium and you have color and spicy petals. Use your imagination, just make sure you don't mix hot sun and cool shade plants--well too much. Have fun. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2008 : 06:06:37 AM
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| Those are some great ideas! Thanks Ladies, I can't wait to start planting. |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4749 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 07:36:30 AM
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I prefer to grow small cherry or appetizer type tomatoes in containers. You get a continuous crop as they take turns ripening. Every evening for about 8 weeks, I would pick a big handful of tomatoes just before we sat down to eat dinner. Along with my freshly picked basil, they were heavenly in salads, on burgers, together with fresh mozzarella cheese & olive oil or just by themselves. Boy do I miss that!
Dawn in IL |
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:12:01 AM
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MMMmmmm That sounds yummy!
Christy
Farmgirl Sister #139
Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots. ~Hoosier Farmer
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wannabecountrybumpkin
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Christy
Bristow
Virginia
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:13:34 AM
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Do you all usually start the seeds indoors first then plant outside when the weather is right?
Christy
Farmgirl Sister #139
Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots. ~Hoosier Farmer
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:50:24 AM
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Last summer I planted peas in the middle of my hanging flower baskets. they didn't do as well as in the ground, but they sure looked nice.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 08:56:16 AM
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Patricia I have planted peas for the kids in large pots by themselves and they grow really well.
Christy I start my seeds indoors cause spring is slow and I think you get a better crop that way. Plus it allows me to get my hands dirty, |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4749 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 11:37:06 AM
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I start my plants from seed in March. Target and Home Depot carry organic vegetables lines, so I bought what looked good to me at Home Depot. I've never tried to grow from seed directly in the container. Maybe someone else here has.
Dawn in IL |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 12:19:56 PM
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I start my seeds indoors in small containers. I save all my plastic milk jugs and cut them down and use them to start the seeds or I use the containers the cold cuts come in, really anything that is shallow. Once the seedlings get about 1-2 inches tall, I transplant.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2008 : 12:47:57 PM
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I am going to have to do container gardening this year as well. I priced the Earthboxes and thought there was NO way I'd do those. The shipping and handling were high too. But, I've done some homework now and I think I'm going to order a couple. We simply won't be able to water the veggies as much as they'll need this summer.
I got what folks call the "container bible" McGee and Stuckey's The Bountiful Container. I haven't had a chance to spend any time with it yet, but it looks good. It certainly got rave reviews.
Let us know how you do with yours! Good Luck! |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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Garden Gate: Container Garden |
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Container Garden
