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Garden Gate:  Container Gardening?  |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 09:00:43 AM
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I have a very (and I mean VERY) small yard. There is a tiny corner about 2 ft. x 3 ft. with mostly shade that is the only spot where I can put a container garden. I thought if perhaps I figured out a way to put elevated levels via upturned orchard boxes that might look nice. My questions to everyone are these: What vegetable plants work best in a container garden? What type of containers/elevation system would everyone suggest? Lastly, how will the mostly shade issue help or hurt my garden? I am new at this so any advice is appreciated!
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 1:22:02 PM
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Tina - does your garden space get any full sun at all? If not, is the shade dappled or full shade? Is the primary light exposure on the North, South, East or West side of the garden area? Do you have any reflected light from a wall or fence?
Some vegetables and herbs like lettuce, spinach, potatoes, chives, dill and parsley will grow in containers in partial shade as long as they get some sun during the daytime. Most fruits and vegetables that have large fruits (tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries etc) will not do well without full or almost full sun. Any container that holds soil and retains soil moisture for a reasonable period of time will do. I would also advocate for choosing containers that are aesthetically pleasing so that you enjoy watching and tending your little slice of heaven.
I recently read a very good book on small space gardening. It's called "Fresh Food From Small Spaces - The Square Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting and Sprouting" by R.J. Ruppenthal. There are some very good ideas on ways to maximimize garden production in small spaces like yours. I highly recommend it.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 3:04:45 PM
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My space has dappled shade and faces East. It runs along a wire fence and has a large tree overhanging it which causes most of the shade issues (it's the neighbors and they said I can trim it but it is too beautiful and I don't have the heart to do it). I am going to look into both book suggestions. Thank you both so much for pointing me in the right direction!
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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Garden Gate: Container Gardening? |
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Container Gardening?
