What's in Your Container?

Spinach

I can't help myself, really.  I don't have a large back yard for gardening, but I am determined to have my fresh crops no matter what the season.  So, I keep plenty of containers around.  I pick them up anywhere I can.  Some are just standard flower pots, like the one pictured below that hold my Garlic. Some are over sized  wash tubs like the one holding my tomatoes.  They come from dollar stores, from thrift stores and some from the side of the road.

Brussel Sprouts

When utilizing any container for crops it is important to know what you want to sprout.  For example, although spinach and green onion will work well I certainly wouldn't want to try a potato.  Root vegetables (ie potato, carrot etc) need more depth for growth than most containers will allow.  Yes, onion can be considered a root vegetable.  Stick with the simple to grown green onion for success.  Pick something that has a hardy root system but doesn't require a lot of room to grown.  This will make plants such as okra, brussel sprouts and spinach flourish in containers.  They have strong sturdy roots and they grow completely above the soil.

Okra

Tomato

Although not impossible I do try to stray from cultivating any vining vegetable in a container.  It can be done successfully, but can also tend to hamper the bounty of any harvest.  Cucumbers, peas, squash and green beans need plenty of room to spread and thrive.  Most containers won't allow for that.  However it is very possible to take advantage of a large container and allow most vining crops to flourish. Tomatoes can be perfect in a container as long as you choose the right strain.  Beef Steak tomatoes may not work as well as say grape, or cherry tomatoes.

Cilantro
 

Possibly the most popular and advantageous crop for any container is the herb.  Herbs of all kind love to show off their advantages in a container.  I don't suggest making one hugh container herb garden.  They will tend to cross pollinate.  When I grow cilantro I want cilantro.  Not a cilantro/basil mixture.  Although that can be quite useful in some dishes.   In addition garlic is quite prominate in a container.  Just be sure to make the pot deep enough ad leave pleanty of room for grown.

Garlic

Green Onion

My favorite part of any container garden is the option to move it inside when the fall gardening season has subcomed for anoher year.  For example the Brussell Sprouts pictured above were planted last fall.  I brought the container inside any day the temperature was too cold.  Brussell Sprouts will withstand tempatures up to 40 degrees.  When the days were sunny and pleasent the container was set back outdoors.  Now they are back outdoors and doing nicely.  I will probably set them back indoors when the temperatures become too warm for the sprouts to handle.

Containers are a very benefical way to keep crops gowing no matter the season.  It is important to be familar with the crops you want to grow, the amount of space they require to flourish and the enviorment that best suits the need.  With a little research, and perhaps a small amount of trial and error you can put delicious fresh food on the table any time of year.

Why Not the Onion?

I've probably got as many crops growing in containers as I do in the ground. These green onions are one of the most sustainable crops around. Yes that is a $8 container from the dollar store. A 30 gallon heavy duty basket with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage.


For the initial investment of fifty cents to one dollar you can keep your onion crop going indefinitely. This depends on the cost of one bunch of green onions at your supermarket.  It's best to start with at least two bunches.

Simply trim the roots off a batch of store bought green onions. Chop and freeze the rest to keep handy for soups or casseroles. Be sure to leave at least 1\2 inch of onion intact with the root. Plant roots about 2 inch apart and 1 1\2 inch deep with root down. Water well. In about a week sprouts will begin to pop out of the soul. Onions will be ready to harvest in about 6 to 8 weeks.

 The stalk should be strong, sturdy and 8 to 14 inches tall. If the stalk begins to turn brown it may be ready for harvest.  It it is not simply pluck the damage away.  Pick your fresh crops and start the entire process all over again. TIP: onions grow best in cooler weather. Plant in late Fall or early Spring for maximum results. My luck is always best when I use a container for planting. Water moderately but never leave standing in drenched soil.

Even if you are not an avid Gardner you will enjoy the ease of producing fresh green onions.  It takes very little effort, and minimal time to harvest these better tasting crops.  Add them to your favorite dish and you'll be amazed.

SPRING GARDEN VS FALL GARDEN

It doesn't really matter what time of year it is I always get the gardening bug.  I count the days until I can plant the first seedling of Spring.  I keep the Spring garden going through the scorching temperatures of Summer until Fall when it will again begin to thrive.  I move my container plants inside during Winter until I can put them back outdoors in the early Spring.  So it goes.  My Round Robin of the gardening bug.

Which season is easiest to grown the best crops?  The only honest answer to that question is-it depends on what part of the country you plant your garden in.  Where I live temperatures over 100 in the summer are common.  The warmer season holds on longer than many other climates.  The coldest part of the year is shorter with fewer days below freezing.  If you live, say in the Northern part of the US, you might have a shorter Summer season and longer Winter season. I adjust my routine accordingly.


In the Spring I plant my tomatoes, green beans, peas and peppers earlier than some may in other areas of the country.  They also tend to fizzle out sooner as the hot weather comes on quickly and seems to last forever.  I don't give up the garden though.  I still keep my crops watered and check on them every day removing as much of the dead foliage as possible.  While Summer winds down the blossoms on these plants will again peak out of the stems and I soon have a whole new set of crops.

In addition to the revival of my Spring vegetation I do blend in my favorite cooler weather sprouts such as broccoli and kale.  Some are placed in containers, typically a 5 gallon lard bucket with holes drilled in the bottom, so they can continue to prosper in the bright lights of my bay window during Winter.  Others work better in the inverted container, which will hang securely above the same bay window.  It's like having my own mini garden right indoors.


 Where I reside there is little doubt in my mind that my Fall garden thrives much better than the Spring garden. I attribute my more productive Fall garden to timing, determination and Mother Nature.  If I know the climate best suited to my crops than I know when to best plan for my garden.  For example green beans, tomatoes and peppers will thrive in Spring and Fall.  If I care for the Spring plants they will succeed with more vegetables in Fall.  The harvest will also be much greater. Why? Because the plants are already mature.  There is now waiting for seedling to grow and yield results.  Once the weather begins to cool off the blossoms will appear in abundance and fresh crops soon follow.


The Spring and Fall garden can both be gratifying.  One of the most important tools you will have for success is proper planning.  Know the environment best suited for your crops, and know the climate you will be harvesting in.