Sunday, March 15, 2009


Container gardening is that where anyone including city folks can grow a container garden. No matter how small your space, as long as you have the three major things that all plants have to have to grow.

These are soil, water and light. Almost any large pot with a drainage hole in the bottom will do but first we need to have our seedlings started.

Starting gardens indoors is easy. All you need is something small with drainage; old coffee cans. cups, clean take out containers or even the bottom of old water bottles. Just make sure to allow good drainage by poking holes in the bottoms and placing them on plates or saucers so the water doesn’t spill onto the floor or window sill. Fill the containers with a layer of course gravel, and then a layer of organic seed starting soil. Plant the seeds and water well. Once the seeds have outgrown their containers transplant them to bigger pots. It’s best to place plants in a south facing window for at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Keep them away from cold drafts. Once the seedlings are big enough and the weather is right transplant them outside in your bigger container.

Here are a few things lane speaks of enjoying growing in containers;

Leaf lettuce, onions, kale, tomatoes and you can even plant potatoes just to name a few. It’s best to use a shallow five gallon container for the potatoes.

Some large tomatoes need a larger container from five to ten gallon size if you can find it. Herbs can also be grown in containers and can be brought in when the summer growing season is over. Window boxes work well for lettuce, onions and even cherry tomatoes. Cucumbers can be grown in containers also and lane recommends the bush variety for this. Dwarf fruit trees can be grown in large containers on your patio or deck. Just keep in mind that any thing you grow in containers needs to be watered regularly. If you have a side yard or a back yard you can build a small raised bed. In a sixteen square foot garden you can grow a surprising amount of food. It’s nice to plant vegetables that compliment each other when growing but also compliment each other in cooking such as plum tomatoes, basil, parsley, oregano and green peppers and all in sixteen square feet. With a little work and creativity you can start growing a garden where ever you live. Indoors, on the balcony or deck, or on your patio, small yard or window sill; If lane can do it you can too, says lane and she also says later…………..

1 comment:

  1. Lane - It's Leslie - hey! I have a question - what do you think of those 'upside down tomato gardens" where the tomato's grow out of the pit. Does it make sense? Also -i think the the greenhouse and root cellar is beautiful! I can't wait for the fruits of your efforts!

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