|
Post by daylilydude on Mar 19, 2018 8:35:28 GMT -5
Do you plan on growing edibles in containers this year? If so, what varieties do you like?
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Mar 19, 2018 9:08:57 GMT -5
This year everything that used to take up space in our tomato and pepper garden will be grown in a couple of used livestock watering tanks. The ones we have are six feet across and three feet tall. They will go up on concrete blocks. So far they will have green beans, beets, cabbage, cucumbers,onions, radishes, dill, fennel, borage, lovage, amaranth love lies bleeding, sage, oregano, and several other herbs and flowers to be determined. These may be considered raised beds rather than containers...they are just big containers. Last year we used an oblong waterer and she loved it so much we are expanding. And I don't have to hoe any more.
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 19, 2018 9:28:57 GMT -5
I'm growing most of my edibles in SIPs this season. A lot of tomatoes and peppers, as well as eggplants, cukes, okra, tomatillos, bitter mellon, bottle gourds, and probably something I forgot! lol Some of my herbs and lettuce I'll grow in the jr EBs around my deck. I figure the containers will be easier for me to deal with this year, and less I'll have to get friends of mine to do for me. I even figured a way to grow all of my pepper maggot prone peppers in 3 EBs, covering with Agribon, instead of the usual double row under a covered hoophouse - not something easy to do, even in good condition! Beans, peas, some of the herbs, and a few more tomatoes will go in the ground, along with a few oddball varieties.
|
|
|
Post by september on Mar 19, 2018 10:50:45 GMT -5
Most of my edibles go in the ground, but I always have some overflow tomatoes and peppers in pots so that I can move them back into the greenhouse in September when the nights cool. Eggplant go into pots always. I'm getting a bigger stash of deep cat litter pails this winter due to my aging cat, so may try growing some odder things like Brussels Sprouts and carrots in the pails. I've been starting cucumbers early in a big pot for the greenhouse, and also have a row of 5 cucumbers in 7 gallon plastic grow bags along the fence in my front garden.
|
|
|
Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 19, 2018 11:06:03 GMT -5
I think wife is growing a Dwarf Striped Rumplestiltskin tomato plant in a container. I've done some things in containers, but to be totally honest, if I've got my druthers, I'd just soon plant in the ground. Don't get me wrong, I do like my raised bed. When I think container, I think of house plants
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Mar 19, 2018 11:13:28 GMT -5
I am not much for container gardening either. I like growing in-ground but I will have one pot of chives in the house and the only reason for this is because outdoors I can not keep it from becoming infested by the Allium Leaf Miner.
I have to look it up but there is a break in their life cycle before the second generation hatches when the plant can live outside on the deck. It may be June and July.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2018 12:55:52 GMT -5
In the summer, I grow lettuce in cardboard "beer" flats; re-using garbage suits me, LOL, and I get them free from the local store. They last long enough for a couple rouns and are easy to move and keep shaded in the heat. Then after they are too used, I compost them or put them around a plant, under the wood chip mulch.
|
|
|
Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 19, 2018 13:39:09 GMT -5
In the summer, I grow lettuce in cardboard "beer" flats; re-using garbage suits me, LOL, and I get them free from the local store. They last long enough for a couple rouns and are easy to move and keep shaded in the heat. Then after they are too used, I compost them or put them around a plant, under the wood chip mulch. No joke? I'm listening. Why don't you share some pictures, girl? What types do you grow?
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 19, 2018 13:53:10 GMT -5
I grow a lot of my edibles - including all of my peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants - in Earthboxes; the veggies that don't fit in the EBs are in raised beds. I have a couple of pots with mint and aloe also. The only edibles I have in-ground right now are fruit trees and blueberry bushes. Oh, and some ginger and turmeric in the flower beds up front.
Well, I suppose technically some of the flowers in the flower beds (such as the daylilies) are edible, but I don't grow them for that purpose.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Mar 19, 2018 16:37:16 GMT -5
In my location things tend to grow better in the ground, but that assumes no critter problems. Alas, there is no such situation as that, so I do grow a fair number of things in pots. All the blueberries and figs. Yacon, many in pots, and some in ground. And I'll plant some green bean seeds around the ones in pots.
Strawberries in pots. Half and half tomatoes are both in the ground and in pots. In winter the ones in pots do well because it keeps their roots warmer. And if necessary, I can move them into a sunnier area.
All lettuce and most salad greens are in containers.
I have many 15 gallon pots collected over the years, and lots of planting mix I keep refreshing and reusing. In general it's pretty much what hits my fancy at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by guruofgardens on Mar 21, 2018 12:32:41 GMT -5
I grow hot peppers and some tomatoes in buckets, pots, and double buckets. Most of the plants are in the ground.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Mar 25, 2018 8:49:42 GMT -5
The container/raised beds are now ready for whenever spring really arrives. Three livestock waterers and two whiskey barrels with two more whiskey barrels planned.
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 25, 2018 9:41:12 GMT -5
Nice! What is the diameter of the livestock waterers? Can you reach the center? Sure looks like a lot of planting space, plus a convenient height.
|
|
|
Post by paulf on Mar 25, 2018 10:44:03 GMT -5
One is 7 foot diameter the other is 6 foot, so three and three and a half feet to center. May be a bit of a stretch for my 5'4" wife, but I am sure she will manage. The height is perfect for her. Now let's see if she can grow vegetables in the tubs. The long narrow waterer is the herb garden and the whiskey barrels will have radishes and who knows what else. I am now in charge of peppers and tomatoes and nothing else. We will see if this is a viable method.
|
|
|
Post by september on Mar 25, 2018 11:17:49 GMT -5
You're putting those tanks to good use! Love the big turtles. I have a large circular water tank from my horse days, I merely tipped it upside down to use as a table near the garden. I was thinking of making it into a lily pond, but then I would have to figure out where to store the tubers in the winter, and I'd probably have to keep fishing dead squirrels and chipmunks out of it, like I did when the horses were still drinking from it. I don't envy you having to haul dirt to fill the tanks, they no doubt take a lot! Great project, though.
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on Mar 25, 2018 11:36:00 GMT -5
That really looks nice paulf,
|
|
|
Post by ladymarmalade on Mar 25, 2018 17:49:28 GMT -5
Looks wonderful paulf! I look forward to seeing pictures of them full of vegetation!
|
|
|
Post by bestofour on Mar 25, 2018 18:16:34 GMT -5
Nice. Good height.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 13:22:09 GMT -5
In the summer, I grow lettuce in cardboard "beer" flats; re-using garbage suits me, LOL, and I get them free from the local store. They last long enough for a couple rouns and are easy to move and keep shaded in the heat. Then after they are too used, I compost them or put them around a plant, under the wood chip mulch. No joke? I'm listening. Why don't you share some pictures, girl? What types do you grow? Didn't see your questions, sorry. No pictures, nothing exciting, just whatever lettuces I have , often loose leaf, and low sised cardboard that you get with canned beer or cokes?, as the "container. The cardboard does , mmm,wear out from the soil and water eventually, so then it gets composted. Just getting another few uses out of the item before it goes on to recycle one way or another. The low sides make it easier to cut leaves for salads.
|
|
|
Post by bestofour on Mar 27, 2018 14:45:17 GMT -5
I grow carrots in my window boxes right along side the flowers. The carrot tops are lovely.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Jun 13, 2019 21:29:53 GMT -5
Another year... another thread bump...
I'm growing more this year in containers than last year. With our rains last winter, there are more critters to contend with, especially bunnies. They can't reach high enough to eat what's in the pots. Thus far anyway.
I had put out a bed of zinnias I had raised from seed.. and within 2 days the rabbits had eaten ever one. And this year I don't have the heart to start a killing program. They'd only come back anyway.
So this year in large pots I have lots of green beans (Bush Romano), zucchini, some tomatoes, and some peppers. Oh, and potatoes. In the ground I also have tomatoes, lots of peppers (though some have been protected by wire). And some flowers that the critters dont' seem to like.
Still low carb here, so the garden is just not as large as it used to be.
In part because of our mild winters, and in part because of warmer soil in the pots, I've already been able to harvest lots of zucchini, green beans, and now tomatoes.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jun 13, 2019 22:36:37 GMT -5
I was wondering why I hadn't posted on this thread. Then I saw the date and was just trying to stay alive at the time. Too dark to go out and count the number of containers but close to 50. Some already with their second planting--lettuce and radishes. Carrots are in 4 deep pots. Other main ones are beets in 3 and turnips in 3. Snow and snap peas also in 3. Cucumbers in 4. Chard in 2 as is green onions. Probably 15 tomatoes and a pepper. All are at least 5 gallons with most being 7. Base medium on most is 5 gallons of either compost, horse manure, or loft cleanings. Everything grows faster and bigger than in garden soil but can use 10 gallons of water on hot dry days.
Added: Actual count is 49. Smallest are 5 gallons and largest are two liners from old wringer washing machines. Other things planted in them are basil, celeriac, and parsley.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
|
Post by bestofour on Jun 14, 2019 21:14:34 GMT -5
Another year... another thread bump... I'm growing more this year in containers than last year. With our rains last winter, there are more critters to contend with, especially bunnies. They can't reach high enough to eat what's in the pots. Thus far anyway. I had put out a bed of zinnias I had raised from seed.. and within 2 days the rabbits had eaten ever one. And this year I don't have the heart to start a killing program. They'd only come back anyway. So this year in large pots I have lots of green beans (Bush Romano), zucchini, some tomatoes, and some peppers. Oh, and potatoes. In the ground I also have tomatoes, lots of peppers (though some have been protected by wire). And some flowers that the critters dont' seem to like. Still low carb here, so the garden is just not as large as it used to be. In part because of our mild winters, and in part because of warmer soil in the pots, I've already been able to harvest lots of zucchini, green beans, and now tomatoes. So the winter rain is why my yard is full of bunnies? I've been wondering what in the world has happened.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jun 14, 2019 22:34:36 GMT -5
I welcome every rabbit that visits my garden as long as it's just one time. Either it finds the live trap or neighbor's fantastic cat catches it. The rabbit then becomes a permanent part of the garden via the compost tumbler. Haven't even seen a sign of a rabbit for 3 months. They know better than to come around here. \ Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 15, 2019 10:50:54 GMT -5
What do you use for bait in your traps, paquebot? The rabbits seem to like my plants more when they are in my garden, than when I put them in the traps.
|
|
|
Post by Gianna on Jun 15, 2019 11:21:27 GMT -5
When I was live-trapping bunnies (HaveaHart traps), I used chopped romaine lettuce. Not just inside the trap, but a trail of lettuce bits outside, near the opening, and into the trap to lead them in to the trigger mechanism. When I had extra fallen peaches, I added some of those too. But the lettuce alone worked extremely well.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jun 15, 2019 16:41:27 GMT -5
Right now it is hard to bait for a rabbit when there is so much green stuff available. But there is one which has both odor and taste appeal, apples. That is candy to them. Several small pieces in front of the entrance gives the rabbit a taste and it wants more. Also helps to make the trap look like a natural cave. In trapping, that's called a cubby. In the winter I use pine boughs. Rabbits can't resist a situation which has both food and safety. Currently only baited for squirrels and using hickory nuts for them. Seven have been caught in the past couple weeks including first ever double. All currently on their way to becoming blood meal and bone meal in the tumbler.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 15, 2019 20:29:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bestofour on Jun 15, 2019 20:35:34 GMT -5
I have 2 cats and a 120 pound mastiff out there and the rabbits visit daily anyway.
|
|
|
Post by hairymooseknuckles on Jun 15, 2019 20:59:51 GMT -5
I don't have a container a cow will fit in.
|
|