Hi there.

I've given up on growing in the ground around here.

Containers are more my speed and fit my "weekend gardening" lifestyle better.

What tips do you have?

We tried the upside-down tomatoes for the past 2 years and they were a failure so that is one thing I'll grow in a large pot with supports. What type of tomato? What type of supports?

What other vegies can I grow in pots? Lettuce? Swiss Chard? (something I can never get at the store around here is swiss chard)

Peppers? Beans?

Do I start from seed inside the house? (can I do this inside half-eggshells?)

Do I just use potting soil? What do I use to fertilize? With them in pots, should I mulch to try to keep the moisture in better?

We just finished off a big old concrete patio out back so I have nearly 20 feet in length to place pots that would be in the sun nearly all the time.

I also have areas to put in shaded items.

I've never done this so I need all kinds of tips. My experience with a vegetable garden was a large one I use to have in Nebraska that was wonderful.

I just want enough for us to eat this summer.

If you do this, can we start a discussion here? Or if you want to do this like I do.

:)

Michelle

I've done container gardening. I dont have a ton of time right now (and 4 of the kids are here making noise LOL), but just a bit of advice.

The most important things to consider are getting a container that is large enough for the root system of the plant you are putting in it & putting in really awesome soil. You need a potting soil with lots of organic matter. You can even find some ammended with guano & such nowadays. If its too costly for you to use those exclusively, you can blend the super great soil with another potting soil.

You can grow all of the things you mentioned in pots. Beans will need a large trellis for support. You can grow any kind of tomato in a pot, I'm partial to heirloom varieties though. :)

Thanks. If you get more time later, I'd love to sit and read what you have to say.

I'll look for large containers. Is there a brand name of soil that is easy to find that you recommend? (I have k-mart and wal-mart and a couple locally owned hardware stores to shop at)

Michelle

I'm pretty new at this as well, so I don't have a lot of information. But I wanted to let you know that last year I planted Japanese eggplant seedlings in containers, and they did really really well. We had a bumper crop of eggplant.

Thanks. If you get more time later, I'd love to sit and read what you have to say.

I'll look for large containers. Is there a brand name of soil that is easy to find that you recommend? (I have k-mart and wal-mart and a couple locally owned hardware stores to shop at)

Michelle

hmmmm.... the best soils IMO are foxfarms or Uncle Malcolms. I've used both & had great success. Ifyou cant find those just find the best you can. Do you have any local little herb shoppes or the like? I know our local ones sell things like fox farms fertilizers & such. Even if you cant find great soil I bet you'll have success regardless! :) I think its easier to get great results with container plants than in ground!

make sure your pots have holes for drainage. water every day, too - in the morning and/or evening. Dont water in blazing sun or your plants will burn. hth! :)

nak