Container Gardening – How to Start an Easy Basic Garden

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Dean Moen

This is a great video for the beginner gardening hobbyist.  I have found that growing vegetables in pots and containers is quite easy.  The most important things are to find the right size container, use the proper potting mixture, and find healthy plants to grow. Learn the requirements of the vegetables and flowers you are planting in the containers and you will quickly have a beautiful and bountiful garden in any space you may have available. Gardening in pots is my favorite hobby.  To be able to get a little plant started and then harvest a great tomato or pepper or what ever is you favorite is very rewarding.  Give it a try!

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Gardening For Beginners, Grow Tomatoes in Containers

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Dean Moen

Grow Tomatoes in Containers

If you are a lover of plants and would like to have a garden of your own, but are constrained for space availability due to residing at flats or apartments, then container gardening could the right choice for you.  Here,  the “king of containers”, namely, tomatoes take precedence.

Ideal for a beginner to container gardening, the limitations of space are actually a blessing for this vine plant that can grow upwards and when fixed on a trellis,  you can be sure of ripe tomatoes to last you through summer and make delicious dishes to savour!

Generally, when it comes to choosing the variety, the dwarf varieties seem to be the obvious choice.  Coming in grape and cherry varieties, you can have your pick of either Tiny Tim or Florida Basket, Patio Hybrid, Small Fry  or even Pixie II with colors yellow, red or pink and are meant to be grown in containers  and though they grow downwards, fixing them to poles can enable upward climbing easily.

For obtaining full sized variety of tomatoes, try Determinate Varieties which grow to medium heights and the tomatoes grow close together and are more suited to be grown in containers rather than go in for the jumbo or giant varieties whose fruit size may not be ideal for container gardening.

The options could include Patio Hybrid or Husky Red Hybrid as well as Husky Gold Hybrid for bigger fruits, Tiny Tim, Red Robin, Cherry Gold, Pixie Hybrid for container cherry tomatoes, Celebrity , Mountain Pride and Mountain Delight for normal sized garden tomatoes that can be grown in containers easily.

The containers chosen must be of 12 inches height and 12 inches in diameter and plastic pots fare better than clay ones and placing a mesh screen at the bottom of the sand pit can prevent insects from sneaking into the pot.

All plants need sun, water and air to grow and container tomatoes require atleast 6 to 8 hours of sun exposure with proper drainage holes for excess moisture draining along with a well mixed soil that can absorb moisture easily.  These plants need sufficient watering on a daily basis as they are not close to any other water sources.  Good potting soil is definitely a must for growing container tomatoes.

Ensure that for upright growing, you fix the poles or the cages at the initial stages itself so as not to disturb the plant later on.  Also, planting of some marigold can keep pests away and add more of fresh soil to the tomato plants as they grow bigger for obtaining ripe and numerous tomatoes.

While pruning is not need for container tomatoes, pinching off suckers and tying up of branches that are heavy with fruits can prevent them from breaking off.

As for use of fertilizers, adding nutrition every 2 weeks should suffice and not much fertilizer use is required and ensure that you add nutrition only during the blooming season.

Use potted soil that is mixed with bone meal and good compost and avoid manuring for healthy growth of the plant.

Finally, resort to harvesting frequently, ensure there is no water logging during heavy storms or rains, use fresh soil every year instead of reusing old soil and you can enjoy ripe and juicy tomatoes from your home garden!

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Gardening For Beginners Growing Raspberries

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Dean Moen

Gardening For Beginners Growing Raspberries

You may have recently taken up gardening, and are wondering where to start.  After all, there are many different options to choose from when it comes to items to plant.  You can plant cucumber, peas, zucchini, or tomatoes.  However, perhaps you’d like to plant something different, an item that not every other gardener in your neighborhood will have.  Why not try your hand at growing raspberries this year?  If this sounds good to you, how do you get started?

The first thing you need to grow any type of produce is a well prepared bed for growing.  Growing raspberries are no exception to this rule.  Before planting, till up the bed making sure to pull out any perennial weeds that you find.  As you till, work in some manure or compost to give your new raspberry bushes the nutrition they will need.  If your soil is particularly acidic, consider adding some lime as well.  The perfect pH for raspberries hovers in the 6.0 range.  If you don’t know how to detect the pH of your soil, ask a gardening expert at your local nursery for instruction.  Raspberries bushes do best when not water logged, so it is best if your bed drains well.  If it does not, you can build a raised bed that will drain nicely no matter how wet the conditions in your area are.

Now, you are ready to move onto the second step in growing raspberries.  Now that you have a beautiful new growing bed prepared, you need to know when to plant your raspberry bushes for optimum success.  Spring is the right time to plant your raspberries for two reasons.  First, this is the best time of year to find healthy plants at your local nursery.  Second, this gives your new plants the longest season in which to grow.  You may find that you even get a few berries your very first summer when you plant early.  If you aren’t able to get to planting until summer, don’t despair, you can still plant your berries then – though you probably won’t see a harvest until the following year.

You now have your raspberry bushes planted in a well prepared area.  What next?  The third step to take when growing raspberries is to provide nourishment to your bed.  Though you included some compost or manure when you tilled the soil, for best results, add some on an ongoing basis or I often will also  use an organic time release fertilizer to make things easier.  This will continue to provide much needed nutrition to your budding plants, and you will be much happier with your results.

The last item you need to know when growing raspberries is how to prune your new crop.  In the second year, before your raspberry bushes have blossomed in early spring is the time to do so.  Prune your one year old plants to just below the fruiting area.  This will allow them to produce fruit in July.  You will find new shoots growing up between the established ones as the season progresses.  It is best to thin these out, to give your older stock a better harvest.  The following spring, you will want to clear out the two year old shoots, and trim the one year old ones to below the fruiting area just as before.

So, now you know all you need to know about growing raspberries to get started!  Prepare your bed, pick out some plants, and you’ll be on your way to growing your very own crop of raspberries just like the ones I have in no time!

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Growing Hot Peppers In Pots Works Extremely Well, But They Need Some Special Care

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Dean Moen

Growing Hot Peppers In Pots Works Extremely Well, But They Need Some Special Care

Not all plants grow well in pots, but hot peppers are not one of them. Peppers of many varieties do extremely well in pots, especially if you know what you’re doing. So let’s talk about some of the best ways of growing hot peppers in pots!

Perhaps the most difficult step in growing hot peppers is germinating the seed. Most seeds take a full two weeks to sprout, and they must be in a location that is consistently 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where a lot of people stumble. They either give up on the seeds too soon, or they don’t keep the pot warm enough.

So it’s best to start them indoors in a small amount of starter soil, which you can later transfer to a larger pot and then again to their final one.

If you are planning to keep your pots outside, start pepper seeds about 8 weeks before you plan to set them out. Once the outdoor temperature averages a low of 55 F at night, you’ll have optimum growing conditions. This might be a challenge for those in northern climates, even in the summer, but some folks in colder clients bring their plants indoors every night. That is an advantage of growing peppers in pots, if there is an early frost you can move them inside to extend your growing season.

Hot peppers thrive in hot sun and warm temperatures. Thus, place you pots where they will be in direct sunlight all day, or move them several times a day so that they stay exposed to sun.

A key element of growing great potted hot peppers is using the right kind of fertilizer. Don’t just choose any “one-size-fits-all” garden fertilizer off the shelf. Hot peppers like soils that are high in phosphates, but lower in nitrogen. So look for fertilizer with a 4-8-8 formula, which is 4 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphorous and 8 percent potassium or potash. Hot peppers also like calcium, and so many people add bone meal or oyster shells to the potting soil. This is a good idea.

Another great option is to simply use animal manure to fertilize your pepper. Manure is a safe bet and will provide everything your hot pepper needs to grow well and produce a crop. When you transplant your peppers to a larger pot, make sure you fertilize them as you do so. It will help them survive the transplant process.

Potted hot peppers like to stay moist, so water them once a day. Use common sense. You don’t want the soil to be muddy, but maintain a moist feel in the soil at all times.

Oh, by the way, most peppers do best in pots that are at least 8 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter. The average pepper plant grows from a foot to 16-inches high. Thus, if you plan to keep it entirely indoors, that’s how much room you will need for your pepper to branch out comfortably.

If you are keeping your potted peppers outside, the biggest pests to worry about are aphids and flea beetles, which can do considerable harm to the plant. You can keep these critters away from your plants by spraying them with slightly soapy water. Use dish soap. Some also add cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce to the mixture. Follow these instructions, and in a few months, you’ll have hot peppers a-plenty to grace your table!

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Get Your Kids Into The Garden

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dean Moen

Three Tips to Getting Your Kids Involved in Vegetable Gardening At Home

By

I was very fortunate as a child. My dad got me into vegetable gardening, thankfully, to show me where food comes from and that, yes, you are able to feed yourself without leaving your home. Of course he also made it clear that the more independent you want to be, the more work you will have to put into it. I didn’t understand that at the time but I certainly do now.

With two young sons myself I want to pass on to them the same lessons my dad passed onto me and my late grandfather passed onto him. The tips themselves have changed from one generation to the next but the importance of why getting children started earlier in life in learning this valuable skill, in my opinion, has not.

For example, when my grandfather was passing the skills onto my dad it was because they lived on a small farm in Wilkes-Barre, PA and they grew large amounts of food, not because it was a hobby, but because they needed it for their very survival. My grandfather, dad and uncle would tend the land and my aunt and grandmother would preserve the harvest through canning.

Today I do not do any canning but instead a lot of vacuum sealing which creates an air tight seal around my harvested fruits, herbs and veggies. That allows it to store longer in my freezer, meaning I can enjoy food from my garden all year round. But how do I pass this same enthusiasm to my own children? Well here is what I have done and it seems to be working.

1. Get them Involved
I am constantly getting my kids involved in the garden. Whether it is having them help with watering (with their own watering can of course), or carrying harvested veggies to the patio table, I do my best to make them feel like they are a part of every aspect of what I am doing.

2. Get them their own tools
One of the best investments I have made to keep them excited about helping dad in the garden is getting them their own tools. They are very young so of course their tools are of the plastic toy variety, but the toys do give them a sense that they are digging in the dirt, removing weeds and planting things. For just a few bucks, it was well worth the price.

3. Give them a spot of their own
Along with tips one and two, tip three really drives it home and that is giving your kids their own small garden area and letting them choose what they want to grow. I built a small three foot by three foot raised bed for my older son this year, filled it with some dirt and told him to plant whatever he wanted. He chose carrots, which is surprising because he doesn’t like eating them all too much, but maybe growing his own will change that. Now every time we go in the garden he goes over to his raised bed and asks questions about the carrots.

These three tips are exactly what I use with my own children. Hopefully, my children will find a passion in growing their own fruits, vegetables and herbs at home, and eventually pass it on to the next generation.

About the Author
Mike Podlesny is the owner of Mike the Gardener Enterprises, LLC, the exclusive home for the Seeds of the Month Club, which has appeared on NBC, ABC and MSN Money as a great way for consumers to save money.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6407624
I totally agree with Michael’s article.  When I was in grade school I used to spend many days with my grandfather and uncle in their 2 acre garden.  They taught me how to plant seeds and plants. They showed me how to weed, water and care for the young plants. They really loved to garden and it showed on their faces when they were working in it.  They grew so many fruits and vegetables, to many for our family to eat so they did a lot of canning, but also gave much away to needy people and people in the nursing homes, which taught me much about giving which I do much off today.
Now it’s my turn, I have a 10 year old son and a 9 year old daughter.  Since they were about 4 years old I have had them help me with many of the gardening chores, they don’t always do it like I want it  done, but it has truly taught me to be patient.  They especially like to plant seeds in trays that I grow under grow lights so they can watch the little plants get started.  I gave each their own tray to grow whatever they want.  My sons favorite is tomatoes and my daughter is strawberry’s. They each have their own little shovels and rakes to work in the garden with.  Recently we picked a couple of 5 gallon pails of tomatoes and cucumbers and gave them away to the neighbors, the kids really had a smile and felt good about their work.
I really enjoy having my kids in the garden and it is teaching them how to grow a vegetable garden that they enjoy. Home vegetable gardening with kids is a special treat.
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How To Make A Great Container Garden!

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Dean Moen

This is a fun video about herb gardens. Small space gardening is very possible when you use containers on a patio or deck. In addition to growing herbs as this video demonstrates it is also very easy to do container vegetable gardening like growing tomato plants in pots.  To have a home vegetable garden is a fun hobby and also can be a great way to enjoy great tasting vegetables to eat fresh. I grow many different vegetables especially tomatoes and peppers. They do very well in pots and containers.

I also grow a wide variety of fresh herbs, my herb garden has, basil, chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, rosemary, and peppermint (be careful with peppermint as it is vary aggressive, if not grown in a container it can take over a garden quickly.

I would welcome you to try container vegetable gardening and find out the great time it can be.

If you are a container gardener please comment with your experience and ideas.

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Container Vegetable Gardening

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Dean Moen

When it comes to gardening vegetables, starting a garden, growing a vegetable garden, or small space gardening this article I came across is very helpful in giving you ideas as to how choose the right containers, soil, fertilizers and different vegetable types to grow in containers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Container Vegetable Gardening

Growing Vegetables in Pots

By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide

You don’t need a plot of land to grow fresh vegetables. Many vegetables lend themselves well to container gardening. With some thought to selecting bush or dwarf varieties, almost any vegetable can be adapted to growing in a pot. Vegetables that take up little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, such as tomatoes and peppers, are perfect for container vegetable gardens.

What you can grow in a container vegetable garden is limited only by the size of the container and your imagination. How about a Summer Salad container? Plant a tomato, a cucumber and some parsley or chives all in a large (24-30″) container. They grow well together and have the same water and sun requirements. By late summer they might not be very pretty, but they’ll keep producing into the fall. This makes a great housewarming present, too.

Containers and Pots for Vegetable Gardens

Selecting Containers: Containers for your vegetable gardens can be almost anything: flower pots, pails, buckets, wire baskets, bushel baskets, wooden boxes, nursery flats, window planters, washtubs, strawberry pots, plastic bags, large food cans, or any number of other things.

Drainage: No matter what kind of container you choose for your vegetable garden, it should have holes at the base or in the bottom to permit drainage of excess water.

Color Considerations: You should be careful when using dark colored containers because they absorb heat which could possibly damage the plant roots. If you do use dark colored pots, try painting them a lighter color or shading just the container, not the plants.

Size: The size of the container is important. For larger vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants, you should use a five gallon container for each plant. You can grow these plants in two gallon containers, however you need to give the plants considerably more water.

Soil and Fertilizer: You can use soil in your container vegetable garden, but potting mixes are much better. Peat-based mixes, containing peat and vermiculite, are excellent. They are relatively sterile and pH adjusted. They also allow the plants to get enough air and water. Mixing in one part compost to two parts planting mix will improve fertility.Using a slow release or complete organic fertilizer at planting will keep your vegetables fed for the whole growing season.

Watering: Pots and containers always require more frequent watering than plants in the ground. As the season progresses and your plants mature, their root system will expand and require even more water. Don’t wait until you see the plants wilting. Check your containers daily to judge the need for water.

 

Vegetable plant varieties suitable for container gardening

Seed companies realize that homeowners have less and less space to devote to vegetable gardens. Every year they come out with new vegetable plant varieties suitable for growing in small spaces and vegetable container gardens.

Be on the look out for key words like: bush, compact, and space saver. Here are some vegetable plant varieties to get your vegetable container garden growing.

Carrots: Most carrots require a long growing season and tending to a container of carrots can be tedious. However two options can make it easier: 1) Seed a few carrots with potted flowers. The ferny foliage is attractive and you will be pulling the carrots before the roots of the flowers take over the pot. and 2) choose a fast growing round or baby carrot, like ‘Babette’ or ‘Paris market’.

Cucumbers: Cucumbers that grow in a clump, rather than a long, sprawling vine, are considered bush varieties. They can still spread out several feet, but they should not require trellising and grow well in large, wide containers. Don’t worry, you’ll still get plenty of cukes. Some to look for: ‘Salad Bush Hybrid’, ‘Spacemaster’, ‘Bush Pickle’.

Eggplant: Growing eggplant in containers helps to control some common pests, like wire worms. Eggplant plants can get heavy with fruits and some staking may be required. The slender varieties, like ‘Bambino’, ‘Ping Tung’ and ‘Slim Jim’, make good choices.

Green Beans: Pole beans are a great choice for containers. They grow up, instead of out, and they continue producing beans for a couple of months. They will require some type of support, to climb on. You can start seeds in late spring and start a second batch in mid-summer to keep harvesting beans well into fall. There are several classic bean varieties that do well in all kinds of conditions, like ‘Blue Lake’, ‘Kentucky Wonder’, ‘Lazy Housewife’ and ‘French Dwarf’.

Green Onions: Full sized onions not only take up space, they also require a long time in the ground. Green or bunching onions can be slipped into pots with other vegetables or grown on their own. Either way, you can snip what you need and leave the plants to grow more leaves. Some favorites: ‘Beltsville Bunching’, ‘Crysal Wax’ and ‘Evergreen Bunching’.

Leaf Lettuce: Lettuce loves containers. You can move itinto sun or shade, as needed, lift it away from pests and animals and keep it handy for cutting. If you grow loose leaf varieties and cut only the outer leaves, the plants will continue to grow for months. However sooner or later they will tire out, so keep planting seed every 3–4 weeks for a sucecession of harvests. Easy growing loose-leaf varieties include: ‘Buttercrunch’, red or green ‘Salad Bowl’ and any variety of ‘Bibb’.

Peppers: Peppers are actually tropical perennial plants and if you bring your potted pepper plants indoors for the winter, they will continue setting fruits. Of course you can simply enjoy them outdoors, during the summer months. Large peppers will require staking. Some sweet peppers to try include: ‘Cubanelle’ ‘Gypsy’, ‘Jimmy Nardello’, ‘Marconi’ and ‘Sweet Banana’. Hot peppers tend to be smaller and more prolific. Some good choices for containers include: ‘Cayenne’, ‘Fatalli’ ‘Hot Cherry’, ‘Jalapeno’ and ‘Robustini’

Radishes: Radishes are best when they grow quickly and growing them in containers will provide the cool, damp conditions they love. All the round varieties, like ‘Cherry Belle’, and ‘Scarlet Globe’, as well as some of the longer, slim types such as ‘Cincinnati Market’ and ‘White Icicle’, will grow quickly in containers. You could even plant radishes and carrots together, they way it is often done in the garden. The radishes grow quickly and loosen the soil, so the carrots have room to expand, when the radishes are pulled.

Squash: As with cucumbers, squash plants can be either “bush” varieties or long vines. You can grow either in a container, but bush varieties make the better choice, remaining much more compact. Most summer squash plants are bush types. and zucchini offer the most choices, like ‘Gold Rush’ and Ronde de Nice’ zucchini, ‘Sundance’ crookneck and ‘Peter Pan’ patty pan, all of which are delicious.

Tomatoes: Growing a full sized tomato plant in a container will require a large pot, a strong stake or cage and lots of water – but it can be done. If you have a favorite variety of tomato, go ahead and try it in a pot. If you just want a handy snack, the dwarf cherry tomatoes are perfect for you and there are dozens to choose from. Some have more flavor than others, so experiment. Some I like include: ‘Tiny Tim’, ‘Tumbling Tom’ and ‘Small Fry’.

I found this article to be a great help in getting started growing vegetables in containers.  Please comment and share your thoughts that you have or additions to the vegetable list above.

Thanks for the visit.

Dean

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Growing Tomatoes in Containers

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Dean Moen

Make sure to have the right size pot or container when growing tomato plants.  Even if you have only a small space gardening area.  Gardening vegetables especially tomatoes in containers, they need a lot of room to grow and produce fruit. Water and fertilizer are also very important to the process.  And make sure to put your container in a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sun everyday.

I found this video to be very helpful when learning how to grow tomatoes in containers. I would love to hear your feedback as well, so please comment below and share your opinions and experience.

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Growing Potted Tomatoes

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Dean Moen

This is a great video on growing potted tomatoes.  Please comment and share.

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