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There can be many reasons for
container gardening.
Space usually is the reason but
others feel it neater than ground
surface gardens and in some
cases that might be true.
Cash constraints is another but
the most likely is poor soil in
the garden area.
Needless to say it would be far
less costly to supply containers
with good growing soil than the
garden proper but there is always
a trade off.
Growing in containers has the
benefit of being moveable and
easily controlled but then you do
have to keep a constant eye out.
The roots grow rapidly and displace
soil as they do.
The effect of this is fast drying out
of the soil necessitating several
waterings throughout the day.
This in turn will cause the nutrients
to leach out at a horrendous rate.
So now you are adding nutrients
far more often than the patch.
So if you normally add nutrients
to the patch once every 30 days
you will find yourself adding nutrients
to the containers every week.
Not at first but as the plant goes
through it's stages of re-potting
and growing to it's near full
potential you will find the longer
it remains in that particular con-
tainer it will continue to grow roots
that take up space once occupied
by soil and as a result leach more
nutrients.
Make sense?
Most everything I grow in
the patch I grow in containers.
This includes potatoes and sweet
potatoes peppers tomatoes Brussels
sprouts Broccoli spinach cabbage
celery green beans and indeed
other beans as well.
Reason? It began with the need
to start seed in containers for
should I sow directly to the patch
Rain or squirrels, dogs or cats and
even birds will destroy my every
effort hence my oft used term
"until it can defend itself."
I grow them in containers until
they are large enough to survive
the rigors of the patch.
I start everything from seed and
I start them in containers.
As I continued my struggles with
black gumbo clay I gravitated to
growing everything in containers
but never gave up the patch.
I have three reasons for container
growing.
1. The need to grow them to a
size where they can survive the
rigors of the patch.
2. I have the worst soil structure
I know of.
3. I need more space.
Along with that I do have a habit
of sowing far more than my own
needs, partially because I want
assurances enough will survive
for my own needs but also because
I enjoy giving plants away to those
who wish to become gardeners.
My container gardening allows me
to grow more maters and peppers
which are of extreme value to me.
So depending on what I grow I always
employ the same system.
If celery is the seed of the day I
take a long container such as a small
window planter and broadcast seed
thickly.
I start with a freshly washed container.
To this I add at least an inch of wood
chips to the bottom for drainage.
The soil added is of my own mix and
it goes to within an inch of the top.
The rest is academic.
Once ready to move I will place each
surviving seedling in it's own container.
They eventually get moved several
times until they find themselves in
a large 3 gallon or more size container
or the patch.
Mater and peppers are sown likewise
though they can be sown in near any
container.
Beans do exceedingly well in containers
to a point, then out to the patch.
Melons too will do well in containers.
Most important to all this is attention.
It's rare that veggies grow themselves.
They need constant watching.
One thing I have let go of after many
many years is record keeping particularly
in the beginning years and even for the
experienced if you begin to experience
difficulties.
I have grown beans in coffee cups and
peppers in milk cartons, yogurt and
cottage containers.
If you have no garden containers, improvise.
You can convert most anything into growing
containers and you can make them as well.
Train