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An Introduction to Container Gardening

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An Introduction to Container GardeningBy Ellen BrownIf your ability to garden is limited by a lack of space, a lackof accessibility or poor quality soil, then consider containergardening. All you need is a selection of plants, a few

containers, the proper growing medium, and a sunny window,balcony or porch and you're on your way to an excellent crop ofvegetables or flowers.Choosing Your CropsThe varieties of vegetables, flowers and herbs that thrive well

in containers are nearly limitless. Vertical " climbers " like bushbeans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes adapt to container conditionseasily. Vegetables like lettuce, eggplants, onions, carrots,peppers, potatoes-even corn and squash work well, too. In

general, small, quick maturing crops perform best, as do compactvarieties of normally large plants like cabbage and melons.A Good Growing Medium is KeyThe success of container grown plants is highly dependant on the

quality of growing medium provided for them. Both air and waterare needed to support proper root growth so container soil shouldbe somewhat porous. The soils typically used in gardens tend tobe too heavy for container gardening. They compact easily and

don't offer good drainage. A packaged lightweight potting mixworks well. Some of these are slightly acidic so amendments maybe needed. There are also soil-less potting mixes availabledesigned specifically to deter insects and soil-borne diseases.

If you purchase mix, avoid those containing peat moss. Look forsubstitute ingredients like coir or bark products. The impactsfrom extracting peat have become a real environmental concern.You can also make your own growing mix out of equal parts sharp

sand, loamy garden soil and compost.Types of ContainersContainers can be purchased, built or recycled from items foundaround the house or garage. The most important consideration ischoosing containers that best accommodate your plants. Onions and

radishes will grow fine in aluminum cake pans. Root plants, likecarrots, need a deeper container.Plastic containers are lighter weight, but can become brittle incold temperatures. Terra Cotta containers are wonderfully porous

and beautiful to look at, but are heavy, break easily and tend todry out more quickly. Wooden containers made from Cedar orRedwood are more naturally rot-resistant than other woods. Metalcontainers heat up rapidly which can cause root damage, so

consider using a clay or plastic pot as a liner. Other things toconsider are color and drainage. Dark colored containers absorbmore heat, sometimes too much, which can damage plant roots andmake it difficult for them to thrive.

Make sure all your containers have adequate drainage on thebottom or sides near the bottom. Place them on brick feet orplace a saucer under them to catch excess drainage or considersetting them on castors (before filling with heavy dirt!) to keep

them easy to move.The Care & Feeding of Container PlantsWatering: Plants growing in containers dry out more quickly andneed frequent watering. Because their roots can't dig deeper tofind moisture, they need constant attention. Check them daily in

warm temperatures and give them water until you see it drainingfrom the bottom of the container. Keep newly sown seeds andtransplants moist and water older plants when the top inch ofsoil becomes dry. Mulch containers with grass or gravel pebbles

to reduce moisture loss between watering.Fertilizing: It's necessary to supplement the growth of containerplants with fertilizer due to nutrients leaching out fromfrequent watering. After the first 3-4 weeks of growth, add a

diluted organic fertilizer like seaweed extract, fish emulsion,manure tea or compost tea when watering. Do this every two weeksand adjust fertilizer levels as necessary according to how theplants respond.

Light: The amount of light your container needs will vary bycrop. Most plants require at least 5-6 hours of full sun per day.This can be maximized with the addition of reflective materials(aluminum foil, glass marbles) placed around containers.

-- Diana Gonzalez Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown

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