If somebody wants to grow their own vegetables and have limited space, vegetables can still be grown in containers. Herbs and vegetables can be grown in containers . Some people who have a big area for their vegetables garden, they also like to use containers. Maybe they have try certain vegetables in their soil and it does not grow good in their soil, but they grow good in their containers. A lot of people like to grow herbs in containers, so they can have them real close to their house.
There are many different kinds of containers that can be use for growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Some of the different kinds of containers are plastic, clay, or terra-cotta pots. Window boxes and hanging baskets can be used for the same purpose of growing different types of plants. Plastic containers are light and inexpensive, and they come in any style or shape you will want to use. These plastic containers are very good to use for growing vegetables and fruits.
If a clay or terra-cotta pots is use, it will need to be line with plastic because they will lose moisture rapidly. If you decided not to have the pot permanent fixed somewhere, you will need to make sure you can move the pot because it will be very heavy because of all the soil. If you will be moving the heavy pots, you will probably need to invest in a caddy or another device on wheels, that are used for moving large containers. Window boxes are good for growing herbs and leafy lettuce crops. Hanging baskets can be use to grow herbs, small bush tomatoes, and also trailing varieties such as strawberries.
The bigger the containers is the better,because a container will be about the size of a bucket which is about a two gallon and twelve inches diameter and this will be fine for most vegetables. If you are planning on growing larger plants like squash, cucumbers, and melons these vegetables will need to have a container twice the size of the containers that I just talk about. The depth of the container is also important. The depth of the containers should be at least twelve inches deep to allow a good root run and a reservoir of moisture. Deeper pans will retain water but will need more potting mix for this one. Shallow pots will dry out real quick.
The best one to use as far as, potting soil goes is to go and buy your potting soil from a garden center or store. Any stores that sells garden supplies. Using store brought potting soil it will be weed free and free drainage and it will retain moisture and the right nutrients to give your plants a real good one. If you make your own compost you can used it if it is completely decomposed and when you are looking at it the soil needs to look like rich soil. If you are using compost and do not want to start having problems with weeds or diseases, only fill the bottom half with compost and put the store brought potting soil in the top half. When the end of the season comes, do not throw the contents of your containers away, because you can recycle the contents by putting it in a vegetable patch as much, reusing it again in your containers or adding it to the compost pile if you have one. If you are reusing your containers always fluff it up and fill the container halfway, then filled the containers up with fresh mix. Because blueberries and currants have to be in their pots for a longer time, always use a soil-based potting mix instead a soils mixes. Blueberries are real easy to grow in containers with the soil they need to grow. Blueberries has to have acidic soil to grow. For a long-term plants, you can start with smaller pots, then move to a large one when the roots fill the small one. Always have your container in a warm, sheltered place and the soil is kept moist, you can sow all vegetables directly into your containers. For crops that are closely spaced such as lettuce, onions, or greens can be sow, allowing a few spaces. Cover with potting mix and always keep the surface moist. When you thin the seedlings in stages do this where you will have an even distribution of plants. If you are planning on planting large plants, like cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers are best planted individually. Plant these plants in a large container with at least a 2-gallon volume or 12- inch diameter. If you are harvesting vegetables you will need to move your containers into a greenhouse, garage, or a well-lit room. The potting soil should last about four weeks. After that vigorous, vegetables will need to be fed regular, so use a general purpose or balanced fertilizer for leaf and root crops and a high-potassium one for fruit-bearing vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Watering is the biggest chore when you are growing vegetables or other edible crops in containers. Mid-morning and late afternoon are the best time to water your plants.
Some of the vegetables that are good to grow in containers are beet, pepper, potato, radish, spinach, and all greens, summer squash, sweet potato, okra, onions, lettuce, turnips, carrots, and scallion. Blueberries, currant and strawberry are the fruits that you can grow in containers. Grow herbs in containers are a good choice for containers. Grow herbs in a medium size pot.If you are growing herbs for aesthetic reasons, grow several perennial herbs in a large containers.Sold herbs that match with the same growing conditions. Summary Using vegetables in different sizes containers is really a great idea especially if you don't have the space to grow a regular size gardens. Different types of herbs can also be planted in containers.
There are a few basic skills that I will need to learn to become a good gardener. Most of these skills will become second nature to everybody once I have learn the skills of being a good gardener, then gardening becomes easy. Planting Planting is the most important skill that I can learn. Some different ways that I can learn on how to plant are watching a very experienced gardener or to volunteer to get hands on experience. To plant my newly purchased plants, dig a hole larger than the pots that the plants are in. I will need to turn the pots upside down with one hand and put my other hand underneath to catch my plants. Always try to get the plants out very slowly. Do not yank or pull the plant out by the stems. Always plant them at the same level that they was growing in the pot, but in a slight depression. Then I will need to pack the soil around the plant, this is done using only my hands. As I plant each plant I will build up, a mud wall about two inches high around each plant. This will help to keep the moisture in. Then I will have to water each plant with a water hose very slowly until each plant thoroughly saturated. If you live in a cold winter area, you will need to fertilize every couple of weeks until July and then you will need to stop now so the plants can get ready for the cooler fall weather. With perennials you do not fertilize them when they are in their second year. Transplanting When I have a perennial that I want to divide and transplant it is best done in the early spring, just as the plant emerges. I can basically do it anytime expect during the summer heat. Dig the plant up and cut it in half or in several pieces depending on its size. I can use a spade or a kitchen knife. to do this. Transplanting is like planting except I sometimes would like to shape up my plants. This means cutting back the top growth so the roots do not have to much to support while they are getting establishing themselves. This plant needs to end up at the same level that it was growing before it was started. Also I will need to create an earthen dam around the base to catch and hold the water. I will need to thoroughly soak the soil right after I plant them. Growing From Seed Sowing seeds is a whole lot less work , than planting. Some of the seeds, not all kinds of seeds, can be sprinkled over the soil I can either do this in fall or late winter with annuals such as poppies, bachelor's buttons, and larkspurs. Vegetable seeds are always planted in rows at the time that they are suppose to be planted. Take your rake, and dig and level the soil to create a furrow or so deep. Then I will plant my seeds like beans, corn, and peas or whatever I choose to plant now. I will cover the seeds about a 1/4" to 1/2" deep. I will need to space the seeds a few inches apart, knowing this is they germinate and grow, I will need to thin them so this will allow them room to grow. Different vegetables mean different ways to thin them. Sowing seeds inside is easier to do because you will be able to sit down and do this part. Next the container needs to be fill with a soil mixture that is made for the seedlings. Plant a few seeds into each cell and cover them exactly as the directions say on the back of the seed packet. Always water from the bottom by soaking the containers in their trays. Do not water from the top, because this will move all the seeds that I have planted. Seed plants will also tell you when to plant which is four to eight weeks before the average frost-free time in your area, always count backwards from that time. A good thing to do during the winter is to get it your garden down on paper. Spacing Plants I will need to know some information on how to space my plants. For example, for trees and shrubs will need different spacing. Trees need a lot of space so the trees will have pl entry of room to grow. For perennials and annuals, I can always check with nursery centers or a garden centers. Feeding Plants Once everything is planted and growing , now is the time to start feeding my plants. There is no set example in feeding my plants. Some plants are heavier feeders than other plants. Some do not want or need any extra fertilization at all. Be generous with bulbs, roses, most annuals, vegetables, and containerized plants. Most herbs, trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines can get along pretty well on their own. If perennials are overfed, they will come up with a bunch of lax, floppy plants. If this happens, they will have to be stalked. Plant Supports Some plants need to have support, and one of the flowers that has to have support is dahlias. To stake a plant I will need to stake a sturdy bamboo pole, as tall as the plant is suppose to be I can use twine., yarn, or twist-ties every 10" attaching it first to the stake and then around the plant stem. Deadheading, Shaping, And Pruning Deadheading is when I cut or pinch off faded blossoms and their stems. Deadheading encourages plants to keep blooming rather than them putting all of their energies into seed production. Some plants have to be cut back about 1/2 and then other plants will have to be cut all the way down. Plants that are included in this are lupine, cat mint, daisies, meadow page, and columbine. In the early spring, this is the best time to cut out dead branches on trees and shrubs and also do minimal shaping. It is time also to cut back perennials and ornamental grasses. Summary There are many different basic skills that a good gardener needs to know. They are planting, transplanting, growing from seed, spacing plants, feeding plants, plant supports and deadheading shaping and pruing.
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Heirloom gardening means different things to gardeners. It is related to vegetables and the use of the tried and true, noncommercial earlier varieties, rather than modern commercial seed strains. Home gardener's interests has turn to far or the older varieties for their good flavor, long period of productivity and special characteristics such as looks, color, and history.
Heirloom gardening begins with time-tested choices, that have been handed down for multiple generations. The garden plants including fruits, vegetables, bulbs, trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials. These plants were not available commercially for several years, with two different places that you could collected from gardens and historic sites. Some people would go back to their grandma's place and collect cuttings of myrtles, Althea's, quince, crape myrtles, and roses.
Fragrance is a very good reminder of the olden times. Winter honeysuckle, gardenia, and other plants bloom, the smell will make you think of the earlier time. Heirloom gardening is also how we placed plants in our landscapes. This is two different designs that you will find in heirloom gardening. They are parterre and cottage garden. Parterre relates to application of patterns for walks and plant arrangement. Parterres can also appear in bigger settings which is also called a cottage garden. The pattern may be hedges of dwarf myrtles, boxwood, and other low-growing evergreens.
Heirloom favorites for Southern gardens include bulbs. Old gardens, cemeteries, and country home sites have gladiolas, snowflakes, marcissus, amaryllis, and many more plants that have been there for many years. SUMMARY
There are really no rules pertaining to heirloom gardening. The best thing to do is to have plants that youknow that they will reflect the charm, history, and sense of place. ">
