Silke and I have started a container garden on our back deck. This was motivated by a magazine article that I saw in ‘Home and Garden’. It seemed simple and the fact that there are pine trees in our back yard that would kill anything under them, this seemed like the way to go.
Our containers contain: Lettuce, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peas, Squash, a wagon of herbs, and an assortment of flowers.
It’s only May and we have the seeds sprouting already! As long as the weather cooperates we should be set for a decent crop. We’ll update this blog as the summer goes by.
Do you have a container garden story to share? We would love to hear it and could use some pointers from a more seasoned gardener.
Nick
6-7-11 addition: New Photos
Updated garden picture on July 3rd.
In the spirit of ‘you get what you pay for’, we learned the hard way about inexpensive soil versus top grade. If you don’t want your plants to drown in their containers then I highly recommend the high end soil. The soil can maintain the water levels better even if your potted plants are in self watering containers.
I have an updated picture of the garden from July 3, 2011. We’ve harvested the lettuce and replanted radishes in the pot. Some of the tomatoes look like they’re drowning and others seem to have reached a happy medium. We’ll keep this updated.
Check out this link:
http://www.gardenminnesota.com
Narrowing down the climate for the Central region makes this one a little more relevant to our region.
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Date Asked:8/6/2011
Category:Fruits & Vegetables
Name:Nicholas Jager
State of Residence:Minnesota
Question:We planted a garden this year on our deck in pots. The tomatoes didn’t pan out like we planned and I thought it was something we did wrong. Was this just a bad year for tomatoes?
Answered by:Barbara Whipple
Answered Date:8/6/2011
Answer:Hi Nicholas, Growing tomatoes in pots can be challenging. You need big pots, at least 12 inches in diameter and the same amount deep. Always use fresh potting soil. Ask your garden center for suggestions on the best container varieties they have. Plan to stake up the plants, removing the lowest four to six branches once the plant has grown larger, and to mulch with any natural mulch such as wood chips. Also plan to water often because pots dry out quickly, especially in hot weather, and tomatoes are water guzzlers. Fertilize with a product recommended by your garden center, following the directions on the fertilizer. Most people have the best results with cherry tomatoes. The most difficult ones to grow in pots are big ones like beefeater. But like everything else, you get better at gardening with practise so don’t let a first disappointment stop you from trying again next season. There’s nothing better than a tomato you grew yourself!