Container Vegetable Garden for the Active Family
Growing Vegetables Means Food, Family Fun, Time and Money Saved
Mar 23, 2009
Individuals who work and families that have busy schedules don't always have the time or space to work traditional garden plots. Container vegetable gardening has taken on a whole new appeal, gaining popularity as food prices continue to soar. A few minutes' work adds food to the table, provides a fun project for the entire family, and reduces the weekly grocery bill. If you're in a real hurry to taste the results, seedling plants cut the growing time by a few weeks or more.
Vegetable Garden Plan
The smallest space will do for container gardening, even a balcony, windowsill, or a door stoop. Many vegetable plants require direct sunlight most of the day and will need to be watered on a regular basis.
- Start with a Plan ...Select a reasonable place for your containers. Choose a space or two that won't interfere with traffic or living arrangements.
- Find Suitable Containers ...Container size depends on what you want to grow. If you plan to raise herbs, green onions, or radishes in your windowsill, then deep plastic trays or plastic pots will do. Larger plants such as tomatoes or corn require gallon-size cans or five-gallon buckets, but you'll have to drill holes for water drainage. Never use containers that have held toxic substances.
- Delegate Jobs ... Children love to dig in dirt and might also enjoy painting plain pots as part of the family project.
More container ideas: cut-down plastic milk cartons, cans saved from pantry foods (lids and sharp edges removed), and deli containers. Containers should be deep enough to support the adult plant and can be made from most any durable material including clay, metal, or wood. Be mindful of sharp edges on anything that has to be cut down to size. Adults should always supervise children and do the cutting themselves.
Garden Supplies for Planting Container Vegetables
- Potting Soil ...Bagged soil is recommended because it's cleaner, not too dense, and is properly formulated for growing plants. Prices vary from store to store, but soil is generally cheap and a few eight-pound bags will go a long way.
- Tools ...Garden gloves will save your manicure, but there's something invigorating about getting your hands dirty when planting your own garden. Spread newspapers to make cleanup easy.
- Vegetables ...Seedlings or starter plants (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and more) save time and can be found in department stores, some grocery stores, feed stores, and plant nurseries. As for seeds, green beans grow fast and are fascinating for children to watch. Buy bush vegetable varieties (peas, cucumbers, beans, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) when available, not vine types!
- Plant Food ...Readily available in many stores, choose a vegetable plant food and follow directions carefully. Overfeeding can cause beautiful plants, but they may not produce.
Some plant varieties are bred to be small, including carrots. Miniature vegetable varieties are just as tasty as the full-size varieties.
Tomatoes are best purchased as starter plants. If you buy a tall-growing variety as opposed to a bush variety, then plan to stake your tomato plants. You don't need anything fancy; an old broom or mop handle will do, and ties can be made from old towels, rags, or ripped bed sheets. Tie top-heavy tomato plants loosely to keep them from bending and breaking.
Corn will grow in containers, but if space is limited to only a few large containers, then the yield from a couple corn plants may not be economical.
The Harvest
Some vegetables begin producing in as little as three weeks (radishes, string beans), while others may take six weeks or longer. Growing periods depend on the vegetable. If you're not sure of the germination time, consult a local garden store. Check plants daily for mature vegetables that are ready to pick. Depending on the number of containers used and the vegetables grown, plants may produce throughout the summer.
Vegetable Gardening All-Year 'Round
Why stop with spring? Now that you have reusable supplies, try a few cold-weather vegetables when the leaves begin to fall. Bush pumpkins are popular for small gardens, and many other winter vegetables come in dwarf sizes that are container-friendly. Fresh vegetables on the Thanksgiving table are sure to add extra-special flavor to the holiday.
Whether you're a master gardener or a first time novice, growing your own vegetables is a satisfying experience. With so many new vegetable varieties available to the consumer, year-round container vegetable gardening makes good economic sense. The active individual or the busy family with limited time and resources can easily grow food for the table. Spending less money and time in the grocery store reduces the grocery bill, as well.
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