My Garden in a Box!

Container gardening is the most ideal suburban way to have fresh vegetables at your fingertips. Its super easy and a wonderful way to burn off a long day or teach children about healthy alternatives to eating. If you lack space or maybe your property is loaded with trees, container gardens are versatile and beautiful. Only the imagination limits what your gardens can be grown in, but remember that some are better than others. Remember to use pots that are light in color so that roots will not burn. Also any wood products need to be non-treated wood and thus will rot sooner than later.(may only last a growing season or two) Terra Cotta pots will dry out faster than typical pots and ceramics will need to drilled on the bottom to allow ample drainage. Whatever you decide make sure they drain well and are up off the ground just enough that they don't stand in water. Potted gardens will require a bit more attention to those in the ground due to the fact that they will dry out a bit more quickly and may need pruning every now and then to maintain space requirements and/or aesthetic appearances. But remember that typical soil born pathogens such as disease and some insects will be less likely. Fertilizer is essential to healthy gardens and can come from a multitude of places. Compost is a wonderful additive to your potting mix. Fish emulsions and compost tea are excellent choices. I use Monty's outdoor organic fertilizer or a soybean based fertilizer called Daniels. Just remember to use a liquid fertilizer, granular fertilizers will waste as they wash through the pots with daily watering's. Leave a couple of inches from the top of the pot with your soil mix to help contain moisture and your soil. These gardens can start from inside the house and be moved outside once the warmer days approach. You can start from seed or plants that have already been started. Your local garden stores should have biodegradable pots designed for seed starting or just use an old cake pan. For you real go-getters out there, you can make your own from newspaper, again GREAT activity for kids (www.ehow.com/video_1745_create-seed-starting.html). DO NOT OVER WATER SEEDS! Give light through windows. Transplanting is easy and the kids love the process of seeds to plants to table, so do I.
Here are a couple of ideas and tips for pot sizes and plants.
1) Summer Salad Mix- Tomato, Chives, Parsley and Cucumber can be grown together. Same sun and water requirements. Planter or Box at least 5 gal.
2)Herb Gardens- Your typical herbs will grow fine together and will produce ample for a family.
Planter or Box 4ft x 4ft x 8in.
3)Broccoli - 2 gal-1 plant
4)Eggplant-5 gal-1 plant (Grilled with Greek seasoning=love at first bite)
5)Green Beans-2 gal-plant 3 in. apart
6)Squash-5 gal-1 plant
7) Spinach-1 gal- 2 plants
8)Leaf Lettuce-1 gal- 2 plants
9)Green Onion-1 gal- 5 plants
10)Carrots-1 gal- 3 plants- (remember depth on this one!) 2 inches longer than actual growth.

Why cure the problem when you can prevent it?

Happy 2010! Time sure flies by and that's why I thought I would write on the importance of insect prevention. You may not know this, but insects have already begun preparing for the warmer months by laying their eggs. Once the temperature is right these eggs will hatch and begin feeding on your trees and shrubs. Once this process begins it will be quite complicated and expensive to control. Most products that are available to control insects that have hatched are not organic and can take multiple applications. Why not stop the problem before it begins? Horticultural oils are not considered "organic" but are very safe and effective ways to control overwintering insects. The oils are very people friendly, pet friendly and plant friendly. This product is highly effective on overwintering eggs, scale, aphids and mites among other pest. I do not recommend using this product however except in cooler temps in the south due to plant tolerance. Once temperatures and humidity levels begin to rise, a lot of plants will tend to burn and have negative reactions. Other pest controls that are not as environmentally friendly will be used at this time. Taking curative routes can cause a multitude of mishaps including loss of plant foliage, irreparable plant damage and even plant replacements. It can prove to be very unsightly and expensive. Prevention, not curative is absolutely the answer to a beautiful and safer outdoor living environment!