Tips on Container Gardening

Filed under Fruit by admin on September 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm {no comments}

Sign up for a newsletter and get a free herb. www.mcshanesnursery.com Steve McShane here with a tip on Container Gardening and it’s actually a great way, to give an example, I’ve got fruit trees here. Multiple grafted fruit trees and they are in these plastic pots. Yesterday I had my good friend Mark Segovia here, say hi Mark! Hello there! How are you? Anyhow, Mark and I were actually filling these pots up with compost, right. What else did we put in there? A little fertilizer and just gave it some love, watered it really well. We filled the buckets up just so the trees would be happy. Not more than about 2 or 3 months ago, we canned these up. What happened was, we put soil in there. Good high-grade ‘McShane’s Blend’ Soil in with these new trees and the soil level actually dropped. Mark and I brought in some fresh compost that we put to the top. The principle is you feed the soil, in the soil is a very active, microbial colony, so as it breaks down the compost, you need to put new food on top. We did that fertilizer. It was organic fertilizer too, and it was a job. Anyhow, just a nursery note here, with your container gardens continue to add soil and continue to add fertilizer on a regular basis, Certainly as that soil level drops. McShane’s Nursery and Landscape Supply Copyright 2010 Landon Wolf Copyright 2010

Plant a few trees and enjoy your own organic fruits. Monrovia plant expert Nicholas Staddon will make your mouth water as he talks about easy-care fruit trees like cherry, plum, Asian pear, peach and apple.

Growing a Great Container Garden

Filed under Vegetables by admin on September 6, 2010 at 12:18 pm {no comments}

Growing a Great Container Garden

Nothing beats fresh vegetables out of your own garden. The taste of a freshly picked tomato is pure heaven and digging your own new, red potatoes is so rewarding. But what do you do if you don’t have a large yard or no yard at all? No problem! You can grow a vegetable garden in a container!

Many people think of container gardening as an easy way to grow beautiful flowers and accent patios and porches with color. But have you ever tried adding a few vegetables in with the flowers? Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is just as easy as growing flowers and you get delicious results! You can mix a cherry tomato plant in with a pot of marigolds and snapdragons. The bright red fruit is a beautiful addition to the colorful blooms. Put a couple of red potato starts in a large planter with a few flowers, the foliage of potato plants is very beautiful and you will also have a few tiny white flowers as well.
H
ow about dedicating a few planters to just produce? Strawberries often produce more fruit when planted in a container because they don’t have much room to spread. Strawberry plants spread by sending out runners that root down and start a new plant. Once the strawberries run out of room to send out shoots, they put all their energy into producing fruit.  How delicious to have fresh strawberries just outside your door!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a container garden.  

Properly prepare your pot. Your pot will need good drainage so make sure it has drainage holes drilled in the bottom. If your pot does not have drainage holes, either drill holes or create a drainage area by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom. If you have a very large pot, you can create a drainage area and eliminate the need for large quantities of soil by adding a layer of styrofoam at the bottom.  This will also make the pot easier to move around. Just remember to add enough soil for the plants to have a good root system.

Don’t use garden soil. The soil in your yard is generally too heavy for container use. A container gardening needs light soil that is rich in organic material for proper drainage.  Mix regular potting soil with compost and peat moss to get a healthy soil that is perfect for containers.  It is a good idea to mix in time release fertilizer while you are mixing the soil. Most time release fertilizers last about three months so plan to add more at that time.

When you are transplanting new plants, dig the hole about twice as large as the plants root ball.  Then back fill the hole with some loose soil, this will give the tender roots soft soil to anchor in. Before you place the plant in the hole, massage the roots to break them up slightly. The plant roots have been confined to a small area while they are getting their start, however they need to break free and they need a little help from you to do that.

Give your plants a healthy start by using a root starting fertilizer as you are planting. Mix the liquid fertilizer with water and add it as you plant each new plant to your container.  Root starting fertilizers contain the proper nutrients that help to prevent transplant shock.  

Trim the plant after you plant it. This is a difficult thing for most gardeners to do. After all you just bought a beautiful, full plant at the store! You need to remember that the plant needs to put effort into building a strong root system. This is difficult if the plant is trying to maintain full blooms or large amounts of foliage as well.  A good rule of thumb is to cut off the plant by two thirds. Don’t worry, your plant will grow back fuller and healthier than before.

Combine plants with similar requirements. If a plant requires full sun, don’t pair it up with a plant that does best in partial shade. Careful planning will yield the best results in container gardening.  

Containers are a great way to have fresh produce all summer long. Growing your own fresh produce is rewarding and allows you to provide healthy food for your family. Give container gardening a try, you will love the results!

Piper is a freelance writer who enjoys fitness, good nutrition, and the outdoors. She loves to work in the garden with her small garden tiller. She enjoys nature, reading and fitness. Check out her new website, http://www.smallgardentiller.org to learn all about getting the best small garden tiller so you can have a beautiful garden too!

Container Growing Vegetables

Filed under Vegetables by admin on September 5, 2010 at 9:18 pm {no comments}

Container Growing Vegetables

You have probably thought about container growing vegetables lately during this difficult time in order to save a bit of money. You can start a little at a time to see if it will work for you as opposed to regular in-ground vegetable gardening. Container growing vegetables can be a very handy and rewarding project.

You can grow vegetables in almost any type of container as long as it is large enough and has drainage holes in the bottom. The larger the container the easier it is to maintain. The more soil it is capable of holding the most moisture it will hold. The larger the container, at least 18 inches or more, the better you are. Choosing your containers is also very important. If you choose a self-watering container make sure they have overflow holes to eliminate extra water during rain storms. These containers are good for the gardener that does not have a lot of time to water or is unable to water daily. Plastic containers or glazed ceramic containers are considered to be the best containers to use. The problem with terra cotta containers is the clay that is used to make them will absorb all the moisture out of the soil so the use of a drain tray will be needed to fill with water to give moisture back to the soil.

Having the proper drainage for the containers will prevent the vegetable plants from getting too soggy and possibly drowning. You can place pebbles or rocks in the bottom of the container so you will not lose soil as the water is draining; the extra water will flow between and around the rocks and leave the soil in tact.

Your container vegetables will need food in order to produce a crop and that is when fertilizer comes in handy. The soil you purchase may already have fertilizer included, if it does not you can mix some of the fertilizer with your soil before you place in the container. Every few weeks it would be a good idea to give your vegetables a diluted dose of liquid fish emulsion for added nutrition.  

You do not want your vegetables to receive too much heat, so if you live in an area that gets extremely hot weather you will need to place your containers in the shade during the afternoon heat or they will burn. If you use metal containers or dark colored containers they could possibly heat up too much and cook the roots of the plants. If you live in an area that gets very cold temperatures during the vegetable growing season you may want to bring the containers inside during that time. Vegetables do not like cold soil and that is soil that gets down to less than 60 degrees F.  

The soil to be used should be a good quality that is meant for growing vegetables. It is best not to use the soil that comes from your regular garden because it will probably compact too easily and drain poorly. Using this soil could also bring weeds to your container vegetables and that is one reason for container gardening, very few weeds. Organic potting soil is the preferred soil to use for your vegetables for a healthier diet.

You vegetables will need at least six hours of sun a day; another good reason for container growing vegetables is you can move them around. Water is also needed for your garden to grow to maturity. The soil should be kept moist but never wet. You stick your finger, as far as the first knuckle, into the soil to check if you are not sure; if it comes out dry it is time to water. You may need to water more than once a day during the hottest days of the summer.

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Barbara enjoys some backyard gardening and is trying a little container growing of vegetables. Come visit the website Gardeners Garden Supplies to see other articles regarding gardening and accessories and leave a few comments or thoughts.

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Vegetable Gardening : How to Plant Asparagus in a Container Garden

Filed under Fruit by admin on August 29, 2010 at 6:51 pm {no comments}

To plant asparagus in a container garden you need a pot, organic matter, rocks, leaves, a trowel and pruners. Grow asparagus in a container garden withhelp from an expert gardener in this free video on vegetable gardening. Expert: Jene Van Butsel Contact: www.tropicalfruit.com/ Bio: Jene Van Butsel is an expert gardener specializing in growing plants and tropical fruit trees since 1987. Filmmaker: Leonora Fishbein Series Description: A vegetable garden can bring an array of fresh vegetables to your home, from avocados and squash to butter and soy beans. Learn to grow vegetables with help from an expert gardener in this free video series on vegetable gardening.

Container Gardening – Easy Steps To Successful Container Gardening

Filed under Uncategorized by admin on August 29, 2010 at 8:39 am {no comments}

Container Gardening – Easy Steps To Successful Container Gardening

One of the more popular forms of gardening as of late is called container gardening. Its popularity is based upon the fact that you can bring almost any type of vibrant arrangement into your garden, home, deck or patio, bringing life to your surroundings in a very neat and tidy way. By adding different types of flowers including perennials, garden variety plants, or herbs of your choice, container gardening will create an inspirational treat for your family and friends alike. Here are a few ways that you can successfully grow plants and create treasures throughout your home with this new gardening fad.


The main focus of container gardening at first is choosing the type of container that you would like to put your plants in. Depending upon your particular interest or taste, you may want to use a variety of different kinds of containers including metal, concrete, and even plastic. Very popular models are would or would tone materials that look organic in nature. Also very popular are containers made of stone which give a very earthy feel to any area of your home or even outside your home.


When choosing a gardening container, you must also think about price and weight. Most plastic containers are very affordable and can be found in hundreds of different colors to match any particular setting that you may have in mind. If you are going for a stone motif, if you have had a bad back before or back surgery, perhaps a better choice would be something lighter than stonework, perhaps plastic replicas of stones in a container format that will give the same look and feel as the real thing.


The other thing to consider is the weight of the dirt that you are going to be putting into the container. If you are an organic gardener, and you are using worm castings or some other form of compost that is rich, this will help lighten the load as this material is light and fluffy in the beginning. Although you can grow plants of almost any type in your worm compost, it is better to mix it with regular soil which will add density and weight to the container that you are placing it in.


If you are concerned about the quality of containers, you may think about the price you are paying for each one along with the style of each gardening container. Terracotta and concrete, depending upon where you buy them and who has made them, will probably last several years. Prices, due to the exponential popularity of this type of gardening, have gone down and you can also count on them not weighing as much as they did in years past with the added benefit of being weatherproof and possibly even more sturdy than before.


Going back to basics, what in gardening containers are still very popular. If this is your choice, it is a good idea to make sure that the wood itself is made and they rot resistant wood. Types of wood that are good for this are Cedar and Redwood because they are made of a higher density would then say your typical pine tree. Folk may be a poor choice due to the acidic levels in the wood itself. Either way, make sure that you can live with your decision based on price and appearance before you choose a wooden container that may not be there in just a few short months due to natural decomposition.


When choosing plants for your container, your best bet is to choose something that is colorful and matches the surroundings that you are placing it in. Some people, however, like their planters to stand out and will choose very bright colors for the planter as well as the flora that they plant within it. If you are using them inside, make sure that the plant you use are geared to live in warmer climates and likewise the ones outside should be designed to live in colder weather conditions. Also consider where you live and how long you would like your plants to grow. Replacing plants can be costly and therefore you should consider these options before making your purchase.


Overall, like most fads, container gardening may pass in just a few years. However, with the advancement of most people toward a more organic society that grows its and food and creates its own compost to ensure healthier and better food for themselves and their family, using containers may play a large role in this advancement and may go a long way into the future as a permanent mainstay in most people’s households that are organically oriented. Choose wisely, and make your home a better place by adding a gardening container that is just right for you.

Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and container gardening. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go
to http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com

Organic Gourmet Organic Vegetable Boullion Cubes, Low Sodium, 2.54-Ounce Container (Pack of 12)

Filed under General by admin on August 21, 2010 at 5:08 pm {no comments}

Organic Gourmet Organic Vegetable Boullion Cubes, Low Sodium, 2.54-Ounce Container (Pack of 12)

  • Pack of twelve, 2.54-ounce each (total of 30.48 ounces)
  • Made with 78 percent organic ingredients
  • 100 percent vegan and gluten free
  • Cholesterol and GMO free

Organic Gourmet Organic Vegetable Boullion Cubes, Low Sodium, 2.54-Ounce Container (Pack of 12)

Rating: (out of 5 reviews)

List Price: $ 47.94

Price: $ 36.78

What Everyone Is Saying About Container Vegetable Gardening Is Dead Wrong And Why

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 21, 2010 at 12:17 pm {no comments}

What Everyone Is Saying About Container Vegetable Gardening Is Dead Wrong And Why

There are many pains to regular vegetable gardening, including the weeds that pop up in regular gardens, and the insects that are prone to bothering you in these gardens as well. There is a great way to get bigger and better vegetables, as well as have better control over your crop. Doing container vegetable gardening allows you to have more control and get rid of some of the pests.


What Is It


Container vegetable gardening is gardening that is done in containers. You will fill them with soil and then plant your vegetables in them. This way, you can keep the container near to your house, and keep better control over it. You can also help to make sure that the vegetables turn out just right with container vegetable gardening.


How To Do It


When you are going to embark on container vegetable gardening, you first need to choose your containers and your vegetables very carefully. Look at the packets for seeds or the information that comes with the other plants, and see what type of soil depth the plants need to grow correctly. Then, you will be sure to be able to have the right depth for your buckets or containers. Choose containers that are big enough for each plant – not as they are when they are very small, but as they will be.


Fill the containers to use for container vegetable gardening with soil that is made for vegetables, and then plant the seeds or the plants in the same way that you would plant them in the ground. Be sure to use stakes if the plants need them. Also, be sure that there is a way for water to run out of the bottom of the container, as this is more like the way water will drain from soil.


Next, put the planted container vegetable gardening containers in a place where you will be able to access them each day. Be sure to play attention to the vegetables and see which of them need full sun and which of them need partial shade. Also, be sure to water them as often as you need to, according to the directions that came with the seeds or the plants. It is very important that you follow the exact same guidelines that you would follow if you were planting these in your yard or in your regular garden.


Remember, doing container vegetable gardening might mean that you still get some weeds. You will also have to worry about insects that come near to your garden. So, always be vigilant when you are doing container vegetable gardening.

Get your Organic Gardening 6 Days Course for free and cool tips on vegetable garden planting that you can implement right now.

Check out http://organicgardeningcenter.blogspot.com for more information and details.

Organic Container Gardening – No Garden? No Problem

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 19, 2010 at 9:17 pm {no comments}

Organic Container Gardening – No Garden? No Problem

If you want to try your hand at growing your own organic flowers and vegetables but have no garden, don’t worry. Many people grow organic products successfully using a container. You can keep the container wherever is convenient or move it around if you need to.

A container describes any vessel which can hold soil. It might be natural, such as a clay or wooden container, or you can use an old wheelbarrow, plastic carton or bucket. As long as it is not going to fall to bits when watered, you can make use of it. It is important that your chosen container can drain because most plants dislike being over-watered. If the container does not have holes in it, you can make some with a drill or knitting needle, depending what the container is made out of. An inch or so of broken clay pots, gravel or pebbles in the bottom of the pot ensures good drainage, while a layer of leaf mold or ripped up paper on top of the clay or gravel can help to retain adequate moisture.

Living, organic soil is very important in organic container gardening. If you are using a garden, you can gradually add organic matter to the existing soil but if you plan to use a container, you need to begin with organic soil. You need organic soil, capable of holding water without drenching the plants’ roots too much because there is no subsoil in the container. Adding peat moss to the organic soil is a good way to do that. You can grow organic products in peat moss by itself without adding soil if you prefer.

Depending on the size of your chosen container, you can grow whatever you like in it. As long as the pot is big enough, you can choose from herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, lettuce and many other vegetables. Organic seeds and plants should be used for organic gardening to produce a true organic product, but as long as you don’t plan to sell the product, it is up to you. It can be fun to experiment!

Pest control is much easier in organic container gardening than in regular gardening. You can see the whole plant and pick off bugs such as hookworms. You can bring it to a faucet to wash the leaves and stem when the plant is in a pot instead of in the garden. You probably won’t see cutworms if you are using containers but you might find slugs. Simply sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the soil around your produce to get rid of them.

If aphids make a home on your plant, you can sort this problem out by buying a pack of ladybugs which will eat the aphids without destroying your produce.

Anyone can have a go at organic container gardening. It is easy and can be very satisfying to grow your own food. Organic food tastes so good too. If you can place your container in a sheltered area with natural light, it is possible to grow produce in it throughout the year.

Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden and Patio where you can learn more about organic container gardening.

Recycle Survival garden update – July 20, 2010 – prepper container gardening

Filed under Fruit by admin on August 19, 2010 at 9:51 am {no comments}

Update on the container garden. The plants got plenty of rain water this week and I used collected rain run off as well, so they are doing better. The tomatoes are finally getting bigger and putting on fruit. I’m having a problem with squash bugs though so I don’t think I will get any squash variety veggies this time. Peas and beans are starting to grow. I’m seeing a few more sprouts. Tire potatoes are doing well but one isn’t growing. Cucumbers are starting to vine nice and I have baby cucs putting on. See my pickles video if you haven’t seen it yet. Watermelon and honey dew are doing well. White runners didn’t grow as well as I had planned. I figure on the beans, even if they don’t produce a big crop, I can save the seeds for next year as they are heirloom organic. be back next week with another update. If this video has been a blessing to you, please consider placing a small order in my AVON store: www.youravon.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

An Autumn Day at Moulsecoomb Forest Garden
Video Rating: 3 / 5

Organic Container Gardening

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 16, 2010 at 9:16 am {no comments}

Organic Container Gardening

Organic container gardening is really not as difficult as it sounds—you simply have to make sure that the herbs, vegetables, fruits or flowers you plant are not infected by toxins or pesticides, and choosing an organic seed variety is one of the best ways to do that. Here are some tips for organic container gardening that will help you to plant your own healthy container garden.

One of the first things you should do when you’re considering container gardening the organic way, is the soil. The soil is the foundation of a good garden, so it should be high-quality soil or possibly organic soil. Feeding soil with a compost mixture is also a great way to make sure you are creating lush green plants that you can be proud of. Things like fish heads, dried leaves and grass can go into the soil to provide additional nutrients and to make your crops healthier. This way, your plants will grow without being stunted by chemicals and you won’t have to re-plant your crops due to contamination.

You also have to choose a healthy plant or plant groups to start your organic container gardening with. The quality of the nursery where you purchase the plant from, as well as any evidence of stem damage will help you determine the quality of the plant. Also, this will give you an idea of what you can expect once the flowers or herbs you are tending to are full-grown. You should also check the plant for weeds—even if you are moving the plant to a new pot for container gardening purposes, you should keep in mind that the weeds are fighting with the plant for soil nutrients and this makes the plant weaker.

Finally, guarding your plants against pests and impurities is also another important part of organic container gardening. Even though your flower seeds may be of good quality, you’ll need to set up barriers so that insects can not eat away at the plant while it is growing, or lay eggs in the soil that will stunt the growth of the plant. Organic pesticides will work in some cases, but you can also use things like foil collars around the container garden pots to keep worms out, or placing the containers around places where ladybugs live, since they will eat the harmful pests that come near the plants. Sticky traps will also help you to catch flying insects and prevent them from eating the leaves in your organic container gardening masterpiece.

Mary E. Eule, BA, MS is a professional writer and researcher who been an avid container herb gardener for over 25 years. She is also the author of the comprehensive, step-by-step guide, “The Down to Earth Guide to Easy Container Herb Gardening,” Visit her website: http://ContainerHerbGardening.com to purchase her e-book, download her free herb e-course or to get additional tips and articles on organic container gardening .

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