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Advantages and disadvantages of container gardening Cultural requirements and issues pertaining container gardening What to plant in containers
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Container Gardening: Objectives • What you’ll learn today… • Advantages and disadvantages of container gardening • Cultural requirements and issues pertaining • container gardening • What to plant in containers
Container gardening • What is container gardening? • Container gardening is growing vegetables __________________________ and not in the ground • Has been practiced for 1000’s of years • Hanging Gardens of Babylon • Container gardens can be a way for elderly or disabled to garden
Advantages of container gardening • Can grow vegetables _________ ________ _____________ • Can grow vegetables where __________ ______________ is impossible • Apartments • Patios • Can soften harsh landscapes • Provides source of fresh food
Differences from growing vegetables in ground • Container gardening is less forgiving of mistakes – WHY? _____________________ • Environment harsher for plants in containers – WHY? _____________________________ • Plants have limited root volume • Easier to control environment in containers • Fewer problems with weeds
Check out this website for more information. Pictures are also from this site. http://home.messiah.edu/~jebeneze/ UrbanAgriculture/Garden.htm Rooftop wading pool gardens Feed sack gardens
The Big Thing to Remember with Container Gardening… YOU are providing everything that the _____________ ________________ provides to an in-ground garden There’s a lot to think about!
What’s needed to grow healthy vegetables in containers? • A sufficient supply of nutrients • Especially the __________ ______________ • Regular fertilization is important • Liquid fertilizer easiest to use for containers • The right pH • ________ to __________ • Watering • One of the most important things! • Frequency and amount depends on root area, plant, and environment • Some vegetables will need watering very day
Putting the Container in Container Gardening… • Considerations with containers • Vegetable grown will determine size of container • Avoid containers with __________ openings • Cheap plastic pots will deteriorate rapidly in UV light • Terracotta pots __________ _______ rapidly • Wood containers • Tend to rot • Cedar or redwood are less susceptible to rot • Avoid wood treated with creosote, penta, or other toxic compounds
More Container Info • Considerations with containers • Use ________ enough and _________ enough containers to allow good root growth • _________-_____________ containers lessen heat absorption and encourage even root growth • 6-10 inch size adequate for green onion, parsley, herbs • 5 gallon size good for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
Drainage in Container Gardens • Good drainage • Make sure media does not retain too much moisture • _______ media to allow for air space and drainage • Containers must have adequate drain holes • Make sure holes are not blocked • Add _________ of coarse gravel at the bottom of the container to improve drainage
Temperatures, Light, & Photoperiod • Air and soil temperature • Air temperatures can be substantially ________________ than over bare ground • Soils in containers can become quite hot or cold • Select vegetables according to the environment • Sufficient light and correct photoperiod • Need at least ____________ of direct sunlight • Order of amount of light needed • Fruiting > Root vegetables > Leaf vegetables • Artificial lights can extend _______________
Air Exchange & Root Growth • Plants need ample air exchange • _____________ and other toxic substances do not build up • Root area • Critical factor in container gardening • Want container size/ root volume as large as possible • Otherwise plants can become ___________________
Growing Vegetables & Herbs:What You’ll Want • Requirements • Continuous yield • Easy to grow • Do not have a lot of insect or disease problems • Choose plants you’ll like eating • Compact, low growing, ________, or ___________ varieties • Colorful foliage or fruits: ornamental & ________________
Suggestions for Herbs & Cultivars • Kitchen herbs • Basil • Rosemary • Chives • Sage • Thyme • Pots or baskets of tomato plants • Use cultivars bred for _________________________ • Totally Tomatoes’ container gardening pack…
More Vegetable Suggestions • Pots of hot peppers • Small colorful fruit • Window boxes • Leaf lettuces or _________ mixtures • Different types of radishes • Cucumbers on trellises • Hanging baskets • ________ _________ _________