My First Container Garden - Volume One

Be gentle (4.00 / 9)

I know I'm stepping into a place where there are a lot of seasoned gardeners and foodies, I just want to make it less intimidating for people in my community and neighborhood and just show how simple it can be.

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by: Ellinorianne @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 04:39:18 AM UTC

No worries! (4.00 / 7)

We might as well be called "The Daily Gentle".

:)

You've got nothing but friends here!  Looking forward to your future installments, and I'm sure if you ever have any questions along the way everybody here would be more than glad to help.  Welcome!

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 05:56:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you (4.00 / 7)

I've already gotten a lecture about how my container for composting won't work.  Oh well.  Not here!  But on the original site.  I'm working with what I can afford and what we have.  

And my five year old is excited because she has a green bean plant from her Kindergarten classes garden.  Such an awesome school and public!  So she's excited about particpating and at the prospect of buying lady bugs.  That's all I think she really cares about are the lady bugs.

Thanks again!

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by: Ellinorianne @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 15:08:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, it may not "work" as the primary (4.00 / 7)

composter, but you certainly needs something in which to stash the trash (aka, food scrapes, peels, paper napkins, toilet paper rolls, coffee grinds, etc.) BEFORE you take it outside.  

 This looks great, for that.

 Honestly, the cheapest compost set up requires nothing more than four wooden pallets (usually available for free from businesses; they pile up out back) and some galvanized baling wire, or screws or nails, and an eye-hook contraption.

 Put the four pallets together, make a "hinge" with the wire on one "door", attach the eye-hook thingie for fastening that door, and dump away!

 We've got two pallet boxes (one for new, one for aging compost) in our backyard, but really want to add a third, so you can toss and mix from youngest to oldest...

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by: Prairie Gal @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 16:34:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

that's my compost pile; (4.00 / 6)

though we did pay for chicken wire to wrap around to keep critters out.

Skunks have a real liking for compost around here. They're good to have, they eat the grubs that turn into Japanese Beetles (who make music, apparently, by chewing on my veggies.) The only obvious other use for skunks is easy dog chase; and we all know how that ends.

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by: zic @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 14:05:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

it's a good idea to put on a bottom (4.00 / 5)

also of chicken wire or whatever, as compost works better when it can get some air in from underneath. I put sticks/small branches in my compost for that too.

Some people don't like to compost unless they can guarantee that the whole thing will decompose "properly" and quickly, but if you aren't fussy and don't mind sifting, you can do it all sorts of different ways. I've found it's helpful to water whatever you wind up with, if you haven't killed to seeds; that way you can sprout the seeds out. I have a lot of morning glory in my yard and if I don't do that, I have even more, which is not endlessly ideal if you get my drift.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:27:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Miep!!! (4.00 / 4)

Hi!

:)

Missed you around here lately...

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 20:36:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

they took away dial-up in Carlsbad (4.00 / 5)

so I was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and now have DSL. YAH-hoo!!!!

Next I get to figure out how to upload pictures.

Missed you guys too, but was two weeks on a toll #. Should have planned ahead, but that's all in the past now, thank god. Serious withdrawals!

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 22:51:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

LOL! Had dial-up (4.00 / 5)

before I moved into this apartment...and one of the first things I did was get DSL.  I don't even have a phone line just a DSL connection through the phone company.

WOW what a difference.  

BTW, does anybody else get annoyed by Comcast reps knocking on your door?  I mean...I heard them ring the bell downstairs this morning...but I don't let anybody into the building, unless I'm expecting a friend to visit.

Turned out to be a Comcast guy.  This is the third time, in 3 years, I have had to tell their reps:  NO.  I DO NOT want cable.  Implicit is: even if I did want cable, I would never, ever sign up with Comcast or TimeWarner: you guys all suck.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. -- Calvin Trillin

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by: Youffraita @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 04:34:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lol... (4.00 / 5)

I moved from dial-up to cable in early 2006.  I can't imagine how I went so long on dial-up!  So much more fun participating in the photo diaries and everything, but I could probably one day use the chunk of my life back since then that I've wasted away at youtube.  Heh...

Glad you're back with us!  

More Miep stories, please.

:)

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 05:21:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I haven't been into watching TV (4.00 / 3)

for quite a few years, and I don't much like the idea of YouTube sucking me back into it. Though there are some good documentaries around.

How are you doing? How did your job interview go? That was a few weeks ago, I know.  

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 11:02:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

there is absolutely nothing wrong (4.00 / 4)

with using a container like that as a passive compost container, and many people don't have room to do a full-scale large pile that will heat up to the requisite 160oF or so. Don't let the perfectionists get to ya! Also, if you don't put stuff with seeds into your passive compost container, much of the need for 160oF is alleviated.  

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:24:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I created a container garden (4.00 / 8)

last year.  We're renters, and whoever owns the house decided to pave over the back yard at some point, leaving us a very small patch of clay-heavy soil.  I used a bunch of giant rubbermaid containers, drilled out holes for drainage, propped them on bricks to elevate them, filled the bottom with gravel, then tons of soil mixed with compost.  I grew some gorgeous peppers and tomatoes last year, and a nice zucchini, but my crook-neck squash never went anywhere, nor did my beans.  

I'm currently growing carrots, beets, various lettuces, radishes, chard and brussel sprouts.  Some of the lettuces i plan to eat while they're still small, so they can grow in tiny little containers.  Oh - and peas.  i have six sugar snap peas growing in some fairly small containers.  i already have a pea too.  I'm just waiting for it to get big enough to pick.  

so, you know, you can do a lot with container gardens.  Good luck!  i look forward to seeing what you come up with!

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by: chicklet @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 06:18:05 AM UTC

I'm excited by the news that you easily can grow potatoes (4.00 / 6)

in containers.  In fact, if done right, you get a GIANT yield.

 I'm going to take our old rubber trash cans, drill holes in the bottom for drainage, and plant away.

 Here's how it's done:

 http://www.democraticundergrou...

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by: Prairie Gal @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 16:36:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ack (4.00 / 6)

the potatoes are a new thing for me, and so far, a week later, i have no sprouts.  The instructions said to plant the seed potato about 4 inches deep which I did, but still nothing.  hopefully they'll come up in another week or two.  Otherwise, i'll dig them up and put in cukes.

Meanwhile I have an organic sweet potato on the counter which actually has leaves.  Very pretty purple leaves.  I'm tempted to pull up one of the seed potatoes and pop one of these babies in instead.  Just to see what might happen.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 20:27:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you're worried, you CAN just get them (4.00 / 6)

back out of the dirt, let them sit in the light and sprout (like they do all the time in their bags, alas) and then re-plant those that aren't duds.

 I've always waited till my potato sets sprout a bit, first, before planting, being of a Suspicious Nature. ;-)

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by: Prairie Gal @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 21:39:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

they're time sensitive (4.00 / 4)

not temperature sensitive; i.e. they won't come up just because it's gotten warm. I read something about that in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:28:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think you're supposed to pop off the vines (4.00 / 4)

and plant them; i.e. you don't have to just plant the whole sweetpotato plus vines in one place. But the advice I read involved planting them outdoors.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:29:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

the composting advice I used (4.00 / 5)

http://www.yougrowgirl.com/gar...

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 07:06:54 AM UTC

good for you (4.00 / 6)

I have extra seeds if anyone wants them..email me lsnelson@comcast.net...

until i moved here, I did container gardening for years.

It's only me but I have a huge veggie garden.I have fruit trees pear and apple but I don't spray so the fruit isn't great..Ground hogs love the fruit, which is a mixed bag because I like to live in harmony with the critters but last year they are almost everything. I also have about ten blueberry bushes that were here when I bought. Last year the birds ate almost all.

BTW Jill..thanks for the link to non roto-tilling gardening.I pulled weeds out of the veggie garden yesterday, then spread my compost right on top.

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by: LeeN @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 14:09:03 PM UTC

my cousin has lemons, limes, and oranges (4.00 / 4)

She says she knows the oranges are ripe when she sees the squirrels stealing them. Fortunately, the squirrels ONLY want the oranges, nothing else.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 14:28:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What do you think (4.00 / 5)

of dwarf trees for small spaces?  I have the other dilemma of living in Southern California (as you know) and we don't have any frost period really, so I wonder if that's an issue as well (from my brief googling session last night that came up in a few places).

I'm thinking drawf lemons and oranges and if I had my way, necterines, I just love those.  We also want to do berries since Charlotte' would live on raspberries and strawberries if give a chance.

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by: Ellinorianne @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 15:11:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

honestly I am really not a pro (4.00 / 4)

on that subject. Others here know FAR more than me. But I've got an idea for who to ask. Let me see if she'll respond - she's got TONS of fruit trees.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 15:12:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

response from my friend (4.00 / 5)

I suggest she check out Trees of Antiquity website.  They're in Paso Robles, so semi-SoCal.  Once questions are formulated through browsing there, give them a call.  Plus, she should read my Johnny Appleseed diary.  Perhaps I should repost so there's a LVL link?  Though I'm guessing I have to wait before doing so.

Short answer:  Dwarf trees are a good option for small spaces.  Make sure to consider pollination needs if there's nothing around to cross-pollinate with.  Some varieties self-pollinate well, others not at all.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 19:00:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Backyard Orchard Culture (4.00 / 5)

http://www.davewilson.com/home...

I found this very helpful, and I'm going to need it. I only planted my apple trees 10 feet apart. The above comment is good about pollination. I bought two apples, but many of the nectarines we have are self pollinating. Good luck!

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by: Curtis Abbey @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 21:47:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't plant anything else (4.00 / 3)

and sometimes they're self-pollinating, too, which is handy.

Even dwarf trees can get pretty big; 15-20'. Easier to harvest than standards, too.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:30:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Two considerations for dwarf trees in a small space (4.00 / 2)

and they're flip sides of the same coin: sun and shade.

Do you need the sun they'll block to grow other things?

And in CA, you might need the shade (not a problem here in the cold, moist north).

Nut trees are good here; they provide a filtered shade but don't block the sunlight like fruit trees would.

The other consideration is the root structure; how deep it is and how it would compete for nutrients your other crops will need.

I grow my salad greens under apple trees in the heat of summer; the rest of the growing season, they need all the sunlight they can get.

Unfortunately, orange, lemon, lime, or peach are pretty much out of the question here on the cold side of zone 4 Maine.

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by: zic @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 19:43:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not sure (4.00 / 1)

I will have to consider all those things.  It's so much to think about :)  I don't have a ton of space but I could consider getting rid of the rose bushes to do dwarf fruit trees.  I think that's better but oh well.  Maybe do marigolds with the fruit trees.

Seriously, so overwhelming!  But I am trying to do just one step at a time.  Thank you!

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by: Ellinorianne @ Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 05:00:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Little known fact! (4.00 / 5)

She says she knows the oranges are ripe when she sees the squirrels stealing them.

That's actually me, in my squirrel costume.  I want oranges!

:)

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 17:23:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I know nothing about composting (4.00 / 7)

but I DO know a bit about growing plants.  And one of the things I know is, if you are lucky enough to live near relatively untouched land, you will get predator bugs:  praying mantises, wheelbugs, ladybugs, etc.

They are the best when it comes to ridding your garden of pests.  For example, Japanese beetles were chewing up my basil.  Then a mantis moved in, and the basil was untouched (and the mantis was fat & happy).

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. -- Calvin Trillin

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by: Youffraita @ Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 23:38:25 PM UTC

each year i buy (4.00 / 6)

a box of ladybugs and let them go around the house.  

i mean, what's more fun than ladybugs?  and it keeps the aphids off my roses, and the white flies off the rest of it.  You just have to remember to do it at dusk; I did it once first thing in the morning and every robin in the neighborhood was fat and happy by noon.  :(

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by: chicklet @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 00:34:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I also heard (4.00 / 5)

you should spritz the plants w/ water (I think?) and refrigerate the bugs before you let them go. It slows 'em down so they don't all fly away.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 00:37:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

part of the problem (4.00 / 5)

is that flying away is what they want to do. Ideally you ultimately get lady beetle larvae, which are much more effective. If you can keep the beetles around long enough to lay eggs, that's helpful. You could always net the plants, too. And, you are supposed to let the adult beetles go at night.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:32:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yeah...you keep them cool (4.00 / 3)

and let them go at dusk on a damp garden.  

i ended up with a bunch of larvae which was great.  I figure with 100 ladybugs, you'll end with 2 that stay.  But it's awful pretty while they're there.  :)

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by: chicklet @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 03:56:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

LOL (4.00 / 6)

"Every robin...was fat and happy by noon."

Thanx for the laugh.

My wheelbugs & praying mantises moved in b/c I didn't spray my perennials.  All season long they would munch on "bad" bugs, including Japanese beetles that were chewing up my basil.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. -- Calvin Trillin

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by: Youffraita @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 00:39:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The circle of life (4.00 / 5)

can be so darn cruel.

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by: Ellinorianne @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 01:22:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh & white flies are (4.00 / 6)

the worst.  Hate 'em.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. -- Calvin Trillin

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by: Youffraita @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 02:30:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I believe lacewings (4.00 / 5)

or lacewing larvae are supposed to be really effective against whitefly.

"If God were to appear to starving people, he would not dare to appear in any other form than food." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Miep @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 19:32:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

no, i think the award (4.00 / 4)

for the "worst" goes to spider mites.  they are fascinating, yet wretched little beasties.  teeny tiny bugs that can spin an actual web, and eat your garden to bits almost overnight.  I loved letting the lady bugs have at on those suckers.

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by: chicklet @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 06:11:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, my daughter (4.00 / 6)

is beside herself with the thought of lady bugs!  When she was in preschool last year they did a community garden and we brought the ladybugs.  Sadly, there wasn't enough for them to eat and the ladybug carnage was a sight to see.  She just loves her bugs.

And just because, I actually have a lol Praying Mantis :)

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by: Ellinorianne @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 01:21:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, in MY old garden (4.00 / 7)

yer bug would have had MORE than enough bugs to nom/

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. -- Calvin Trillin

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by: Youffraita @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 02:33:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have a friend in the city who simply removed the bottom from a metal trash can (4.00 / 6)

and punched a few holes in the top/sides. In her urban envrionment, nobody ever thought twice about it. They'd see her taking her "trash" to the can; not realizing that she was really feeding the red worms, and they were, in turn, making compost for her tiny garden.

She grew a lot of food in that tiny garden.

The one thing I will say is that with that small a container, you'll have better luck if you figure a way to dice/chop/grind everything fine. Bigger pieces take much longer to compost.

I also have a drum composter, which works well, but it's too small for the amounts of leftover stuff my yard produces. (We use it in the winter, when the real compost piles are buried in snow.)

Your in OC, the land of magic gardening. (Here on northern end of the other coast, it's still deep winter. Spring happens very slowly, here. And that's a good thing, else we'd have horrific flooding from all the snow melt.)

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by: zic @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 14:12:15 PM UTC

Great info on the potato containers (4.00 / 4)

Now I know what to do with my old cast iron bath tubs, aka not being used any more feed/water troughs for the horses, as well as a couple of old carbage cans that aren't any good for storing feed because they're rusted out.

Has anyone grown taters in old tires? I see people doing that around here, but haven't done it myself. I have I have 8 or 10 tires that need to be pressed into service.

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 23:57:24 PM UTC

i've heard from lots of people (4.00 / 4)

that that is a great way to grow potatoes.  Just add another tire and fill it with dirt when the time comes.  

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by: chicklet @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 03:59:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm always worried about growing anything to eat in tires (4.00 / 2)

too many toxins to leech out of them.

But I've thrown old potatoes in my compost pile, and harvested lots of beautiful potatoes when I turned it as a result.

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by: zic @ Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 19:45:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]