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An Intimate Garden
Growing in containers saves space, but it's also a
smart alternative if you are restricted by too much
shade, poor soil, too little time, limited mobility
or a difficult climate.
Container gardens can be
much more productive than a regular garden while
allowing you to avoid most pest and disease
problems. Best of all, it brings your garden right
up close, creating a sense of intimacy that you
don't get in an ordinary backyard garden.
Almost anything can serve as a container for growing
plants. In addition to terra cotta, plastic or
pressed fiber pots, you can use recycled whiskey
barrels, 5-gallon food buckets, bushel baskets,
plastic tubs, wooden planter boxes, even old tires!
Self-watering planters, which have built-in water
reservoirs, are great solutions.
The size of containers that you use should be
determined by the plants you plan to grow. Radishes
may get by in a 6-inch deep container, but don't try
to grow a tomato plant in a container that holds
less than 5 gallons of soil. The general rule is to
use the largest container possible, because the more
soil there is, the more root space there will be-and
the longer your plants can go between waterings.
Make
sure the containers have drainage holes-on the
sides rather than the bottom if possible-so excess
water can drain and roots won't get waterlogged. For
large pots with drainage holes on the bottom,
elevate the pots on bricks or scraps of wood so that
the water can escape.
In general, a 20-gallon pot should have four to six
¾ inch holes; a 30-gallon pot should have at least
eight 1-inch holes. You can put stones or bits of
crockery in the bottom of the pot, but with a
well-aerated soil mix, this is unnecessary and will
only steal valuable root space.
Soil Mixes
Once you have chosen the right container, you are
ready to pick a soil mix. Soil for container-grown
plants should be light and friable, well drained and
moisture-retentive. Garden soil is much too dense
and can introduce disease and insect problems. Most
container-grown plants are happiest in a soilless
blend comprised of sphagnum moss, vermiculite or
perlite, with the addition of finished compost.
It's easy to purchase a pre-mixed blend, such as
Container Mix or Self-Watering Container Mix, which
is especially formulated for planters that wick
moisture from a built in reservoir. You can also
create your own mixes, using the following recipes
as a guide.
Organic Blend: 5 gallons finished compost, 1
gallon builder's sand, 1 gallon vermiculite or perlite, 1 cup granular-all purpose organic fertilizer.
Standard Blend (Cornell Mix): 1 bushel vermiculite,
1 bushel ground sphagnum moss, 8 tablespoons super
phosphate, 8 tablespoons ground limestone, 2 cups
bone meal.
Light Blend (for rooftops): 5 gallons ground
sphagnum moss, 5 gallons vermiculite or perlite, 2
gallons compost, 1 cup granular all-purpose organic
fertilizer.
Any soil mix will become compacted over time. If
your containers seem water-logged and heavy, you may
need to replace your soil mix at the start of a new
growing season with a fresh mix. Or, you can
replenish the soil with Container Booster Mix, which
recharges depleted soil.
Courtesy of "Garden Guides"
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