Transcript Container Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs

Container
Fruits,
Vegetables
and Herbs
Why Grow in Containers?
• Space Saving – Great for apartments
• Mobility – Plants may be moved as needed
• Containment – Plants that tend to spread
are often better grown in a container
• Extending Range – Many plants can be
grown indoors or brought inside during the
winter.
Getting Started
Light – How much sun/shade per day?
Temperature – Brick can raise the temperature and
create a microclimate
Water – Many container plants will need daily
watering in the summer. Is there a water source
nearby?
Wind – Some plants handle constant wind better
than others
When choosing plants for a particular area, keep
these environmental conditions in mind.
Zone 6 Information
AVERAGE dates for the first and last frost
for zone 6
Last Frost
30 Mar / 30 Apr
First Frost
30 Sep / 30 Oct
http://www.kerrysgarden.us/weather.php
Annuals vs. Biennials vs.
Perennials
• Annuals
– Most vegetables, some herbs many flowers
– Replanted yearly
• Biennials
– 1st year roots/foliage
– 2nd year flower/seed production
• Perennials
– Come back every year
– Most herbs and fruit, many flowers, a few vegetables
Annuals
• Seed to Seed in a single season.
• Some reseed so easily they can be long
lived.
– Dill, cleome
• Remove fruit to encourage more
production
– Cucumbers, beans
Biennials
• Year 1 – root and leaf development
• Year 2 – flower and seed development
• Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, onions,
parsley, some radishes
• Most biennial vegetables are grown for
first year only unless seed is desired.
Perennials
• Come back every year
• May need winter protection especially in
containers
– For container plantings choose hardier varieties
– Move containers up near the house during winter
– DO NOT COVER WITH PLASTIC for extended
periods.
• Few vegetables, most herbs and fruit
– Garlic, shallots, Egyptian onions, asparagus rhubarb
Variety Choice
When looking for plants for
containers look for words
like compact, petite, bush,
dwarf, determinate or
miniature in the plant’s
description.
Getting to Know
The Plants
All varieties are not created
equal. Use the books, the
Internet and seed catalogs to
choose varieties suitable for
containers in your location.
Pay attention to the plant’s
needs (light, water,
temperature)
Container Vegetables
Self Watering Containers
• Variety
of shapes and sizes
• Helps with increased watering needs of
container plants
• More expensive
• Easier to over water
Turn any container into a self watering container
Don’t forget your pets
Even cats appreciate container plants.
• Try growing some grass for your cat (lawn, wheat, oats)
• Use only untreated seed
Some plants are
toxic to cats and
dogs
• Aloe Vera
• Eggplant
• Onions
• Tomato leaves
• ???
More Information
• http://www.gardenweb.com
• http://www.davesgarden.com
• http://www.kerrysgarden.us
Tomatoes anyone?