Container Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs

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Container Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
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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.

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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.
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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Variety Choice When looking for plants for
containers look for words like compact, petite,
bush, dwarf, determinate or miniature in the
plants description.
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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 plants needs (light, water, temperature)
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Container Vegetables
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• Self Watering Containers
• Variety of shapes and sizes
• Helps with increased watering needs of container
  plants
• More expensive
• Easier to over water

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Turn any container into a self watering container
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Dont 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
• ???

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More Information

• http//www.gardenweb.com
• http//www.davesgarden.com
• http//www.kerrysgarden.us

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Tomatoes anyone?