Beech Tree News Network

Last month, the Todd County Standard had an article about container gardening. Although I have a raised bed in my yard filled with strawberry plants, I know little about growing vegetables and herbs in containers. But, I am interested.

Planning what to plant and where to place these plants is serious business. The Urban Farmer website (http://www.ufseeds.com/Vegetable-Companion-Planting-Chart.html) provides a vegetable companion planting chart. It shows which vegetables grow well together and which may inhibit another plant’s growth. For example, my strawberry plants are compatible with spinach but not with cabbage. Recognizing that I don’t have good prior knowledge of designing a garden for maximum growth, I would use such a chart to decide which plants may be placed near one another.

Also, the University of Maryland Extension website (https://extension.umd.edu/growit/food-gardening-101/getting-started-cont...) provided many suggestions for container gardening, including the following:
•    You’ll need 6-8 hours of direct sun for warm-season crops (tomato, pepper, eggplant, squash) and 3-5 hours of direct sun for cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, Asian greens).   
•    Easy access to water is crucial.  Some containers will need watering every day when the weather is hot and dry.
•    Consider the microclimate in the container garden area.  Watch out for heat sinks created by brick, concrete, and reflective surfaces.
An article on the University of Kentucky’s website entitled “Gardening in Small Spaces” (by R. E. Durham and D. B. Hill) provided a list (page 9) of the spacing needs of plants. For example, four strawberries may be planted per square foot or spaced six inches apart in the conventional garden.

Theoretically, when having a traditional back yard garden is not practical, container gardening is a good alternative. One year, my late husband and I grew tomatoes in large flower containers (one plant per container), and they grew well. We had pretty tomato plants, but I don’t remember the plants producing many tomatoes. Of course, I enjoyed seeing the plants grow, but I was disappointed in the production. In retrospect, the tomatoes likely needed more of something, such as light or water.

W. E. Johns said, “One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides” (from The Passing Show, http://www.quotegarden.com/gardens.html). But, the garden’s produce – flowers, herbs, vegetables – is also rewarding. For that reason, I see gardening in my future.