Tips from Dr. Jack, our founder of container gardening
A. WHY CONTAINER GARDENING?
1. No cultivating or weeding needed
2. Can start early (don't worry about frost or hail, just bring pots into your garage).
3. Pots can be moved to a location that has the greatest number of sun hours
4. Less plant disease and insect problems (plants are healthier and have better resistance)
5. Larger yields due to controlled environment
6. One pot can give wide range of vegetables:
a) Early Spring (March, April) - Lettuce, Radish, Peas
b) Later (in same pot) any summer vegetable which can be grown after fear of frost Tomatoes,
Cucumbers, Peppers, Green Beans
7. This is for the lazy man or woman, because care and upkeep of the plants are minimal
B. SUPPLIES
1. l4" or larger plastic or clay pot. 16"-20" diameter is better.
2. Good draining soil, i.e. Soiless Potting Mix (Ferti-loam, Miracle Gro) (don't use dirt out of the garden)
3. Large cage
4. Liquid fertilizer, e.g. Miracle Gro l5-30-l5
5. Granular fertilizer, high middle number, e.g.5-l0-l0 or 6-l2-l2 or 5-18-18.
6. Clay fragments from an old clay pot
C. PROCEDURES:
1. Place one or two pot fragments in drain holes (a pot with side holes is best)
2. Place dirt in pot carefully (don't move pot fragments)
3. Fill dirt to 2" from top (acts as water reservoir)
4. Best to plant one plant per pot
(some plants like cucumbers and peppers can have 2 or 3 plants per pot)
5. ALWAYS LOOSEN THE ROOTS!!
6. Herbs are best and less expensive if grown from seed
7. Tomato cages are placed at time of planting
a) With the prongs facing up as in (figure a) spread bottom prongs for stability. Holding your
thumb at the point where the ring and the prong meet. Gently pull each prong back as in
(figure b). If the prong pulls away from the ring just use a twist tie to fasten it back together.
b) Turning the cage over so the prongs are facing down as in (figure c) push the cage down into
the bottom of the pot. The prongs will act as springs and hold the cage in place.
(figure b)
(figure a)
(figure c)
8. Place in sunniest area available
a) 8-10 hours (good)
b) l0-l4 hours (best)
9. First six weeks use liquid plant food every 10-l4 days
l0. Later use granular fertilizer (one tablespoonful per plant every 7-10 days)
ll. Water as needed (on hot 90 degree plus days, I have watered twice a day)
l2. As plant grows, train branches to grow inside cage
13. At the end of season:
a) Remove the plant and turn the soil over
b) Leave roots in the pot (they will compost)
c) Keep plastic pots outside over the winter
d) Use the same soil next season
D. VEGETABLES I HAVE GROWN
1. Tomatoes
2. Peppers
3. Cabbage
4. Eggplant
5. Cucumber
6. Squash butternut, spaghetti, zucchini)
7. Broccoli
8. Green onion
9. Carrots
10. Celery
11. String Beans
12. Herbs (basil, dill, parsley)
l3. LET YOUR IMAGINATION BE YOUR GUIDE!
HAPPY GARDENING!
DR. JACK
