Gardening with a plant pot

[Raw Angel Mom]

Hello, i have no land to garden so i was thinking to use a giant plant pot.

I am no gardener and know nothing about it.

What kind of dirt should i buy? Should i put rock in the bottom for irrigation?

What kind of plant that would grow well in them?

I would love to grow herbs, tomato, cucumber, greens, peas and perhaps berries.

Thank you!

[Revvell]

You can plant anything in a pot that you plant in the ground. I was told to always use potting soil in pots ~ although I don't always do that. I have a friend who puts sponges in the bottom of her pots to hold water at the bottom... the roots will go down there to get the water ~ strong, deep roots ='s stronger plants. Herbs use more shallow pots; next come greens... and deepest would be tomatoes, cukes..... etc. I was told to use no less than 16 or 18" deep pots for veggies, berries, etc. You can always put herbs with taller plants though... and flowers such as marigolds.

[Traceyraw]

Try the earthbox it has everything.

[Revvell]

Make your own. For the price of an Earthbox, you can make at least 3-5 of your own.

Try the earthbox it has everything.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you, this is very informative. I think there is a thread here about Earthbox, i will look for this. I think, i would like to use pots because again, i have no land or space. My porch is big and it could fit well there. The spot that i could put an earthbox, is blocking sunlight.

I am nervous doing this, i know this sound silly but it just i never took initiative like this but i am looking forward to experience gardening. I have done the sprout and rejuvelac, and this was fun. I am not good with microgreen though so hoping the garden will come good.

All the best!

[dmb2002man]

I have plants growing in drip pots that i got from home depot. I have a tomato, habanero, spearmint and peppermint. I used organic dirt and water them good once a week and there all doing great. I then dehydrate my spearmint and peppermint and make tea out of it with reverse osmosis water.

[SunshineMN]

A sponge sounds like a great idea. My mom used to put gravel in the bottom of her pots and they all had holes in them (the pots that is, not the rocks hehe).

Would using a plastic kiddie wading pool work for growing stuff outside on a porch? It would give you quite a bit of room. You could grow some taller plants in the center, like the tomatoes. Around the outside you could do a couple cucumber plants and let them crawl across the porch or up a trellis. Then fill in with herbs. Not sure how feasible it is but the pools are really cheap.

[Revvell]

So, how's it going Angel Mom?

[streetsurfer]

From painting and patching and collecting, I've accumulated several buckets. Cat litter buckets make ideal containers being square or rectangular and you can fit many closer together than round ones. Do you know a painter, carpenter, or drywaller? They can supply you. Drill a dozen or so 3/8" holes in bottom with some around the lower verticle edge place buckets on 1"x1"sso the drain out bottom. Hydroton balls mixed with potting soil work greAt. They are fired clay balls that are good aerators of the soil, hold water and nutrients, and allow good root growth. Find online or local grow shops. Brew and Grows, or hydroponic stores. Use Aggrand fertilizer or Alaske fish fertilizer. I have done kale, blueberries, Tarragon, rosemary, sage, cherry tomatoes, well several type tomatoes and many other food items in containers. Library books very helpful. Any questions just ask. Glad to help

[streetsurfer]

Herbs that like warm soil can be grown in cinder blocks. Paint them black to absorb and hold heat but pay attention to moisture levels.

[T-Bird]

I have had good luck with this as a seed starting/potting soil.

http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/products_soils2.html

[T-Bird]

Thank you, this is very informative. I think there is a thread here about Earthbox, i will look for this. I think, i would like to use pots because again, i have no land or space. My porch is big and it could fit well there. The spot that i could put an earthbox, is blocking sunlight.

I am nervous doing this, i know this sound silly but it just i never took initiative like this but i am looking forward to experience gardening. I have done the sprout and rejuvelac, and this was fun. I am not good with microgreen though so hoping the garden will come good.

All the best!

If you are nervous - start small. How about some lettuce? Most lettuces likes cooler temps - 40's night and 60's-70's by day at most. You could grow the baby lettuce leaves using cut and come again. In a 9" pot put maybe 4-5. If you want a head of lettuce, just 1 per pot.

To start small - do some lettuces or if too hot for you now, maybe collards for some greens? They tolerate heat. cabbage and kale do not.

in fall - you could try turnips and radishes, or asian greens.

look for determinate tomatoes - they stay smaller. Indeterminate grow and grow. You'll want a minimum of 2 gallon pot, and they will need some regular fertilizing.

cukes - larger containers.

Start with something small and managable. Then work your way up to the larger plants.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Finally did it.

I bought two large square resin container and two round one. I also bought hanging rectangle/oval flower basket for my porch. I got river rock, mix of organic manure with soil, and also organic soil. Bought baby plant from our local green house and voila.

I planted several type of herbs, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries and grapes. I will see how it goes.

I am very excited and it was very fun to do with my daughter. We had a good time and she is without question very confident. I decided to take the plunge and see where it goes.

Thank you so much for the great advice. Next year, i might try this palette technique and use that for the side of my house.

All the best.

[T-Bird]

well good luck! Keep us posted!

Any pics?