I have been working on growing vegetables in large containers for myself for a few years. I know it works, only thing is you have to have time to do lots of watering. Almost daily if it doesn't rain. Here is the information on the first types of vegetables to grow in a large container. by Marie Iannotti
Many vegetables will grow very well in containers. You may not be able to grow as much as you might in a vegetable garden, but container vegetable gardening can be quite productive. There are a few special considerations when growing vegetable plants in pots, but they are by no means deterrents.
Although any variety can be grown in a container, compact plants do best. Seed companies realize that homeowners have less and less space to devote to vegetable gardens and every year they come out with new vegetable plant varieties suitable for growing in small spaces. Be on the look out for key words like: bush, compact, and space saver. Here are some tips, including vegetable plant varieties, to get your vegetable container garden growing.
Green Beans
Growing Tips: Pole beans are a great choice for containers. They grow up, instead of out, and they continue producing beans for a couple of months. They will require some type of support, to climb on, since vines can reach 8+ feet tall. The support can be as functional or decorative as you like. You can even use pole beans as a privacy wall or curtain.
Harvest frequently, so keep the beans coming. Even the pretty flowers are edible. You can start seeds in late spring and start a second batch in mid-summer to keep harvesting beans well into fall.
Bush beans aren't as productive as pole beans, but they start producing earlier and you can succession plant throughout the summer. Either type will need regular water, perhaps daily in hot weather. They will drop their flowers if the soil remains dry.
Minimum Container Size: 8 inches deep. Any diameter is fine, but it will determine how many plants you can include.
Spacing: Bush - 3 - 6 inches. Pole - 5 - 6 inches.
Approximate Yield: Bush - 20 - 50. Pole - 50+
Recommended Varieties: Bush - 'Contender,' 'Triumph de Farcy.' Pole - 'Blue Lake,' 'Kentucky Wonder,' 'Lazy Housewife
Many vegetables will grow very well in containers. You may not be able to grow as much as you might in a vegetable garden, but container vegetable gardening can be quite productive. There are a few special considerations when growing vegetable plants in pots, but they are by no means deterrents.
Carrots
Growing Tips: Long carrots require 2 months or longer to mature and tending to a container of carrots can be tedious. However two options can make it easier: 1) Seed a few carrots with potted flowers. The ferny foliage is attractive and you will be pulling the carrots before the roots of the flowers take over the pot. and 2) choose a fast growing round or baby carrot, like 'Babette' or 'Paris market'.
Carrots grow best and sweetest in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The seedlings will need to be thinned to 1 - 3 inches apart,once they are about 1 inch tall, but other than that, the only thing you'll need to do is make sure they get a regular weekly watering. The roots will toughen and crack if they are left to dry out.
Minimum Container Size: 8 - 12 inches deep
Spacing: 2 - 3 inches
Approximate Yield: Depends on diameter of container. 1 carrot per plant.
Recommended Varieties: 'Babette', 'Parisian Market', 'Thumbelina','Scarlet Nantes'
With a deep enough pot, you can grow any type of carrot, but the shorter varieties will mature more quickly and can be succession planted sooner.
Cucumbers
To keep them from tipping over, a larger container is recommended for vining cucumbers. The leaves of all cucumbers can be very susceptible to fungus disease, so whichever type you choose, make sure the plants have good air circulation.
Minimum Container Size: 10 inches deep. Bush variety - 1 gallon. Vine variety - 3 gallons.
Spacing: 12 - 15 inches
Approximate Yield: Bush - 10 per plant. Vine - 12-15 per plant.
Recommended Varieties: Bush - 'Bush Pickle,' 'Salad Bush Hybrid,' 'Spacemaster.' Vine - 'Crystal Apple,' 'Lemon,' Kirby varieties.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/growing-vegetables-in-containers-
till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
Many vegetables will grow very well in containers. You may not be able to grow as much as you might in a vegetable garden, but container vegetable gardening can be quite productive. There are a few special considerations when growing vegetable plants in pots, but they are by no means deterrents.
Although any variety can be grown in a container, compact plants do best. Seed companies realize that homeowners have less and less space to devote to vegetable gardens and every year they come out with new vegetable plant varieties suitable for growing in small spaces. Be on the look out for key words like: bush, compact, and space saver. Here are some tips, including vegetable plant varieties, to get your vegetable container garden growing.
Green Beans
Growing Tips: Pole beans are a great choice for containers. They grow up, instead of out, and they continue producing beans for a couple of months. They will require some type of support, to climb on, since vines can reach 8+ feet tall. The support can be as functional or decorative as you like. You can even use pole beans as a privacy wall or curtain.
Harvest frequently, so keep the beans coming. Even the pretty flowers are edible. You can start seeds in late spring and start a second batch in mid-summer to keep harvesting beans well into fall.
Bush beans aren't as productive as pole beans, but they start producing earlier and you can succession plant throughout the summer. Either type will need regular water, perhaps daily in hot weather. They will drop their flowers if the soil remains dry.
Minimum Container Size: 8 inches deep. Any diameter is fine, but it will determine how many plants you can include.
Spacing: Bush - 3 - 6 inches. Pole - 5 - 6 inches.
Approximate Yield: Bush - 20 - 50. Pole - 50+
Recommended Varieties: Bush - 'Contender,' 'Triumph de Farcy.' Pole - 'Blue Lake,' 'Kentucky Wonder,' 'Lazy Housewife
Many vegetables will grow very well in containers. You may not be able to grow as much as you might in a vegetable garden, but container vegetable gardening can be quite productive. There are a few special considerations when growing vegetable plants in pots, but they are by no means deterrents.
Carrots
Growing Tips: Long carrots require 2 months or longer to mature and tending to a container of carrots can be tedious. However two options can make it easier: 1) Seed a few carrots with potted flowers. The ferny foliage is attractive and you will be pulling the carrots before the roots of the flowers take over the pot. and 2) choose a fast growing round or baby carrot, like 'Babette' or 'Paris market'.
Carrots grow best and sweetest in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The seedlings will need to be thinned to 1 - 3 inches apart,once they are about 1 inch tall, but other than that, the only thing you'll need to do is make sure they get a regular weekly watering. The roots will toughen and crack if they are left to dry out.
Minimum Container Size: 8 - 12 inches deep
Spacing: 2 - 3 inches
Approximate Yield: Depends on diameter of container. 1 carrot per plant.
Recommended Varieties: 'Babette', 'Parisian Market', 'Thumbelina','Scarlet Nantes'
With a deep enough pot, you can grow any type of carrot, but the shorter varieties will mature more quickly and can be succession planted sooner.
Cucumbers
To keep them from tipping over, a larger container is recommended for vining cucumbers. The leaves of all cucumbers can be very susceptible to fungus disease, so whichever type you choose, make sure the plants have good air circulation.
Minimum Container Size: 10 inches deep. Bush variety - 1 gallon. Vine variety - 3 gallons.
Spacing: 12 - 15 inches
Approximate Yield: Bush - 10 per plant. Vine - 12-15 per plant.
Recommended Varieties: Bush - 'Bush Pickle,' 'Salad Bush Hybrid,' 'Spacemaster.' Vine - 'Crystal Apple,' 'Lemon,' Kirby varieties.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/growing-vegetables-in-containers-
till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
