Peppers in a Container

How to Grow Peppers in a Container

Growing Peppers In Containers

Container garden peppers need two important things and those are water and light. These two things will determine where you will grow pepper plants in a container. First, your pepper will need 5 or more hours of direct sunlight. The more the light they can get, the better they will grow. Second, your pepper plant will be entirely dependent on you for water, so you will need to make sure that your container growing pepper plant is located somewhere that you will be able to easily get water to it on a daily basis.

When planting your pepper plant into the container, use organic rich potting soil. Do not use regular garden soil. Regular garden soil can compact and harm the roots while potting soil will stay aerated which will give the roots room to grow well.

As mentioned, a pepper plant will need to get nearly all of its water from you. Because the roots of a pepper plant cannot spread out into the soil to look for water (like it would if it was in the ground) it needs to be watered frequently. You can expect to water your pepper plant in a container at least once a day when the temperature is above 65F and twice a day when the temperatures rise above 80F.

Pepper plants are self pollinating so they do not technically need pollinators to help them set fruit,but pollinators can help the plant set more fruit than it normally would. If you are growing peppers in planters in a location that could be difficult for bees and other pollinators to get to, like a high balcony or an enclosed porch, you may want to try hand pollinating your pepper plants. This can be done one of two ways. First, you can give each pepper plant a gentle shake a few times a day while it is in bloom. This helps the pollen distribute itself to the plant. The other is to use a small paint brush and swirl it inside each open blossom.

Container garden peppers can be fertilized with a slow release fertilizer once a month.

Growing peppers in containers can be fun and makes these tasty vegetables available to many gardeners who do not have a traditional, in the ground garden.

spinach in containers.

How to grow spinach in containers.

Spinach, the nutritious leafy vegetable that most kids love to hate, is a popular food grown in small-space gardens such as balcony container gardens. This cool-weather crop grows well in containers and can provide great taste and healthy nutrients just 40 to 45 days after planting. It does well in shade and in cooler areas, it is easy to harvest, and it is a beautiful and rich deep green color. What more could a balcony gardener ask for from a vegetable.

How to plant: Plant spinach seed 1/2- inch deep and 2 to 4 inches apart; if you are planting in rows, put nine inches between them. Once they sprout, thin to the strongest plants and throw the culls into a salad or stir fry. However, if you prefer the Square Foot gardening method, you can grow nine plants in one square foot. You can also grow spinach in containers if you wish. Because the plant is shallow-rooted, you won’t need a deep pot. You can grow them in one of those long rectangular planters or window boxes very nicely. If you do grow in containers, you have to monitor water and heat more closely as containers dry out faster than soil and they heat up faster, too.

Water and feeding: Consistency is critical to a good crop of spinach. Keep the soil evenly moist. This is where having a timed drip irrigation system comes in very handy. Drip irrigation will also keep soil from splashing muddy water onto the leaves, thus reducing potential pathogen problems. Cleaner leaves means it’s easier to prep them before eating easier, too. Spinach isn’t a greedy feeder. Once a month during the growing season water this vegetable with compost tea, or simply side dress with aged compost about mid-season.

Maintenance: Vegetables perform better when you keep weeds out of the bed. If your spinach bed has weedy invaders, don’t pull them up; cut them to the soil level. Why? Spinach roots are shallow, and if you start yanking weeds from around your plants you could damage your crop’s roots.

Garden Pests: Your kids may not like spinach, but aphids sure do. Aphids are small soft-bodied pests that congregate in large numbers on the undersides of leaves and suck the life out of your plants, leaving behind distorted foliage and a sticky substance called honeydew, which can encourage the growth of sooty mold. Use insecticidal soap on these invaders or—better yet—bring in beneficial insects like ladybugs to do the killing for you. Not very ladylike, but someone’s got to do it.

Diseases: Spinach, like vehicles in the upper Midwest, is susceptible to rust. Keep the garden clean of debris. Remove and destroy diseased plants.

Harvest: You can begin harvesting spinach at any time, but generally the leaves are mature and ready for harvest 40 to 52 days after sowing. Cut, don’t pull or twist the leaves from the plant, or you could dislodge them from the soil. With garden shears of a very sharp knife, you can cut a spinach plant about 3 inches above the soil, and they will grow on for a second harvest. Wash spinach thoroughly to eliminate the grit that sometimes sticks to crinkled leaves.

Storing and preserving: Spinach will maintain good flavor and texture for up to a week in the refrigerator. You can freeze blanched spinach, can or even dry the leaves.

Using Spinach: Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked. Wash the leaves by soaking them in a large bowl of water to remove any dirt or grit that may be on the leaves; swish the leaves around in the bowl and the debris will sink to the bottom. If the spinach is particularly gritty you may need to dump the water and rise again. Use leaves whole or as a chiffonade. When adding to cooked dishes, do so late in the cooking process.

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

Tomatoes are one type of vegetable that is easily grown in containers. What’s great about growing them in containers is that you can easily adjust the conditions surrounding your tomatoes.  While it is fairly easy to grow tomatoes in containers, there are still some guidelines you will want to follow to grow the best tomatoes possible.

 Starting the Plants

You can grow any type of tomato in containers, but there are species that are more easy to manage when grown in containers. Typically, you are looking for tomato plants that will grow more compact and bushy.

For larger tomatoes, choose plants like Patio Hybrid and Husky Red or Husky Gold Hybrid

For regular-sized tomatoes, choose plants like Mountain Delight, Mountain Pride, or Celebrity

For cherry tomatoes, choose plants like Red Robin, Yellow Canary, Tiny Tim, or Cherry Gold

You can either start the plants from seeds indoors in mid-March or April, or buy pre-grown plants in May 

Suitable Containers

Tomatoes can be grown in a variety of containers, but they tend to grow quickly so make sure to use a large enough container.

For smaller plants, use any pot that has a 12” diameter and is 12” deep

A 5-gallon bucket or container is always the perfect size and inexpensive

Make sure your container has multiple drainage holes at the bottom

Place a coffee filter or something similar at the bottom of the container to prevent soil from spilling out of the holes and keep pests from getting in

 Potting Soil

Often for container gardening, you do not want to use soil straight from your garden. Instead make or purchase a soil that will work well for container gardening.

Good-quality potting mix bought from the store usually works fine

You can also make your own peat or compost-based soil

For organic tomatoes, find good-quality organic potting soil from the store

To plant the tomato plant, place some soil on the bottom first, and then set the plant inside. Bury the roots and stem just below the lowest leaves and fill in with potting soil

You should leave about an inch of space below the rim of the pot for future watering

 Tomato Plant Care

Since your tomatoes are growing in containers, you will have to make sure you are attentive to their needs of water and nutrients.

Either add a slow-release fertilizer to your soil or every two to three weeks, add a water-soluble fertilizer

Water your tomato containers every day, and make sure the soil is not too dry or soggy

Place your tomatoes in a location where they will get at least 8 hours of sun a  day and are protected from strong winds

The more tomatoes you pick, the more will pop up!

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Container Gardening 

Growing plants in containers can be the perfect solution for gardeners with limited space. But even if you have an abundant in-ground garden, you might appreciate the flexibility of growing organic plants in pots, grow your own vegetables, or create a rooftop garden. You can move the pots around to capture the sunlight and move them to the shade when it gets too hot. 

You can also successfully grow many vegetables in containers; just remember that most will grow best with about six hours of sunlight a day so you’ll need to place them in a fairly sunny location.tomatoes and peppers are also good choices for container gardens.

Lettuce, greens, spinach, herbs, onions and carrots all grow well in pots.