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I grew up on a farm where garden fresh produce is a
given. When I moved away from home and
into a city, giving up homegrown vegetables wasn't an option, so I had to get
creative with gardening techniques. Even
when I was in college, I tested and experimented with growing vegetables and
flowers (my botany studies at college were a big help too!). Now, at my home in the rugged Sierra Nevada
mountains, I've had to learn a new set of techniques to grow produce.
For those without gardens, there are many vegetables and
fruits that can be grown in containers. A packet of seed may cost one to four dollars but you can get fifty
plants out of it, and with care, more produce then you know what to do with.
I'd say that's a pretty good bargain!
Start your container garden with good quality, organic
potting soil. [Editors note: Sandy's suggested mix is: 2/3 potting soil; 1/3 Harvest Supreme with 1" to 2" mulch on top] To keep your fertilizer
organic, use seaweed extracts or fish emulsion, all which can be found at your
local nursery. Growing plants in pots is
different from growing plants in the ground because the soil will dry out
quicker. But you must also be careful
not to over water. The trick is to feel
the soil under the surface. If the soil
is moist and loose to the touch it is just right.
Tomatoes- There are many varieties bred for container
growing. These can be grown in a pot
that will give sufficient room for roots. One helpful tip is if your tomatoes need a boost or are looking weak and
lanky, bury the stem with more soil. Normally this would not be beneficial but tomatoes will grow additional
roots from the stem and gain more support. Tomatoes generally like a hot, sunny place with a minimum of 5-6 hours
of direct sunlight. The delicacy of
homegrown tomatoes is best when they are vine ripened!
Eggplants- There are also many container-friendly
species of eggplants [Editors choice: Florida Market, Black Beauty, Long Tom]. These are
generally small plants so they are easy to grow in smaller spaces. They require similar sun conditions to
tomatoes. Unless you start the seeds
indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost, plan on buying started plants.
Peppers- If you like peppers, sweet crunchy bells or
hot ones for homemade salsa, there are lots of successful container varieties
available. Peppers like a hot climate
and lots of sunshine. Even if you don't
live in this type of climate, you can try a sunny windowsill or a sun-drenched
patio. [Editors choice: Yolo Wonder, Keystone Resistant Giant, Canape, (Hot) Red Cherry, Jalapeno]
Strawberries- Strawberries are incredible to grow at
home, especially since they cost so much in stores! These can be grown in containers easily in
all sorts of containers ranging from hanging pots to windowsill trays. Strawberries are perennial so they will come
back every year and they tend to grow lots of runners so your patch (or pot)
will become more prolific! Strawberries
tend to like full sun but can be successful with less then eight hours of sun
per day.
 Lettuce- Lettuce works well in the spring or fall
when temperatures aren't too hot. It can
be grown in large pots with plantings every two weeks to get a constant supply. Lettuce can also be harvested early and eaten
as baby greens. [Editors choice: Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, Dark Green Boston, Ruby, Bibb]
Artichokes- Artichoke plants are perennial and large,
often with spines like a thistle (similar features since they are in the same
family). At $3 to 5 each at the store,
if you love them and have space to grow them, give it a try. They can be grown in a large pot or a wood
barrel. They like a hot, sunny
climate. One artichoke plant can produce
a heavy load of globes and more as they mature. [Editors Choice: choose to plant squash instead. They can be more prolific.]
Garlic- If you have a pot or windowsill tray, just
buy some garlic and plant the individual cloves spaced out enough for them to
grow into heads of garlic. They will
sprout some grass like leaves, and once those turn brown and start to die off,
the garlic is ready to be harvested. You
can also take the garlic and braid the tops and hang to dry to create beautiful
garlic braids for future use.
Featured Products
Romertopf Garlic Baker
The ULTIMATE way to
bake garlic. After soaking the baker in
water for 10
minutes prior to cooking, the baker will keep the cloves moist as
they roast. The bakers make great gifts
because they are small, inexpensive, and are a luxury that most people don't
already own.
New Product Announcement
While not truly featured products were are very happy to announce the addition of two new product lines.
In the non-stick cookware category, the Swiss Diamond products are being added to our store. These non-stick products are the best possible - no chemicals. These non-stick products have an interior lining of diamonds, the hardest material possible, which provides the non-stick surface. These products can take temperatures over 500 degrees as well.
The other line we are really excited about is from Fissler. They provide some of the finest stainless steel cookware available.
Their unique designs yield innovative and versatile cookware including
multipurpose woks, skillets and pots that easily convert to pressure
cookers. These are premium products not equaled by others.
Watch our site for these products are they are added to our Your Smart Kitchen web site over the next couple of weeks.
Tips
Types of Containers for Container Gardens
The types of containers for container gardens are
endless. Some materials like
terra cotta
are considered better then others, but anything that allows for sufficient
drainage works, like hanging baskets, or wood barrels. You can even make something at home, like
using a tire as a planter for flowers. If you construct something from wood, but make sure to avoid wood
treated with chemicals for growing produce. You are only limited to your imagination!
Some seed companies will sell varieties of seed and plants
bred especially for containers. If you
have enough space and a big enough pot, you can explore non-container varieties
of plants like zucchini or melons, which will grow big but would benefit to
drape the fruits and vines over a pot.
No Porch? No Problem.
Even if you don't have a porch or a patio, you can still
have a container garden of herbs. Essential herbs like basil, cilantro, chives, oregano and parsley will
all thrive in a window box. Many
nurseries sell herb growing kits complete with a window box and a mix of
herbs. The herbs can be harvested from
the living plant as they are needed. This action is actually a double benefit. When you cut off pieces cut at an angle just
above the nodes (where leaf nubs are sprouting directly on the stem), you will
trigger the nodes to become the dominant shoots, creating more branches. | 
ight away! (See our pictures of this years herb and tomato.)
liberally with
olive oil over the top and put it in a clay garlic roasting pot starting in cold over. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and bake for
about 30 minutes, or until the cloves are very soft.
