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I don't have a large vegetable garden at all, I just grow a few things "for fun." This is my second year trying, and I hope to do better than last year.
I brought home the following transplants: zucchinni, watermelon, gypsy peppers, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
[ I put one zuke and one watermelon in the ground to see what they would do.. giving them plenty of space but I'm not positive if enough sun. I put the others in pots. I don't want to grow a lot of vegetables in the ground because I don't want to rip up my lawn right now. I don't have high expectations for the watermelon. ]
Soooo.... . what size pots would you transplant the above into? Do you do it just once, when you bring the little 4 inch pot home from the nursery? Or do you transplant more than once as they grow?
I have grown tomatoes and peppers in 5 gal buckets on my deck. Make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom and use a good potting mix that drains well. I watered them when the mix felt dry down to the first joint on my index finger, used miracle grow in a watering can about every 2 weeks, and mulched with pea gravel to help retain moisture. Plants that are outside in pots will dry out a lot faster than plants in the ground. I harvested many Better Boy tomatoes the size of my fist.
One thing about plants in containers...They will droop in the afternoon sun often. That does not mean they need water. If they are drooping in the morning...they need to be watered.
I wouldn't put a cherry tomato in anything smaller than a 5 gallon pot or bucket. Most of them are indeterminate, meaning that the plant keeps growing... and growing all season long. In hot weather, you'll be watering that, soaking it, daily.
As far as watering, I know that I will be watering everyday as soon as the real hot weather hits. This is Texas!
I have a few years successful experience with container gardening of flowers and herbs. I have found herbs especially easy to deal with. It is vegetables in particular of which I am clueless. The only one I had a lot of success with last year was a gypsy pepper which just kept giving and giving. I think I had it in a 14 inch pot. I grew roma tomatoes in my 4' x 2' planter, but I planted too late and we had such a long hot summer that the plant itself got enormous but grew no tomatoes until October/November. Then a bunch of them froze on the plant. I blew it!
From the advice so far, the pots I have used are way too small.
Like I said, that one is just for fun. The watermelon was $1.95 for 4 plants and I thought what the heck. I put one of them in the ground, and it's the one I have the highest hopes for.
You might plant the watermelon in the container but before long it will be taking over your yard anyway. If you want to do this next year save some of the cardboard egg cartons. Put some potting soil and a seed in each egg holder. When it's time to transplant, separate each one, cut the bottom out, and plant.
I don't have a large vegetable garden at all, I just grow a few things "for fun." This is my second year trying, and I hope to do better than last year.
I brought home the following transplants: zucchinni, watermelon, gypsy peppers, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
[ I put one zuke and one watermelon in the ground to see what they would do.. giving them plenty of space but I'm not positive if enough sun. I put the others in pots. I don't want to grow a lot of vegetables in the ground because I don't want to rip up my lawn right now. I don't have high expectations for the watermelon. ]
Soooo.... . what size pots would you transplant the above into? Do you do it just once, when you bring the little 4 inch pot home from the nursery? Or do you transplant more than once as they grow?
As for the Zucchini and Watermelon I would advise 24 inch or more, the bigger the better. It all depends how often you can water them.
For the Gypsy Peppers, Bell Peppers, and Cherry Tomatoes 12 inch or more will do.
Zucchini and Watermelon will need to be transplanted a couple of times. Remember when they get big, they are likely to get damaged while being transplanted, so don’t leave it to late.
Just transplant the Gypsy Peppers, Bell Peppers, and Cherry Tomatoes once, plant the Tomatoes deep, allowing for the stems to grow extra roots.
You might plant the watermelon in the container but before long it will be taking over your yard anyway. If you want to do this next year save some of the cardboard egg cartons. Put some potting soil and a seed in each egg holder. When it's time to transplant, separate each one, cut the bottom out, and plant.
That is a great idea!! I wouldn't have thought about that, but now you are mentioning that, I am thinking that the crates that Yankee Candles come in would be useful too! I have been just recycling them, now I think I will keep them for the same purpose.
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Tansplants
