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Family Home Evening Resource Book

Gardening in Containers

“Gardening in Containers,” Family Home Evening Resource Book, (1997),307

Many people who live in apartment buildings or houses with little or no yard space may think they cannot follow the prophet’s counsel to plant a garden. But you can grow quite a bit of food in pots and hanging planters inside your home or on a balcony. This activity will help you get started gardening in containers. Even if your family has plenty of outdoor garden space, you might want to try growing some of your vegetables indoors.

Activity

You can plant in almost any kind of container. Try using plastic jugs, garbage cans, milk cartons, cans, plastic bags, baskets, a wagon bed, kitchen canisters, or clay pots. The bottom of the container should have several small drain holes and be lined with 2 to 3 inches of small gravel before you put in the topsoil. Hang containers from windows, put them on windowsills or in window wells; line your sidewalk or driveway with them, or hang them from your ceiling.

The following chart shows you how much dirt you will need in a container to grow some common vegetables. This will give you an idea of what size container you need to use. It also tells you when to plant and harvest the vegetables and how big they will get. These are not the only vegetables that grow well in containers. You can try almost any kind that is common to your area.

Gardening in Containers

COMMON GARDEN CROPS

 

Crop

 

Container Needs

 

Growing Season

 

Planting Time

 

Harvest Days

 

Mature Size of Plant

 

Beets

 

10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters) of soil

 

Early spring, fall

 

2–4 weeks before last frost

 

50–60

 

10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters)

 

Bush Beans

 

8–10 inches (20–25 centimeters) of soil

 

Warm weather

 

Early spring

 

Snap 50–55 Lima 65

 

12–14 inches (30–60 centimeters)

 

Carrots

 

10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters)

 

Early spring, fall

 

2–4 weeks before last frost

 

60–75

 

10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters)

 

Cucumbers

 

1 gallon (4 liters) per plant

 

Warm weather

 

3–4 weeks before last frost

 

55–75

 

Shape vines by cutting back

 

Eggplant

 

3 gallons (11 liters) 12–14 inches (30–35 centimeters) diameter of soil

 

Warm weather

 

Plant indoors, transplant after 8 weeks

 

120–140

 

2–3 feet (.5–1 meter)

 

Green pepper

 

1 gallon (3.8 liters) per plant

 

Warm weather

 

Plant indoors, transplant after 7–8 weeks

 

110–120

 

2–3 feet (.5–1 meter)

 

Lettuce

 

1 gallon (3.8 liters) per plant

 

Cool weather, can stand slight frost

 

4–6 weeks before last frost

 

40–50

 

6–10 inches (15–25 centimeters)

 

Green onions

 

8–10 inches (20–25 centimeters) of soil

 

Cool weather, can stand slight frost

 

4–6 weeks before last frost

 

35–45

 

10–12 inches (25–30 centimeters)

 

Radishes

 

6 inches (15 centimeters) of soil

 

Cool weather, can stand slight frost

 

2–4 weeks before last frost

 

20–40

 

6–8 inches (15–20 centimeters)

 

Spinach

 

8–10 inches (20–25 centimeters) per plant

 

Cool weather, spring, fall

 

2–4 weeks before last frost

 

50–70

 

Plants spread out, do not grow tall

 

Squash

 

5 gallons (19 liters) for a 3–4 plant hill

 

Warm weather, will produce through fall

 

3–4 weeks before last frost

 

Summer 50–60 Winter 85–110

 

Bush 2–3 feet (.5m–1 meter) Vine-pinch off to control runners

 

Tomatoes

 

Dwarf: 1 gallon (3.8 liters) Standard: 2–3 gallons (7.5–11 liters) Mini: 8–10 inches (20–25 centimeters)

 

Warm weather

 

Plant indoors, transplant after 3–4 weeks. Easily harmed by frost.

 

50–90

 

Dwarf: 2–3 feet (.5–1 meter) Standard: 3–5 feet (1–1.5 meters) Standard vines need support frame

 

Additional Activities

Make an indoor herb garden on a window sill.

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