Container Fruits,

Vegetables and Herbs

Why Grow in Containers?

• Space Saving – Great for apartments

• Mobility – Plants may be moved as needed

• Containment – Plants that tend to spread are often better grown in a container

• Extending Range – Many plants can be grown indoors or brought inside during the winter.

Getting Started

Light – How much sun/shade per day?

Temperature – Brick can raise the temperature and create a microclimate

Water – Many container plants will need daily watering in the summer. Is there a water source nearby?

Wind – Some plants handle constant wind better than others

When choosing plants for a particular area, keep these environmental conditions in mind.

Zone 6 InformationAVERAGE dates for the first and last frost

for zone 6

Last Frost

30 Mar / 30 Apr

First Frost

30 Sep / 30 Oct

http://www.kerrysgarden.us/weather.php

Annuals vs. Biennials vs. Perennials

• Annuals – Most vegetables, some herbs many flowers – Replanted yearly

• Biennials – 1st year roots/foliage– 2nd year flower/seed production

• Perennials – Come back every year– Most herbs and fruit, many flowers, a few vegetables

Annuals

• Seed to Seed in a single season.

• Some reseed so easily they can be long lived.– Dill, cleome

• Remove fruit to encourage more production– Cucumbers, beans

Biennials

• Year 1 – root and leaf development

• Year 2 – flower and seed development

• Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, onions, parsley, some radishes

• Most biennial vegetables are grown for first year only unless seed is desired.

Perennials

• Come back every year• May need winter protection especially in

containers– For container plantings choose hardier varieties– Move containers up near the house during winter– DO NOT COVER WITH PLASTIC for extended

periods.

• Few vegetables, most herbs and fruit– Garlic, shallots, Egyptian onions, asparagus rhubarb

Variety Choice When looking for plants for containers look for words like compact, petite, bush, dwarf, determinate or miniature in the plant’s description.

Getting to Know The Plants All varieties are not created equal. Use the books, the Internet and seed catalogs to choose varieties suitable for containers in your location.

Pay attention to the plant’s needs (light, water, temperature)

Container Vegetables

Self Watering Containers• Variety of shapes and sizes

• Helps with increased watering needs of container plants

• More expensive

• Easier to over water

Turn any container into a self watering container

Don’t forget your petsEven cats appreciate container plants.

• Try growing some grass for your cat (lawn, wheat, oats)

• Use only untreated seed

Some plants are toxic to cats and dogs

• Aloe Vera• Eggplant• Onions• Tomato leaves• ???

More Information

• http://www.gardenweb.com

• http://www.davesgarden.com

• http://www.kerrysgarden.us

Tomatoes anyone?