Easy as Tomato

Container gardening can be as simple or as complex as you desire, but when you’re starting off, simpler is probably better. So I present for your consideration … the tomato!

A vegetable shrouded in mystery (is it a fruit or a vegetable?), the tomato is easy to care for with simple watering and sun instructions. In fact, if it had thumbs, it could probably take care of itself. The myriad of varieties is fun to explore, and each one is delicious.  So let’s get started!

First, choose you’re container. You’re going to need something big. Tomatoes love extra room for their roots, so we recommend a container about the size of a 5 gallon bucket. Make sure the container has plenty of drainage holes. You can even fill the bottom of the container with gravel to aid in drainage. Next, fill the container with soil. The best choice is potting soil, preferably nutrient-rich, to avoid carrying over any weeds or fungi from your run-of-the-mill backyard dirt. If you’re starting from seeds, they are sown quite shallow in the soil, somewhere around 1/8”.

Before I get ahead of myself, you can actually start tomatoes in much smaller containers, then transplant them into the larger container. Use something disposable, or even biodegradable – something you could cut away if you need to. This ensures that the roots will not be disturbed in the transplant process. Once you have your seedling, you’re good to go.

Tomatoes love both water and sun. To grow up big and strong, tomatoes need full sun, which is anywhere between 6-8 hours a day, and they need lots of water. How much is too much? Make sure there is a tray under your tomato container – once the water seeps out and starts to fill up the tray, you’ve watered enough. Pruning tomatoes isn’t really an issue. The biggest concern is keeping the plant upright. Use stakes and ties when needed to make sure your tomato doesn’t flop over the side. Avoid using fertilizer as it’s easy to use too much and harm the plant itself. Plenty of sun and water should do.

When it comes to harvesting tomatoes, the best advice is do it often! It’s easy for the stalk to become over-weighted. Once you have them picked, keep them in a cool spot – they will last longer in the refrigerator, but it will tend to siphon the flavor – tomatoes are best enjoyed fresh, within a few days of plucking. Don’t forget to wash them before you eat them, though!

If your tomato plants are outside, temperature needs to be in the forefront of your mind. Tomatoes on grow between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and frost is a killer. Cover the plant at night if the temperature starts to drop drastically, or just haul the container in for the night. You can also set your container on blocks to make sure that it doesn’t touch the ground when the ground starts to cool for the year

It isn’t difficult to have delicious home-grown tomatoes. Keep them warm, and keep them watered!

By the way, [spoiler alert] tomatoes are actually fruit!

Look for more tips on vegetable container gardening coming soon!

Five Things To Know About Vegetable Container Gardening

After my last article on Container Gardening, I thought I could amend it with something a little more in-depth.

1. Soil. Without good soil, you’re vegetables might as well be planted in mud (see number whatever about that). Soil from your own backyard simply won’t do. First of all, it’s more like to compact that a store-bought potting soil, and second of all, it’s more likely to grow weeds. Considering how growing vegetables in containers usually eliminates weeds, there’s no reason to invite them back to the party! Instead, use nutrient rich soil; perhaps something that’s combined with fertilizer for that extra kick in the roots!

2. Seeds. Do you start with seeds or seedlings? That depends entirely on the gardener. Here are some of the perks. Seeds are less expensive and have the potential to give you a greater yield; however, they’re also temperamental. They are easy to under and over-water, and therefore require much closer attention. There is, however, a certain satisfaction that comes from showing off the vegetables you essentially “made from scratch.” Seedlings have their perks, too. You’ll most certainly see results faster, and it’s harder to kill a seedling. But you don’t get any bragging rights when it comes to the actual yield.

3. Sun. I know it’s a shocker to think that the sun plays a big part in gardening, but it’s true! Consider where your vegetables will be placed. Most vegetables require up to 6 hours a day of full sun. It’s kind of like Wheaties for plants. So will your veggies get enough sun? Check to see where it hits your space and time from there. You might even be better off with (gasp!) a grow light!

4. Watering. I had a really cool S thing going on there for a second. Oh well. How much you water your vegetables also comes into play. A helpful hint: most veggies need a lot of water! The important thing to look out for is how the soil feels. You don’t want to drown your seeds or seedlings so make sure the soil is not soaked. You just want it to be moist. Drainage holes are a necessity to make sure the soil and roots don’t become clogged with water.

5. Containers. I tried to save the best for last. I’ve mentioned it before, but the best thing about container gardening is your ability to be creative. Within reason, of course. Vegetables usually require lots of space (which is a little ironic considering we’re talking about put them in containers), so the bigger option is the better option. Something else to consider (as if there wasn’t enough already) is what the container is made of. The wrong material might end up baking your veggie’s roots, so avoid metals and dark-colored pots. Other materials might even suck absorb water that’s meant for your plants. If you’re dealing with clay or terracotta, just place a dish or tray under the pot. Any water in the trough will be used by the vegetable when it needs it.

Did I miss anything? Leave a comment below if you have other helpful tips, or if any of these tips were helpful at all to you.

Raised Garden Beds

Greetings, Green-Thumbers!

Of all the ways to improve your garden, though the list can sometimes seem endless, a raised garden bed allows you to make the most of your space and foster an environment where your plants and vegetables can grow happily.

Raised garden beds are great for a lot of reasons, but the two that stick out most are these:

1. Creativity. Maybe you’re working with a flat or an uneven space. Adding a raised bed adds depth to your landscaping and lets you build your garden the way you want it. You’re not restricted by what’s already there. You can create a new layout that maximizes your garden’s effectiveness, and, to be perfectly honest, makes your garden look awesome.

2. Control. Believe it or not, a raised garden bed improves drainage and lets you improve upon the ground that’s already there (if you live in an area with lots of clay soil, you know exactly what I’m talking about). The distance between the top soil and the base soil also gives your plants’ roots plenty of room to grow and keeps them from getting swamped by water. Also, if you’re garden bed is filled with nutrient-rich potting soil, your plants will be all the more thankful for it.

Now, let’s talk design. These garden beds are pretty easy to make at home; all you’ll need are framing materials, like wood, stones, or brick, and patience to make sure you’re working with level ground. If you’re going to use wood, choose untreated – the chemicals in pretreated wood will often harm plants and vegetables, and because wood is lighter than stone and brick, you’ll need reinforcing materials like screws and maybe even posts, depending on the size of your proposed garden bed.

But for those of us who may be a little less handy, there are kits out there, too, that make it even simpler to set up. Choose the size you want and go from there. You can even tier them so that you can make lavish floral displays that not only burst with color, but also give your garden a fantastic depth. Raised beds even make vegetables and fruits easier to reach when it’s time to harvest.

If you’re uncertain of what to do next in your garden, consider adding a raised garden bed to give your space a fresh look.

Thoughts on Container Gardening

“Just because you’ve only got houseplants doesn’t mean you don’t have the gardening spirit….” – Sara Moss-Wolfe

I thought we could start small, and it doesn’t get much smaller than container gardening. Of course, this subject can also be as big as you want, too. After all, “container” can mean a lot of things, and I think that’s the whole fun of it.

Before I get ahead of myself, container gardening is, in essence, simple – plants are grown in some form of a container. The practical uses are much greater in scope, but I’ll get to that later.

Container gardening is ideal for many things, and one of them is small spaces. Smaller apartments, and really any places that do not have green space, are a welcome home to a wide variety of plants. Herbs and flowers are perfect for smaller pots, while vegetables often require a heartier root system that only has room in a bigger pot. I use the word “pot” loosely, though.

Anything that will hold dirt can be used as a container, so have some fun! You won’t believe how cool it is to plant in an old bathtub or a stylish ceramic pot or an old coffee can. Get creative! Of course, traditional containers are always good to have around. Flower boxes and your standard clay pot are attractive options that beautify space nicely, and hanging baskets are especially decorative because of their use of vertical space.

Container gardening is not only for the indoor gardener, though. Containers can effectively be used in other landscaping when control of the root system is vital for the life of the plant. Plants that don’t play well with others but simply look gorgeous next to them are perfect candidates. You can assemble the containers together above ground or even plant them in-ground if you like,  keeping them separate from each other but paired together for the beauty of the garden.

To ensure the best quality of life for container plants, use potting soil or other nutrient rich soils exclusively. This guarantees that plants will never suffer for want of sustenance. Watering must take place, but at a less often rate than you would for plants in your standard garden bed – the water simply has fewer places to go, and plants can take a sip when they need to.

Aside from being a blast to play around with, container gardening opens up many options for people, whether you’re on a tight budget or you’re restricted by a small amount of space, or not restricted by budget or space at all. Anyone can do it, and everyone who does it enjoys it. So go forth, and get your hands dirty!

Do you have a particularly impressive container garden? We’d love to see it! Please share photos, stories, tips, anything you like really, in the comment section below!

Hello world!

Welcome to Gardener’s Paradise! We hope to offer you new insight into your garden, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a little green when it comes to the subject, and provide you with the tools you need to get started or to keep going. We won’t hold your hand (because if you’re doing this right, it’s going to be nice and dirty!), but we’re happy to offer some guidance when it comes all things garden.

Most journeys have a beginning and end, but when it comes to gardening, the end is really just the start of another beginning. Some might find that thought tiring, but there’s something so wonderful in seeing your hard work come to fruition in such a beautiful way. A garden may be endless work, but it’s endlessly rewarding, too!

Enjoy!