Need some thumb advice! Wanting to grow some veggies

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Okay, I've decided I want to start growing a few veggies for my wife and I. My parents have always had green thumbs, but I didn't get that gene. So I'm looking for some advice. I've talked to him already, and they gave me some tips. But still have some questions. I'm wanting to grow them in containers and want to do onions, cucumbers, potatoes and carrots to start. Might add in some purple hull peas and other stuff in the future.

But I don't want to go full in yet in case it doesn't take off. So, I'm looking for any help. I have a Lowe's and Home Depot around the corner from me, and we've also got a local nursery down the road. I went to Lowe's today, but there was nobody there to help. Plus, there's tons of options for pots, soils, potting mixes, fertilizers, stuff like that. I've tried watching YouTube, and I've gotten some ideas. But everyone's ideas are different. So looking for some other ideas. Any help is appreciated.

I am pretty much the only one that eats veggies in my house. DW eats potatoes. So, here's what I've gathered so far.

Potatoes, 10 gallon growing bag;
- Actual potatoes;
Onions - 12 inch deep x 12 inch wide;
- Need to know difference between seeds and sets;
Carrots - 12 inch deep x 12 inch wide;
Cucumber - 5 Gallon food safe bucket;

Light, compact soil (with compost);
Potting mix;
Slow release fertilizer;

 

[barkley]

just going to suggest that if there's any fresh herbs you use they are EASY to grow and the cost of one plant that can last an entire season will cost less than a single small bunch at the grocery store. I plant mint and basil in a couple of old flower pots on my deck each summer-so much better fresh (so much $$$ saved).

on plant containers-before you spend allot see if your local Facebook marketplace (or neighborhood thing) has anyone giving them away or for pennies on the dollar. some library's also have free planning seeds during the spring months.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Thank you. I believe the only herb we use, if you can even call it that, is garlic. And we just use the garlic powder that we buy at Walmart. It's about $4 and lasts for months. So probably won't go growing herbs.

But I did find 5 of the 10 gallon grow bags for $12 or something on Amazon. Can be here later today. So I will probably do that as I'm planning on planting everything this weekend. I don't feel comfortable meeting anyone to do a Facebook sale. I watch too many crime shows and see people meeting up to do deals then getting assaulted, robbed, attacked or even worse. In fact, there was just a story on the local news last night that 3 guys were arrested. They'd set up Facebook Marketplace deals and when they'd meet the person, they'd rob them. So I don't really want to take part in that.

But I will call the library. I don't even know where our local library is located, lol. That's a good idea too.

just going to suggest that if there's any fresh herbs you use they are EASY to grow and the cost of one plant that can last an entire season will cost less than a single small bunch at the grocery store. I plant mint and basil in a couple of old flower pots on my deck each summer-so much better fresh (so much $$$ saved).

on plant containers-before you spend allot see if your local Facebook marketplace (or neighborhood thing) has anyone giving them away or for pennies on the dollar. some library's also have free planning seeds during the spring months.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I live in Wisconsin with a short growing season and in a subdivision that doesn't allow fences. Because we have abundant wildlife, I purchased Vego Garden 3ft tall container gardens that successfully keeps the squirrels, chipmunks and bunnies away from my veggies. My only problem is keeping the deer out and I use a variety of things to make it harder for them....LOL

My experience with container gardens is to concentrate on ABOVE ground veggies. I tried carrots but they took up a lot of valuable container space and didn't grow well below ground. In addition, underground veggies are usually cheaper to buy in the store. I prefer to grow above ground veggies and enjoy veggies as they ripen instead of having just one harvest at the end of the growing season.

I have grown tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, sugar snap peas, eggplant and okra.

Have fun!

 

[LoveDaisy]

I live in CT and I think you are in Texas so I am not sure your about growing seasons but I am a big gardener and I’m happy to answer any general gardening questions.

In containers I have grown tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, lemon grass, and lots of herbs. I also have an old school in the ground garden.

I use miracle grown potting soil in all of my containers, regardless of what I am growing. At the start of the garden season Home Depot/lowes sell it in large bags in the outdoor
garden area. They usually put on sale here in May which is the start of our garden season.

I grow my potatoes In potato grow bags. You want to put 4-5 inches of soil in the bottom of the bag. Then add your potatoes then another 4-5 inches of soil. The potato plant will start to grow. As the plant grows you will add more dirt to the bag. I usually add dirt so it’s halfway up the plant. I usually add dirt 3 times before the bag is full. The potatoes will flower then the plants will start to die back. You can harvest anytime after that.

I would recommend you start with onion plants over seeds. As a new gardener it will be easier and you will have more success

Carrots do really well in containers because they want soft soil. Just make sure your container is deep enough. You can grow directly from seed. The seeds are tiny so as the plants grow you will need to thin (remove some plants) or else the carrots will be to close together and won’t grow well.

Cucumbers I recommend growing in either a container or you can use a piece of gutters from on a house. My dad uses the gutter and places it in front of a fence in his yard. He tied string from the fence to the gutter (he drilled holes in the gutter to tie the string) You will want to give the plants something to grow on. They like to climb. I use a support I purchased but you could use string and create something for them to climb on.

I can’t stress this enough. The key to successfully growing in containers is water. You need to water often and make sure your container drains well. I do not recommend pottery, it dries out easier than plastic. I also take a drill and make extra holes in the bottom of my plastic pots to allow for better drainage. If you don’t have a drill you could do this with a large nail and a hammer.

I hope you have a lot of success! Happy to help if I can!

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Very informative. Thank you for this.

I live in CT and I think you are in Texas so I am not sure your about growing seasons but I am a big gardener and I’m happy to answer any general gardening questions.

In containers I have grown tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, lemon grass, and lots of herbs. I also have an old school in the ground garden.

I use miracle grown potting soil in all of my containers, regardless of what I am growing. At the start of the garden season Home Depot/lowes sell it in large bags in the outdoor
garden area. They usually put on sale here in May which is the start of our garden season.

I grow my potatoes In potato grow bags. You want to put 4-5 inches of soil in the bottom of the bag. Then add your potatoes then another 4-5 inches of soil. The potato plant will start to grow. As the plant grows you will add more dirt to the bag. I usually add dirt so it’s halfway up the plant. I usually add dirt 3 times before the bag is full. The potatoes will flower then the plants will start to die back. You can harvest anytime after that.

I would recommend you start with onion plants over seeds. As a new gardener it will be easier and you will have more success

Carrots do really well in containers because they want soft soil. Just make sure your container is deep enough. You can grow directly from seed. The seeds are tiny so as the plants grow you will need to thin (remove some plants) or else the carrots will be to close together and won’t grow well.

Cucumbers I recommend growing in either a container or you can use a piece of gutters from on a house. My dad uses the gutter and places it in front of a fence in his yard. He tied string from the fence to the gutter (he drilled holes in the gutter to tie the string) You will want to give the plants something to grow on. They like to climb. I use a support I purchased but you could use string and create something for them to climb on.

I can’t stress this enough. The key to successfully growing in containers is water. You need to water often and make sure your container drains well. I do not recommend pottery, it dries out easier than plastic. I also take a drill and make extra holes in the bottom of my plastic pots to allow for better drainage. If you don’t have a drill you could do this with a large nail and a hammer.

I hope you have a lot of success! Happy to help if I can!

 

[Herding_Cats]

I do about half of my garden in containers, and the other half in the ground. We get the big "heavy duty utility tubs" that are 18gal. We drill holes in the bottom for drainage, and they work great for tomatoes, carrots, and I'm sure they would be fine for cucumbers as well. I like to use a mixture of "promix" (or similar) and compost in my containers. The promix usually comes in a compressed bale and fluffs up a LOT, like a memory foam mattress would. I also get 4gal food-grade buckets from a local restaurant that makes pies. (It helps that I work there.) They are a known source in the community and people will stop by and ask if they have any buckets available, and a few times a year, when they have too many, they will just set a big stack of them out by the road/parking lot and they're all gone by the end of the day.

If you buy seeds to start things, know that they are generally good for a few years (the rate of germination will go down with each subsequent year) but I'm still successfully starting seeds that I bought back in 2022.

 

[mjkacmom]

We plant our cucumbers in a raised garden bed next to our wrap around porch, there is a trestle next to the house, my husband has strings from the garden attached to the top of our porch, probably 8+ feet high, we can pick them from the porch.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I wound up just doing the carrots today. Used a 4 gallon bucket. Lots of soil, made holes about an inch deep with my fingers then put in the seeds, covered with dirt and watered. I used Whitney Farms container soil that's made for veggies. Then I put some Dr. Earth Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable and Herb Fertilizer in there.

I did the onions, but I used seeds. Sent my mom a pic and she said I did it wrong. So I took all the soil out, threw it away and I'll get some bulbs and redo it in the coming days. I also didn't get the container for my potatoes yet. I got the potato, but it's not ready to cut and dry out. So I decided to wait a week on that one. I will probably do onions and potatoes next week.

 

[TPG0235]

I know you are talking about container bags, but you just can't beat veggies planted in the soil. You can put cucumber seedlings in the ground that won't disrupt the soil much, use two large stakes with wire fencing between them, and before you know it you will be supplying the whole neighborhood with cucumbers. Just make sure you pick an area with plenty of sun. Can't grow much without proper sunlight.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I wound up just doing the carrots today. Used a 4 gallon bucket. Lots of soil, made holes about an inch deep with my fingers then put in the seeds, covered with dirt and watered

that's really, really deep for carrot seeds. so deep that you may not get any germination. Be sure to look at the planting instructions for your individual seed packets.

 

[_19disnA]

Some vegetables are more suitable for container growing than others. I agree as mentioned above to focus on things that grow above ground like peppers, beans, peas or herbs. The ones that don't spread a lot of roots are probably best. Garlic probably not a good choice since you plant that in the fall and it doesn't mature until the next spring. Soil also tends to dry out faster in a container, so you will need to water more often. Something like potatoes probably won't work well since they grow underground and take up a lot of space. Finding a large enough container will be a challenge.

I think the main advantage for container crops is you can grow compact/above-ground items on your patio when perhaps there isn't any available soil in your yard. If you have some open area in your yard, I think planting in the ground would be easier.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Something like potatoes probably won't work well since they grow underground and take up a lot of space. Finding a large enough container will be a challenge.

Have you tried it? This is my preferred way to grow both carrots and potatoes. Last year I had 4 potato bags, grew 4 kinds of potatoes and harvested over 50 pounds of potatoes. They are also much easier to harvest. For carrots I have better luck because the soil is softer.

 

[_19disnA]

Have not, but have several friends/relatives who do some type of container gardening on their patio. Typically, they look for compact/upright types of crops so it doesn't take up too much of their patio space, perhaps you have a larger patio area.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Have not, but have several friends/relatives who do some type of container gardening on their patio. Typically, they look for compact/upright types of crops so it doesn't take up too much of their patio space, perhaps you have a larger patio area.

I put the grow bags in front of my garden. The only thing I grow on my patio are herbs and flowers. The plants right behind the cinderblocks are potatoes.

 

[Djm_in_buffalo]

To each their own. Not trying to knock anything. But if looking to buy everything to get planter gardens set up (which themselves are much more of an investment than planting in the ground)… and also learn all about some form of gardening… I personally would focus on the more high value crops. Herbs, heirloom tomatoes, leafy greens, even peppers…Not potatoes, onions, and carrots, of which top quality can be had at the store or farmers’ market for a small fraction of the cost of buying supplies to plant own.

 

[Elephantay]

I would love to garden in our backyard- we always had good luck with tomatoes and peppers and beans grown right in our soil...but the squirrels! And rabbits!
We've tried containers on the deck and they've eaten everything before it ripens, and in our tight neighborhood which only has a few trees and lots of close backyards I fear this would attract more of them.
Following along!