Planning and planting a garden

[mefordis]

Any advice for a novice gardener? I have planted: celery, peas, cucumbers, basil, and peppers in this raised bed. I have never been successful at growing anything so I got the raised bed in hopes of increasing my chances. I am using organic soil from the nursery. Any tips on increasing my success? Are these plants too close together?

Thanks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

How deep is that planter? It looks like it is on a deck and not in the ground. It is hard to tell from that picture.

 

[mefordis]

I'm sorry - here is another picture so you can see the depth.

 

[jen73]

Dallas suburbs here, we hv 3 tomato plants, basil, oregano, a cucumber, bell pepper , habanero pepper, & 3 strawberry plants. We planted a few weeks ago and all seem to be thriving. We hv a handful of strawberries, a few tomatoes, and one bell pepper so far. We added a random watermelon plant a couple of days ago and hv been looking for cilantro but it seems to be sold out?

 

[pocomom]

Yikes, that's alot in a small space. Basil for me does well a little crowded, but we are constantly picking it.
You also have different growing needs there. Peas like it cool, peppers like it hot. Plus peas, peppers, cucmbers and celery will all grow quite large. That seems really overplanted- and I tend to overplant!

I'm sorry - here is another picture so you can see the depth.

 

[minnie mum]

Yikes, that's alot in a small space. Basil for me does well a little crowded, but we are constantly picking it.
You also have different growing needs there. Peas like it cool, peppers like it hot. Plus peas, peppers, cucmbers and celery will all grow quite large. That seems really overplanted- and I tend to overplant!

I agree. There should have been labels in the pots that these came in that specify how far apart they should be planted. Peas need something to grow up on. Cucumbers also need either a strong trellis to be tied to or a LOT of room to sprawl. Celery needs a lot of water and mulch and does best in cool weather. Peppers need as much sun and heat as possible.

It's much too early here to plant out things as temperature sensitive as basil and peppers. Where do you live?

Also, that's not a raised bed. That's a planter. And because it's up off the ground, it's going to need watering much more frequently than a raised bed.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have a huge box in the yard. How hard is it to grow some of the berry bushes , like the black berries? I could put strawberries as well.

 

[mefordis]

Yikes, that's alot in a small space. Basil for me does well a little crowded, but we are constantly picking it.
You also have different growing needs there. Peas like it cool, peppers like it hot. Plus peas, peppers, cucmbers and celery will all grow quite large. That seems really overplanted- and I tend to overplant!

I was worried about that! Should I repot and move some stuff? I could move the flowers when it starts over crowding. See? I am totally clueless! I"m glad this thread was started.

 

[mefordis]

I agree. There should have been labels in the pots that these came in that specify how far apart they should be planted. Peas need something to grow up on. Cucumbers also need either a strong trellis to be tied to or a LOT of room to sprawl. Celery needs a lot of water and mulch and does best in cool weather. Peppers need as much sun and heat as possible.

It's much too early here to plant out things as temperature sensitive as basil and peppers. Where do you live?

Also, that's not a raised bed. That's a planter. And because it's up off the ground, it's going to need watering much more frequently than a raised bed.

I have strawberries in a planter pot. I hope it isn't too crowded to give some berries.

 

[mefordis]

I agree. There should have been labels in the pots that these came in that specify how far apart they should be planted. Peas need something to grow up on. Cucumbers also need either a strong trellis to be tied to or a LOT of room to sprawl. Celery needs a lot of water and mulch and does best in cool weather. Peppers need as much sun and heat as possible.

It's much too early here to plant out things as temperature sensitive as basil and peppers. Where do you live?

Also, that's not a raised bed. That's a planter. And because it's up off the ground, it's going to need watering much more frequently than a raised bed.

Thanks so much for your advice. I am in NJ. I think I planted a bit on the early side. This is a learning experience but I will be a bit disappointed if it all dies. Thanks for letting me know about the watering.

 

[mefordis]

Also, I used the planter because we have SO MANY little animals running around destroying anything I plant. Rabbits, chipmunks, groundhogs, you name it. I figured up on the deck near the house will decrease the odds of that happening, especially with the rabbits.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

One thing I do not see is drainage in that container. Are there any holes in the container for drainage? If not, you will need to get a drill and put a few holes near the bottom, no matter what you plant.

Peppers, herbs, annuals are fine for that container.

Lettuce, spinach, broccoli are what is called "cool season" crops. They grow in the cool season of spring. Once it gets hot they are done. You might want to check those out.

Cucumbers are doable however they are going to need a trellis to grow up on. They get HUGE. 1 cucumber plant would take over the entire planter if you do not train it to go up a trellis.

Peas also needs a a support system for growing and I do recommend replanting those. You need at least a 12" depth and some bamboo poles for them to climb up on. The reason I say replant those is that their watering needs are heavy during the hot summer which will not blend with the other plants. I use those 5 gallon buckets, you get at Home Depot, Wal Mart, etc. You drill several holes in the bottom and ta-da, a cheap planter that also has a handle.

Celery, I have never grown but maturity takes a long time. They don't like it hot and also they will have demanding water needs during summer. I do recommend replanting those to their own space as well. Be careful with temps right now. Below 55 degrees for several days may force them to go to seed instead of growing. I will give you a link here as celery is very needy with requirements. Might be too late, but that will depend on when the heat hits you and how hot it gets.
http://garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/lettuce_planting/439

Fertilizing. You will need to fertilize the plants in the containers once it gets hot.

 

[mefordis]

Thanks so much for taking the time to type all of this advice for me!! Yes, the container has drainage holes.

Okay, so once late June hits, the lettuce is finished, right? It's in that round pot to the left of the planter and my 7 yr old loves to go out there and eat it Too bad it won't last all summer.

Okay, so for the cucumbers I am thinking I'll let them hang over the side since I planted them on the left side of the planter. I hope that works. Same with peas which are on the back side of the planter? I'm just thinking as I read your post. Wait! Maybe I'll get those 5 gallon buckets, too, and replant them.

For fertilizing, do I just get fertilizer from Home Depot? Can I use something I make for fertilizer? Sorry I'm so clueless about gardening. I'm learning, though.

I think back to my parent's garden (growing up in the Midwest) when I was growing up and I think they just watered the plants and nothing else (weeded, too). They grew so much food we ate it all summer and even canned it!

One thing I do not see is drainage in that container. Are there any holes in the container for drainage? If not, you will need to get a drill and put a few holes near the bottom, no matter what you plant.

Peppers, herbs, annuals are fine for that container.

Lettuce, spinach, broccoli are what is called "cool season" crops. They grow in the cool season of spring. Once it gets hot they are done. You might want to check those out.

Cucumbers are doable however they are going to need a trellis to grow up on. They get HUGE. 1 cucumber plant would take over the entire planter if you do not train it to go up a trellis.

Peas also needs a a support system for growing and I do recommend replanting those. You need at least a 12" depth and some bamboo poles for them to climb up on. The reason I say replant those is that their watering needs are heavy during the hot summer which will not blend with the other plants. I use those 5 gallon buckets, you get at Home Depot, Wal Mart, etc. You drill several holes in the bottom and ta-da, a cheap planter that also has a handle.

Celery, I have never grown but maturity takes a long time. They don't like it hot and also they will have demanding water needs during summer. I do recommend replanting those to their own space as well. Be careful with temps right now. Below 55 degrees for several days may force them to go to seed instead of growing. I will give you a link here as celery is very needy with requirements. Might be too late, but that will depend on when the heat hits you and how hot it gets.
http://garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/lettuce_planting/439

Fertilizing. You will need to fertilize the plants in the containers once it gets hot.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The cucumbers will break your vines if you just let them hang over the side. They are heavy and meant to be on the ground. Now you could pick them early, maybe, before they break the vines. Also you have an issue with the vines rubbing on the side of the container which may break them as well.

Lettuce will be done when it gets hot. You can replant in the fall once it starts cooling off again.

Fertilizing. Right now not a big deal as it is just not hot yet. The issue is that when it gets hot you have to water daily which leaches out nutrients in containers, so you have to fertilize on a regular basis.

You have to be careful to use only veggie fertilizers as reg. fertilizers have too much nitrogen which will cause green growth and inhibit fruit production.

 

[mefordis]

The cucumbers will break your vines if you just let them hang over the side. They are heavy and meant to be on the ground. Now you could pick them early, maybe, before they break the vines. Also you have an issue with the vines rubbing on the side of the container which may break them as well.

Lettuce will be done when it gets hot. You can replant in the fall once it starts cooling off again.

Fertilizing. Right now not a big deal as it is just not hot yet. The issue is that when it gets hot you have to water daily which leaches out nutrients in containers, so you have to fertilize on a regular basis.

You have to be careful to use only veggie fertilizers as reg. fertilizers have too much nitrogen which will cause green growth and inhibit fruit production.

Wow - so much great info. So, bottom line is I need space for the cucumbers to lie flat, no hanging like tomatoes can. I wonder if I can continue to grow the lettuce indoors. Not a big deal but I hate killing plants. When the season is over can I keep that soil and just cover it for next year? I also need to learn about composting -- there's more to it than throwing rotten food in there, right? LOL!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow - so much great info. So, bottom line is I need space for the cucumbers to lie flat, no hanging like tomatoes can. I wonder if I can continue to grow the lettuce indoors. Not a big deal but I hate killing plants. When the season is over can I keep that soil and just cover it for next year? I also need to learn about composting -- there's more to it than throwing rotten food in there, right? LOL!

Lettuce is done when it gets hot. It turns to seed and needs to be tossed. Going to seed is called "bolting" but what it really means is the plant starts flowering. Once it hits that point it is too bitter to eat.

You could hang the cucumbers like tomatoes IF you were to put a support in it. That would be interesting.

Cucumbers are heavy and have to have some sort of support with the vining.

 

[rastahomie]

Mrs. Homie and I between us couldn't grow weeds if we tried, lol.

My father-in-law, on the other hand... he coaxes the most delicious tomatoes out of this useless, rocky, southeast Missouri soil. People line up down the road for Dale's tomatoes. Can't wait for tomato season, nom nom nom!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have strawberries in a planter pot. I hope it isn't too crowded to give some berries.

Strawberries do well in pots.

There are 2 kinds of strawberries. One is "everbearing" which produces strawberries all season. And then you have the 1 season bearing or June bearing strawberries, which produce fruit for about a couple of weeks and done till next season.

The everbearing is a strawberry here or there and the June bearing is a lot of strawberries at once.

I have everbearing strawberries in my landscaping with ripe fruit on them already.

 

[mefordis]

Strawberries do well in pots.

There are 2 kinds of strawberries. One is "everbearing" which produces strawberries all season. And then you have the 1 season bearing or June bearing strawberries, which produce fruit for about a couple of weeks and done till next season.

The everbearing is a strawberry here or there and the June bearing is a lot of strawberries at once.

I have everbearing strawberries in my landscaping with ripe fruit on them already.

Thanks for the info on strawberries. I have to take a look to see which one I bought. Doesn't say! They have long vines with pink flowers on some of them.

Do I let the soil get dry and then soak the plants? It looks dry right now but I was told not to water during the day, only night or morning.

Sorry I'm hammering you with so many questions!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the info on strawberries. I have to take a look to see which one I bought. Doesn't say! They have long vines with pink flowers on some of them.

Do I let the soil get dry and then soak the plants? It looks dry right now but I was told not to water during the day, only night or morning.

Sorry I'm hammering you with so many questions!

Eh, that is fine.

Here is how you determine if your container plants need water, weight.

Pick up the pot. For large containers in plastic pots you can tip them a bit to determine weight. Ceramic containers are harder esp. heavy ones. Can't tip those so you just kind of eyeball the plants and look for wilting signs.

I see your strawberries in the hanging basket in your picture. All you do it pick it up. If it is light as a feather it needs water. If it is heavy, it does not.

Now as the temps get hotter then you will probably need daily watering. Right now in the spring you don't want to over water.

Next time you soak it note the weight of it.