Water and consistent moisture are keys to growing healthy tomatoes and peppers in containers. As the plants get larger and the days of summer arrive… moist…
Question by Beth: How can I make a small outdoor space prettier?
I live in a town house and everything is alright, but the only private space we have outside is a shared gap where the air conditioners are! My neighbor and I have already discussed everything. If I can make it look OK, she won’t complain. The grass isn’t finished growing, and we are growing tomatoes, and apparently weeds. I want it to be relaxing, and cheap.
Best answer:
Answer by Kylee
put lots of plants out there
What do you think? Answer below!
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
Container Tomato and Pepper Tips
Soil Moisture and Watering
Container gardens can be very successful if you can figure out how to
manage watering and maintain even moisture in your containers all season
long.
The number one issue with container gardens is that you can’t let the soil
in your containers completely dry out. Not even once. This is not so much
of an issue when plants and smaller and the spring is here. However, once
your tomatoes and peppers grow and their roots fill up the container and
the summer heat arrives… you can have containers that will dry out in one
afternoon.
Once the soil completely dries out the tomato and pepper plants are
stressed. This makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests. It
decreases the yield and production of the plants. Tomatoes will get cracked
fruit. Most tomatoes will develop blossom end rot. This occurs because
their roots are damaged by drought and can’t effectively bring in nutrients
to the plant, specifically calcium.
Watering them quickly, once the soil completely dries out, does NOT fix the
damage. It actually causes fruit cracking. There are 3 things you can do to
help prevent this and make container gardening easier. Remember you are
thinking down the line when the plants are larger and summer heat arrives.
Use Moisture Control Garden Soil and/or Add in Lots of Compost/Peat Moss
Mulch the Containers with about 2 Inches of Mulch
Have a Water Reservoir Available (There are many options)
The video highlights these points, also talks about container size and
gives you a basic idea for a water reservoir.
The biggest issue for containers is moisture. If you can keep it watered I
think, for peppers, you can just use what you have. Peppers don’t need
anything fancy. It will be well drained in the container. If you want you
can use peat moss or compost to amend you bag soil. That will help to hold
moisture. Maybe 1/3 peat moss 2/3 your stuff. Really water & fertilizing
are bigger issues for containers. Let me ask how big the containers are and
how many plants do you plant on putting in them.
oh 100 degree days merits a big reservoir fill up. Youll get a sense of how
much you need by filling it in the morning and seeing how quicky it gets
used up.
Yes but… Decaying wood like mulch can pull nitrogen out of the soil when
mixed in your soil. Mulch sitting on top of your container wont do that
effectively. Plus you will have to liquid fertilize your container plants
and that brings nutrients to them.
Your good. Peat moss is a pretty good amendment to bagged soil. It is
cheaper and adds organic matter. I sometimes take 50% peat moss, handful of
lime and 50% cheap topsoil and make my own mix. A tablespoon of 10-10-10
fertilizer goes in there too. It is cheaper. I might suggest do a couple
soil experiments and see how the work. Find a low cost mix. Nothing has to
be perfect. I typically suggest in videos to buy moisture control garden
mix because it is easier for a few containers. Not 50.
Your self watering (wicking) system got us back into trying container
gardening. We got our system set up yesterday! Thanks for the video. Just
curious – what zone are you in?
Excellent. Good luck with your garden.
What mulch do you use?
Will it tell you or just bad luck.
anymore i just use grass clippings i seen straw used as well.have you seen
the rain gutter garden videos if not check out the videos on youtube they
work great.no good idea on the mulch sorry.
Yes I think it will work. I actually do a lot of sunken container gardening
with the nursery buckets. I just but in a baxter bush cherry and early
glacier cherry into half sunken containers. Good luck. Should work nicely.
Im going to have to start doing that.
Well thanks for the advice, I will try some different ratios and see which
work best for next time. I’m also thinking of grabbing a couple bags of
perlite from home depot and mixing some of that in too to try and keep it
from becoming too compact. Thanks very much for your help though, I really
appreciate it!
Great. Im glad you back. I always try a bunch of different methods and
plants in containers. I always keep the experiment going… for fun. This
year is the simple old tray with high edges. Whatever you use with your
containers or container system the key is never letting the soil dry out.
Thank you Gary! I may see if I can create even more drainage.
I’m a rookie…do you recommend using Miracle Grow Tomato Plant Food, and
if so, do you add the solution to the water reservoir or apply it to the
soil from the top? I’m trying your self-watering double 5-gal. bucket
system this year.
Hi Gary, I am planting cucumbers right now and the seedlings look great,
but after I transplanted them, they start to fall over and started drying
out, I think they have transplant shock, I don’t want to start all over
again but I know that I made a mistake of getting all of the soil off their
roots while transplanting, I’ve already put sugar water on the plant, but
its not working, what can I do to help them recover?
Thanks man, that was the reason I was asking, keep on hearing about
mulching but can’t get an answer on what type to get, my only access to
mulch is big box stores. Kmart has some cedar mulch, any idea if that is
good? My intent this year is to mulch with a mix of leaves from last year
and fresh grass clippings.
For the double bucket I filled the reservoir with just water. I fed the
plants from the top with the liquid fertilizer. It was easier that way.
With the tray system in this video. Ill probably pour the solution into the
tray.
got to keep your eyes on some of that mulch some have chemicals in them
found out the hard way.
Plants some flowers…or go out and buy some..
2 chairs the kind that fold up..so you can take them in if u like….a small cooler to act like a table or foot rest ..a bag of ice and a six pack…….one of them fancy ash tray standsthat stick in the ground….a few decent sized rocks piled to gether somwhere….and a fake funny lookin frog…no wind chimes! just keep in mind that a lawn mower may be having to cut the grass….
sometimes people put those fancy gray or white flower bed rocks in small spaces like that and it makes it look very nice