A few years ago I checked a book out from the library called McGee & Stuckey’s Bountiful Container (find this book in a library). Most books about container gardening focus on flowers and foliage, but this book was all about growing edibles–from apples to zucchini–in containers, no matter how small your space. Included in the vast amount of helpful information in this book is the soil depth needed for each particular plant–I was surprised to learn that many plants need only six inches of soil, and some need even less. I assumed growing vegetables in containers would require many cubic feet of soil and big containers; both expensive items when you’re starting a garden from scratch. I returned the book without planting anything except the idea that container gardening might be easier than I thought.
Regular gardening always seemed a little out of reach; all the information about pH, soil amendments, transplants, fertilizer, etc. is overwhelming. Container
gardening, on the other hand, is a little more straightforward. Dirt (or potting soil, to be more accurate) is purchased with the right balance of organic materials, etc. already in the bag. Containers can be easily covered if the temperature is taking a plunge, and the small scale of the garden means pests are usually easy to spot and remove.
I went back to the library & was happy to find Bountiful Container again; this year I didn’t just read about container gardens, I finally took the plunge. So far I’ve planted radishes, mesclun, bok choy and swiss chard, fava beans and peas–all plants that are supposed to survive cool weather. When it warms up (June? Maybe?) I’m hoping to add tomatoes, squashes, and edible flowers to the lineup. Even though I’ve seen ice in my containers some mornings, my intrepid little radishes and lettuces are already growing. I’m so excited!
Here’s what twelve days of Central Oregon weather will do….
