Fall Container Gardening

This fall I planted some seeds in containers. I wanted to see which containers would work and which plants would grow in a container, and which would grow in the fall. Another reason is...I ran out of room in my gardens! It's a drawback to having such small gardens but I wanted to plant all my greens in the gardens and not a container. Maybe I can get the guys to help me build another garden...

I planted actual garlic cloves in this large planter.

This is lettuce in a recycled tree container that my peach tree came in.

Yes, this is an old cat litter pan. I washed it out really really well first!

My window box now has echinacea growing in it.

Sissy is checking to see if I'm doing my job!

Square Foot Gardening

This year we abandoned the old garden spot that grew mostly weeds last year in favor of a new (to me) concept: Square Food Gardening. I found a book by Mel Bartholomew at the Dollar Gen. for $5! The more I read the more I liked it. Well, every year my husband begs for soil from my garden but I fuss b/c I need the soil for beans and tomatoes and such. Well, I got the idea to let him have all the soil from the "old" garden if he would help me build 2 SFG. The deal was accepted and we now have a veggie garden and a flower/herb garden! Pictures to follow!

Next I'm hoping to scrounge around in the cellar and find some wood we already have to make a second veggie garden: then we'd have one for eating and one for canning! I've got my garden out the earliest this year I ever have and I'm so pleased. We already have teeny tiny lettuce and carrot sprouts. The sunflowers have sprouted and I'm looking for bean seeds.

I recommend Square Foot Gardening b/c you have less weeds to contend with, you don't have to worry about how suitable your soil is for growing plants, it's smaller and feels more manageable and you have very high yield. After the initial work then each year you only add compost to your growing mix. It can be a fun and educational family project. My son enjoying putting in the screws for the garden frame and the cage/cover and my daughter enjoyed helping with the cage/cover (necessary to protect the future food from cats, rabbits, etc.

There are many links online. The main one is www.squarefootgardening.com