Sometimes My Bad Habits Get The Best Of Me

I can’t help myself. I’m committed to doing better too. Isn’t it funny when you let bad habits get in the way of good knowledge??

It doesn’t matter whether you are planting stuff in pots or raised beds or directly into the ground. Each plant needs room. It needs room to grow, both above the ground as well as below. I am bad about crowing them. I’m being stupid because I know better. You’re setting yourself up for a fall if you do this. The plants need free airflow around them to keep down bug infestations fungus and mildew. It does no good to have them shading each other out, give them an extra inch or two.

What You See is Not The Whole Story

It’s easy enough to see above the ground when the leaves and stalks bang into each other. What we don’t see is the same thing is going on underground with the root systems. It’s one thing when you’re growing a hedge, and another thing all together when you’re growing vegetables. Will they grow? More than likely, yes they will. So what’s the big deal? It’s like this, your yield will suffer. In other words, your overall production will be smaller in quantity and size. They are competing with each other underground for food and water.

Not all are created equal

If pretty bushes and flowers do okay, it’s no big deal. Growing veggies is a different story. All plants may be created equal, but the big difference between growing a hedge and growing potatoes is yield. You want more potatoes and beans! As a safe rule, crop plants need more nutrients than shrubs and trees. Good soil and good nutrition are elements of that. So is underground clutter. That’s why you pull the weeds. Less competition fosters more food. Keep your money plants farther apart from each other.

There is more to pot

This is also true about container gardening. This year I am experimenting with container gardening. I have no idea how big a pot to put tomatoes in, so here is what I do; I start out with a smaller pot, then upgrade into a bigger pot when it appears the plant may be outgrowing the one it’s in. If I find the pot is full of roots, a larger pot is called for. I will continue this process until I achieve stasis between pot and plant.

One of the things I have already learned is how easy it is to tell pot-bound tomato plants. They need a lot more water as they become pot-bound and full of roots. It’s particularly noticeable when they are set next to a larger pot. Here’s a vid that shows what I mean better than the written word. Sorry, the volume’s so low. I’m still in training!

Crowding vegetable plants into pots that are too small for them is like planting them too close to one another. They are not getting enough nutrition and the pot will dry out quicker. The less you can stress your food plants the better they will treat you with food.

There is a downside to this if you must move the pots. They are bigger and heavier. That’s why I use my favorite hand truck if the weather turns bad. They all get moved under shelter without crushing my back. With a raised bed, I can cover it if it gets too cold. Believe it or not, it occasionally occurs here in Tampa.

Give It a Try

What to try and what not to try. Here’s the dilemma, some nice food plants are big and heavy. They take a while to grow. Squashes and tomatoes are good examples of this. So are peppers and potatoes. There are also quick smaller crops we can grow. Greens like romaine and spinach are quick growing. So are beans and radishes. Of the group, I’m just guessing that radishes are the most likely practical veggie for growing in a pot. I think I’ll stick with growing the rest in the ground. The same lesson applies, don’t crowd them.

Don’t Be Like Me!

The last thing I want to share with you is another one of my flaws. Don’t go crazy and buy one of every seed pack you see in the store! Plant a few things and learn how to grow them well. You’re never going to replace the produce section of the grocery store in your backyard. We’re supplementing our store bought veggies and saving a buck or two in the process. It will help. You will also find they taste better. Crops in the store are specifically grown for shipability, (Is that a word?? It should be.) not taste.

Beware!! Growing your own may cause you to reject the sorry excuse of vegetables in the store because you’ll know the difference in taste and quality. So sorry! I have many more tips and ideas for you. Don’t miss any of my previous gardening posts. They’re worth it, I promise.