"Restricted Drainage" Containers

An interesting idea for a SIP variant here:

Restricted Drainage Tree Pot Gardens https://buff.ly/2lZuIL1

"I take large recycled black plastic commercial tree pots, pull a used plastic grocery bag halfway through EVERY drainage hole, then partially fill the pot with woody debris, like freeze-killed cassava stalks, small sticks, then add successive layers of Tampa sand, fresh horse stall sweepings, wood chips mulch and leaves, sprinkling every 4th layer or so lightly with dolomitic limestone (to control acidity and provide calcium and magnesium) and a nitrogen source, such as feed grade urea, fish emulsion, or a few handfuls of a very high nitrogen lawn fertilizer. Nitrogen deficiency in container gardens is a common problem, especially when making your own soil mixes using high carbon garden waste.

I feel that the grocery bags drawn through the drainage holes greatly reduce drainage and evaporative losses while still allowing for SOME essential drainage plus vital airflow to the roots at night when they take in oxygen."

Vegetables grown in "drainless containers" (a SIP alternative)

From Journey to Forever (https://buff.ly/2IZ9GW8):

"Vegetables are grown in drainless containers ideally with 18 to 20 liters capacity -- stuffed with deciduous tree leaves or grass clippings up to 4/5ths of their capacity, topped by a three to five centimeter layer of good soil, where seeds are planted, or seedlings are transplanted. On the wall of the container, five to ten centimeters from the bottom, a hole is bored for drainage the container thus maintains a water reservoir at the bottom. Finally, a stick is inserted right down to the bottom, that is used to measure the containers' humidity as you would the oil in a car. A container thus prepared, weighs far less than one filled with regular soil."

References:
Organic food production in the slums of Mexico City https://buff.ly/2IZ9GW8

Steel horse trough as a planter

Galvanized water troughs can be used as raised planters. The big containers look great, offer plenty of planting space, and will last for years. You can find the troughs, which are also called livestock tanks, at feed stores. The tanks aren't cheap--they typically run between $115 and $175 depending on the size.



Related reading:

DIY Water Trough Planter — The Gardener | Apartment Therapy http://bit.ly/1GwMpmj

Rooftop Farming at Marriott Chicago (video)

Guests at Chicago’s Downtown Marriott are surprised to find that they share the hotel with half a million honeybees. The bees are part of the Marriott’s “Urban Farming” program. The Marriott raises herbs and vegetables on its hotel roof. It’s also installed a number of bee hives that are home to bees that pollinate the hotel’s crops and plants in city gardens nearby. Source: http://www.americasheartland.org



Two London supermarkets are supporting the production of safe, healthy food by sourcing food locally, or growing it themselves. Jennifer Glasse reports from the British capital about the latest efforts in food sustainability, a term often associated with the developing world.

Elevated Garden Bed/Plant Box

Good Ideas Wizard Elevated Garden. Self-Watering Elevated Garden, Holds Over 10 Gallons Of Water, Includes Potting Gravel For Self-Draining Functionality, Made Of Polyethylene In The USA.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Ideas-GW-EG-GRN-Wizard-Elevated/dp/B00COGVAF2

The planter is available from Walmart and Menards.

Here is self-watering raised bed from the same company:

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Ideas-GW-RBG-SAN-Garden-Sandstone/dp/B0090I5D9G

Here is an alternative: Keter Elevated Garden Bed/Plant Box

http://www.amazon.com/Keter-Elevated-Garden-Bed-Plant/dp/B00BJFJCSQ

How to Build a Sustainable Grow Tower

How to Build a Sustainable Grow Tower - Grow 40 plants in 2 Sq. Ft. - YouTube http://buff.ly/1hZ09tT -- Find out how to make an organic, sustainable, cheap, easy, and efficient grow tower: for $6 and will grow 40 plants in 2
square feet. With the power of vermicomposting, this is a self fertilizing, and semi-self watering system.

Back Filling Container Potatoes (video)

From Gary Pilarchik:

When planting potatoes in a container you only fill half the container with soil. As the potato stalks grow you can back fill the container and raise the soil level. Potatoes will grow out of the stem. This is a way to get more potatoes in your container. It is simple and easy to do. You can use soil or any brown material like leaves or dried hay. Just don't use green material like fresh grass clippings.



From: Jeff Bernhard: Grow Potatoes in your back yard! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1pWZEsl -- "In this quick video, I will show you how I have a constant source of fresh potatoes growing at any time through the year. It is simple and there is nothing like a fresh potato. In addition, growing potatoes are a great way for your kids to grow them, hill them and finally dig them out of the dirt. Fun for the whole family. Enjoy the video."

Salad Garden in Wheelbarrow (as a container garden)

Garden and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith shows you an easy, creative way to grow lettuce and herbs -- in an old wheelbarrow!

What Is Air Pruning? It Can Really Improve Your Container Garden

What Is Air Pruning? Can It Really Improve My Container Gardening? You May Be Surprised! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1s5JVUI



Related:

How to Make Your Own Grow Bag Any Size You Want! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1s5KrlJ

Self Watering Hybrid Kiddie Pool Grow System

By Larry Hall: The New Amazing Self Watering Hybrid Kiddie Pool Grow System! Simply Incredible! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1hMLpOb



See more at Lary Hall's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144745362329424/

The system can be modified the following way:

- use plastic laundry baskets to hold the grow bags. These are available from Dollar Tree for $1. Buy the baskets that are have holes in the bottom, to ensure sub-irrigation.

- fold weedblocker fabric inside the the laundry basket, instead of grow bags

- place the laundry baskets in the kiddie pool. Masonry (concrete mixing) tub can be used instead of a kiddie pool. Masonry tubs cost $5 in Home Depot, look in the masonry/concrete section of the store. Here is an example from Lowe's: MacCourt 26-in x 20-in High Density Polyethylene Small Black All Purpose Tub at Lowes.com http://bit.ly/1h1Sxdx

What is about the best depth of water in the pool to feed the bags?

1 to 2 inches, after the bags are in the pool. Make sure to.make an overflow hole at 2 1/2 inches.

You can make your own potting mix:

- 30% peat moss or coco coir
- 30% perlite or vermiculite
- 30% compost or soil

Related:

Grow Bag Garden Systems http://bit.ly/Z5spcj

Re-purposed Containers for Planting Seeds Indoors (video)

Using Repurposed FREE Containers for Planting Seeds Indoors - YouTube http://buff.ly/1ggNtg3

Growing Vegetables Straight Out of A Potting Soil Bag (video)

From Reaganite71:

"Can you grow food straight out of a potting soil bag? Indoors? In this video, I'll show you how I'm going to grow radishes and lettuces out of a 2 cubic foot bag of potting soil!"



Build A Growlight Room for Seed Starting & Indoor Growing - YouTube http://buff.ly/1goUPCo

How to Make Your Own Fabric Grow Bags

Here are the links from Larry Hall's channel:

A Super Easy Way To Make Your Own Custom Fabric Grow Bags! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1feLaiM

Totally the easiest way to make inexpensive grow bags! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1gjjkP1

This is Incredible! The Self Watering Grow Bag Grow System! You got to see this! - YouTube http://buff.ly/1feLbn9

In 2014, Larry Hall launched a website that sells grow bags: Grow Bag Garden Systems http://bit.ly/Z5spcj

"Garden within a garden" concept: containers expand your patients for growing vegetables

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com shares with you the "garden within a garden" concept he uses that enables him to grow more plants in his small city lot. During this episode John will visit many of his gardens on his property, and offer ideas and suggestions that will enable you to expand your urban residential garden.

How to Make a Cheap Garden Container from a Cardboard Box

You can make containers for growing vegetables from almost anything. Here is an example of a DIY Container:

How to Make a Cheap Tomato Garden Container from a Cardboard Box http://bit.ly/18mR618



For about $1.50 you can make a 1.5 cubic foot or 8 gallon tomato container box. Any cardboard box can be made into a vegetable planting container for under two bucks. If you use a box you have then you can do it for under one buck.

The video shows you how to make the container with a box, 2 trash bags and some basic hardware you can get in the electrical or plumbing isle of stores like Home Depot.

You can grow one large tomato in it. You could use it to grow two peppers. You could grow a cucumber in it. This is a great way to make inexpensive containers for your container vegetable garden. You don't want to get too much bigger then what I showed or the box will be hard to move around. You could get 2 seasons. Especially if you seal the PVC pieces with some silicon.

The video is from Gary Pilarchik's popular YouTube channel.

Please note: Most trash bags are not from food grade plastic and you should not store food in them. That does not mean you cannot grow vegetables in them. Most trash bags are made from plastic labeled as 1 or 2.

Bush Cucumbers

These cucumber plants bear fruit earlier than vining types, and they are easy to care for and harvest into the fall season. Perfect for containers.

I have grown Bush Champion and Spacemaster (both are available at Home Depot as Burpee seeds).

Here is the list of 4 Bush Cucumbers from Burpee:

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cucumbers/bush-cucumbers/

Bush Champion
Spacemaster
Picklebush
Salad Bush

Bush Champion

You won't believe the large number of crisp, bright green slicers you'll get. This is a Customer Favorite. No room for vines? Bush types take one-third the space, so they're great for containers and raised beds. Bush Champion's huge 8 to 12" cukes make this a favorite mini. You won't believe the large number of crisp, bright green slicers you'll get from the pint-sized plants. Mosaic resistant and productive. Proven tops for productivity, flavor and wide adaptability.

Height: 6-8 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Days to Maturity: 55 days
Fruit Size: 8-12 inches

User comments from Burpee.com: "the cukes are coming out as one foot long each, AND maybe 15 to 20 per plant. I couldn't be more happy"



Spacemaster

Great for small areas. This compact cucumber is ideal for containers or hanging baskets. Its short, hardy vines produce slender, dark green fruits 7 ½" long. It's prolific. Resistant to Cucumber mosaic virus and scab.

Height: 6-8 inches
Spread: 26 inches
Days to Maturity: 56 days
Fruit Size: 8 inches



Picklebush

Customer Favorite. Burpee bred Picklebush has unbelievably compact vines that get only 2' long. White-spined fruits have classic pickle look, deep green with paler stripes. Up to 4½" long, 1½" across at maturity but use them at any size. Very productive and tolerant to powdery mildew and Cucumber mosaic virus.

Height: 6-8 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Days to Maturity: 52 days
Fruit Size: 4 inches



Salad Bush Hybrid

Salad Bush Hybrid is an All-America Selections winner and yields full-sized, full-flavored 8" slicers on tiny plants. High disease resistance means high yield and a longer season.

Height: 6-8 inches
Spread: 26 inches
Days to Maturity: 57 days
Fruit Size: 8 inches

Planting Tomatoes in 18 Gallon Containers (video)

Tomatoes can be grown in many sized containers. The 18 gallon storage container can handle 1 indeterminate tomato or 2 determinate tomatoes. This video shows you the basic set up but focus on 'replenishing' 2 year old soil. Egg shells, peat moss or organic matter and some fertilizer will prepare your container soil for the new season.



Planting Tomatoes in 18 Gallon Containers: Preparing the Soil & Egg Shells - The Rusted Garden 2013 - YouTube http://bit.ly/18cv7tp

Comment from Kyle Lester: If you are going to buy a container might as well be food grade I read this. The quickest and most reliable way to check for food safety is by consulting the recycling number. This number will be between 1 and 7 and will be stamped inside a triangle of arrows. As a general rule, the numbers that are safe for use with food are 1, 2, 4, and 5.

Plants Container Gardening (video)

Bonnie Plants Container Gardening with P. Allen Smith. The plants fall in 3 groups, here is an example of all 3 with herbs:

- thriller - basil
- spiller - sage
- filler - parsley

How to Grow Collard Greens (Collards)

What are collards?

Collard greens is the American English term for various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group), the same species as cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental. The name "collard" is a corrupted form of the word "colewort" (cabbage plant).

The cultivar group name Acephala ("without a head" in Greek) refers to the fact that this variety of B. oleracea does not have the usual close-knit core of leaves (a "head") like cabbage.

Collards are also known as tree-cabbage or non-heading cabbage. Collards look like loose cabbage, without the rounded head in the middle. They are similar to kale in growing habits and taste.

Georgia is the most popular variety. Cooked collard greens is a dish often associates with the American South, however, collard is a cool weather plant that grows better in the fall.

Botanical Name: Brassica 'Creole'. Collards are from the cabbage family.

Collards grow 2 to 3 feet tall with rosettes of large, non-heading, waxy leaves growing on sturdy stems. Collard is a kind of kale and a primitive member of the cabbage family.

Grow, Pick and Cook your own Collard Greens (video):



How to grow collards?

Start from seed

You can grow collard greens as either a spring or fall crop. They are more flavorful and sweeter when grown in the cool autumn. Collards are usually sown right into the garden when the danger of frost had passed.

Days to germination: 5 to 10 days
Days to harvest: 85 days to maturity, harvest at 40 days
Light requirements: Full sun or light shading
Water requirements: Regularly and frequently
Soil: Tolerates all soils, extra nitrogen is helpful
Container: Suitable

The plants grow quickly, reaching a spread of up to 2 feet at maturity.

Collards are one of the most cold-hardy of all vegetables, able to withstand temperatures as low as 10 F to 20 F. In Zone 8 and southward, collards often provide a harvest through the entire winter. Collards are a cool-weather crop and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F. Collards are more tolerant of heat than cabbage.

Collards are considered to be “heavy-feeders”. Plant a few seeds every 2 feet, and thin them down to 1 plant after they sprout. Seeds should be planted just a 1/4 inch under the surface.

Pinch out the growing tips of the collard greens to encourage side branching. You can eat the leafs you cut off.

If you want to start harvesting young greens earlier, you can not bother with the specific spacing and just sprinkle the seeds over the soil. Cover them over with a thin layer of soil. As the plants begin to grow, you can pick the young ones for eating, until you are left with larger plants with at least 2 feet of spacing between them.

How to fertilize?

Apply a high-nitrogen blend of fertilizer to boost leaf production. Collards like to be fed. Choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen (because you're promoting leaves, not flowers). Try Dynamite Organic All-Purpose (10-2-8). Water regularly.

The secret to tender, succulent collard greens is rapid, even growth. Keep soil moisture consistent. Add a complete organic fertilizer before planting and side-dress with fish emulsion monthly to provide the nitrogen needed for quick growth.

Collards need fertile, well-drained soil with a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage clubroot disease.

Can I grow collards in containers?

Yes. However, collards grow larger than most other greens, so you will have to have one plant per 10-inch pot. Larger containers are fine with 2 plants as long as you can provide at least 18 to 20 inches between their main stalks. Keep them well-watered and well-fed with fertilizer.

Use a 3- to 4-gallon pot that's about 10 to 12 inches in diameter for a single collard plant. A pot this size provides enough soil depth for the collards to produce healthy roots. The roots grow deep, so make sure the container is about foot deep.

Can I grow collards indoors, in containers?

Yes. Hang a fluorescent light that you can raise it up and down. Lower the light until it is 1/4 inch from the seedlings. This distance prevents collards from growing spindly. Raise the light as the seedlings grow. Plug the light into a timer, set for 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light.

When to harvest collards?

You can start harvesting leaves 4-6 weeks after you planted the seeds.

You can pick the leaves as the plant grows, by cutting off the ones at the bottom of the plant. As the inner stalk continues to grow upwards and produce more leaves, your collard plant will eventually look like a little tree with a bare stem at the bottom and leaves on the top.

What parasites affect collards?

Cabbage worms grow in the soil and kill collards. Collards may be attacked by cabbage family pests: cutworms, cabbage loopers (preceded by small yellow and white moths), and imported cabbage worms. Handpick these pests or spray plants with Bacillus thuringiensis. Deter collard-loving caterpillars, especially in spring, with a biological insecticide such as DiPel or Thuricide containing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).

Otherwise, collards have no serious disease problems.

References:

Collards from Lowe’s Plant Guide http://low.es/X1Imt0 -- There is more info at Lowe's plant guide available at http://lowes.com/plants

How to Grow Collard Greens | Backyard Gardening Blog http://bit.ly/X1IqsB

Growing Collards - Bonnie Plants http://bit.ly/X1Ip8a

Can Collard Greens Be Grown in Containers? | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IpVH

How to Grow Collards | Harvest to Table http://bit.ly/X1Iskr

Grown Your Own Collard Greens - Southern Living http://bit.ly/X1Iwk9

Collards - Vegetable Directory - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension http://bit.ly/X1IwR6

Collard greens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/X1Ix7I

Collards - Plant Care Guides - National Gardening Association http://bit.ly/X1Iys7

Container Vegetable Gardening, HYG-1647-00 http://bit.ly/X1IzMS

How to Grow Collard Greens Indoors | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IBV1

Collards Are the New Kale | Whole Foods Market http://buff.ly/1crSCQO

From Amazon:

Stake base for Earth Box - self-made systems for staking plants

PVC over rebar

Drive a 2 ft rebar 1 ft in the ground (use hammer). Slide 1/2 PVC pipe over the rebar (5 ft).

The Home Depot sells each rebar for approximately $2 (pre-cut at 2 ft). The PVC pipe is close to $2 (10 ft). You will need to a PVC pipe cutter to cut the 10 ft pipe in half.

Examples:

Weyerhaeuser 1/2 in. x 2 ft. Rebar - Model # 05152 at The Home Depot http://thd.co/Z45mqh
1/2" x 24" Steel Rebar at Menards http://bit.ly/Z45ne1
1/2-in x 1-1/2-ft Steel Rebar Pin at Lowes.com http://low.es/Z45h5X

1/2 in. x 10 ft. PVC Sch. 40 Plain-End Pipe-530048 at The Home Depot http://thd.co/Z45lCH
Schedule 40 Solid Core Pipe-1/2"x10' at Menards http://bit.ly/Z45mGZ
Charlotte Pipe 1/2-in x 10-ft 600 PSI Schedule 40 PVC Pressure Pipe at Lowes.com http://low.es/Z45dDo

1/2 in. PVC Schedule 40 Pressure S x S Elbow-406-005HC at The Home Depot http://thd.co/Z45kyF

Alternatively, just buy one piece 6 ft metal pole from Lowe's: Garden Plus 72-in Metal Landscape Stake at Lowes.com http://low.es/Z45bew

From Yahoo Voices:

You will need:

- 1/2 inch PVC pipe, 10 feet long. 3 each for each tomato plant
- PVC primer and glue, 1 small can each
- Hacksaw with blade to cut the pipe
- 3/8 inch drill bit and drill to make holes in PVC
- Heavy gauge wire or sisal rope for sides
- 4 PVC furniture fittings for top ½ inch 3-way corner fittings
- 1/2 inch rebar, 2 feet long, 4 each per plant cage
- Using hacksaw, cut 2 of the 1/2 PVC pipes in half. Cut the 3rd pipe evenly into 4 pieces.

Drill holes every 8 inches from the top to the bottom of the pipe. Perfect alignment between all the pipes is not essential. If a jig (a tool to hold the pipe being drilled) is needed, take a scrap piece of 1/4 about a foot long, and screw or nail two scrap pieces of furring strips the width of the pipe apart, making a trench the pipe will sit in while it's being drilled. A simple spring clamp will hold the pipe in place while drilling.

For the top, use the furniture fittings and the four lengths from the third pipe to form a top with the bottom fitting being open. This allows for removal and storage later. Dry fit the pieces together. If satisfied, glue the pieces together. Do not glue the pieces to the top.

After glue dries, place top over 4 sides and mark placement in garden. Drive the 4 pieces of rebar 1 foot into the ground, leaving a 1- foot tall stake to fit the PVC pipe onto. This will hold in very heavy weather.

Thread the wire or rope through the holes in the PVC. You have completed your very own PVC tomato cage for very little cost per plant. It's tall enough to hold most tomato plants, and several can be tied or wired together to hold an entire row of plants.

Some additional points: Leave it up and drape with 6 mil plastic for a small greenhouse over the winter or to start your tomato plants early. No need for additional water towers, etc.

Here are some suggestions for different self-made staking kits for Earth Box (they should work with Growums boxes as well). The suggestions are from Earth Box forum and the references are provided below.

PVC stake base

Approximate costs are:

- 10 foot piece of 3/4" PVC (you will need a few of these), about $2
- T shaped 3/4" PVC connector (3 way), about 25 cents each (bag of 25 was less than $6)
- Cross shaped 3/4" PVC connector (4 way) - $2 ("Why this thing so expensive compared to the other stuff")
- What would be very helpful is a PVC cutter, it looks like a pruning shear, but ratcheting and made for PVC, about $10.

Here is a photo: http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=44.msg36870#msg36870

Here is another option - materials:

- 3 - 1” x 10' lengths of PVC was $2.19 each at Home Depot.
- 10 - T fittings, 56 cents each,
- 4 End caps .51 each.
- Two 90° Els .44 each.

Total cost was $16, add the cost of the twine

230 Ft. Heavy Duty Polypropylene Twine Model # 540 was $3

For tomatoes, use sturdy steaks and do a Florida weave.

EMT conduit as staking system

EMT conduit is used for electrical wiring. It is a galvanized metal tubing that is strong, easy to cut, comes in 10 ft lengths for about $6, and the 1/2" size is actually more like 5/8" diameter. Available at Lowe's and Home Depot.

Using straight and elbow connectors, you do not need to worry about bending it.

References:

http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=44.msg36870#msg36870
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=3627.msg42479#msg42479
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=8711.msg79666#msg79666
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=8787.msg75906#msg75906
PVC photos for Tom - Growing Tomatoes Forum - GardenWeb http://bit.ly/Z44ylr
Staking Tomato Plants with Rebar | Home Guides | SF Gate http://bit.ly/Z44xhl
Tom Matkey PVC Tomato Cages http://bit.ly/Z44xOb
DIY: Build an Easy PVC Tomato Cage - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com http://yhoo.it/Z450zX