3. Good Organic Gardening - May-June 2016 AvxHome.in

Edibles in containers | WEEKEND GARDENING
Pots and containers
Size matters. The smaller the pot, the quicker
it can dry out and the choice of plant you
are growing is a factor to consider also. A tall
cherry tomato isn’t going to come to fruition
in a tiny 100mL pot, for example. So consider
what it is you want to grow and what the size
these edibles are at maturity. Larger pots will
generally give you better results.
Plastic or terracotta? The choice is vast
these days, with the type and variety of
containers and growing set-ups available to
the home gardener. Plastic won’t dry out as
quickly as terracotta, but you may prefer the
look of a ceramic or terracotta pot. One way
around this is to plant in the plastic pot but
sit it inside the decorative pot to get the best
of both worlds.
Large pots once filled with soil and plants
will be usually very heavy and a challenge to
move. Consider pot stands with wheels on
the bottom.
There are also some great alternatives
to pots:
Green-wall set-ups are excellent options
for using every square inch of space of
a verandah, courtyard, empty wall, fence
or lattice. Some even have their own
irrigation system.
Stacker pots are like giant oversized
strawberry planters of old.
Trough stands are another great way to
use every bit of space by having multiple
long troughs stacked and locked into place
on a metal stand.
Baskets, whether hanging or wall types,
can also be used to grow edibles.
Balcony planter holders are a good way
to use your verandah railings as growing
space. These are made to either hook on
or drill into place metal frames in which you
place your pot or trough.
Balcony pots go the next step and do away
with the need for a holder/bracket as the
pot itself slots over the railing and is held in
place with a few screws.
Freestanding planter troughs are usually
on legs, which makes them easier to
maintain and keeps them off the ground.
Potted lettuce
can look quite
decorative
Tomatoes do well in
pots, especially self
watering types
Some have self-watering reservoirs too.
Get creative and do some upcycling of old
jeans, boots, laundry tubs, wheelbarrows,
pallets and suitcases to use them as vessels
for growing plants.
Note: Drainage holes are essential and need
to be checked when choosing or making
your containers.
For water edibles, seal up drainage holes or
choose a pond bowl with no drainage holes and
you have an instant water feature in which you
can grow edibles such as water chestnuts, kang
kong, Vietnamese mint and watercress. You also
provide water for bees, frogs and other
tiny creatures..
Potting mixes
You really do get what you pay for when it
comes to potting mixes. I always suggest
purchasing a mix that has all the Australian
standards ticks on the side of the bag. These
high-quality potting mixes have good waterholding
capacity, as well as slow-release
fertilisers and re-wetting agents. They are made
with clean, good-quality ingredients. Some may
Radishes
grown in a pot
arkliving pots are
designed for those
with no garden
who still want to
enjoy homegrown
Plants grown in pots generally require
more water and fertiliser.
even have water crystals added. There a few
certified-organic mixes available also.
Look for the Australian Certified symbol
on the front of the bag. Just having the
word “organic” on the label doesn’t mean it’s
certified organic. The same goes for sprays
and fertilisers.
Fertilisers
Most potting mixes will have a certain amount
of slow-release fertiliser in them but to get
the optimum growth and harvest out of your
edibles, you need to fertilise with a quickeracting
liquid fertiliser such as fish emulsion or
other organic options such as compost tea and
worm wee.
The addition of liquid seaweed, which acts
as a plant health tonic, is highly recommended.
Top-ups of slow-release organic fertilisers may
be needed, depending on how long your crops
take to grow or what the lifespan of the plant is.
For example, a fruiting tree or long-lived herbs
such as rosemary have different requirements,
both from each other and from a fruiting annual.
Watering
Plants in containers are reliant on you for most
of their needs and watering is at the top of the
list. How often and how much will depend on
many factors, including size and material of the
pot/container, plant species, season, weather
conditions, potting mix quality and so forth.
How to know whether you need to water
can be tricky, though it can be easy enough if
the plants are drooping. This is not a good sign
to rely on because once a plant is at drooping
stage, it’s becoming stressed, leaving it more