There’s nothing quite like the fresh flavor of edibles grown in your garden and eaten at your table. Read on to discover how bountiful fruits and vegetables are obtainable in your own backyard – and front yard, too, for that matter!
Two necessities to begin growing edibles is full sun exposure (defined as 6 or more hours of direct sunlight each day) and good soil preparation. Fruiting trees, berry shrubs, herbs, and vegetable plants will grow, but not flourish, if planted in shady areas. So, pick a sunny spot or a sunny placement for a pot and get started.
Leafy greens (such as lettuce, kale, spinach, etc.), most herbs, and some smaller root crops (like radishes) can be easily grown and maintained in 4- to 6-inch-deep containers or shallow gardens. Look for the long, tender Bush Bean to grow in a window box or small spot.
Most pepper plants, broccoli, and larger root crops (such as carrots) thrive easily in 6 to 12 inches of soil depth.
Tomatoes, eggplants, and other shrubby edibles like blueberries are best suited for deeper gardens or containers offering 12 to 20 inches of depth, or closer to a 3- to 5-gallon size container. Citrus trees and Fig trees would also like to begin in this larger pot size.
What do container-grown crops need more than those grown in the garden bed? Drainage holes! Drainage holes are a must as well as additional, vigilant watering. Extra feedings are also required due to the increased irrigation causing nutrients to leach out of the soil more quickly. Applying Espoma Garden-tone®, Tomato-tone®, or Holly-tone® (in the case of acid-loving berry shrubs) to Petitti Planting Mix at the time planting, and applying Osmocote® to the soil surface every two months, will continue feeding container-grown edibles well.
see the edibles we offer