Container Edibles

Hello again,

Melissa and Mary of Skillin's Falmouth have spent a great deal of time last fall and through this past winter growing container vegetables. And of course in Maine that means mostly growing container vegetables both indoors and outdoors! They have been very pleased by their experience and have learned a lot! Now we are ready to pass on what they have learned to you. The following has been written by Melissa and serves as the basis for our gardening class "Container Edibles". From Melissa:

"If you do not have space for a vegetable garden, or if you live in an apartment with no yard space of your own, consider growing your vegetables in containers. A windowsill, a patio, balcony, or doorstep can provide sufficient space for a productive garden. Problems with soil-borne disease, nematodes, or poor soil can also be overcome by switching to container gardening.


With increasing interest in container gardening, plant breeders and seed companies are working on vegetables specifically bred for container culture. One prime example of this is Peas ‘N-A-Pot, developed by Burpee seed company specifically for containers. They grow to only 10 inches high and said to give high yields of peas. They also taste very good – I know I have eaten some that I grew this winter!

The amount of sunlight in the area you plan to put your container garden may determine which crops can be grown. Vegetables grown for their fruits generally require at least 6 hours of full sunlight every day – they do better with 8-10 hours. You can increase available light with the use of reflective materials around the plants, e.g., aluminum foil, white painted surfaces, white rocks…. Root crops and green leafy crops can tolerate partial shade. Container gardening lends itself to creating some very attractive plantscapes . You can easily brighten your patio area with baskets of tomatoes or colorful herb mix. Container gardening offers many opportunities for innovative and creative ideas. “Think outside the box”.
Getting Started

Containers –

1- big enough to support plants when they are fully grown

2- hold soil without spilling

3- have adequate drainage

4- never have held products that would be toxic to plants or people

Some examples of containers you could use: bushel baskets, decorative pots, gallon cans, tubs or wooden boxes, or recycle bags (the kind they sell in the grocery store). The size of the container will vary according to the crop selection and space available.

Soil – Good garden soil may be good “in the ground”, it is not a good choice for your containers – it can become hard and compact. You should use a good commercial potting mix (I prefer Coast of Maine soils) as your growing medium. These soils are rich in nutrients and allow for good drainage.

Watering – Vegetables grown in containers (outside) require frequent watering because they can dry out quickly from sun and wind. Some of your plants you may find need daily watering. You should give each plant pot enough water so that it reaches the bottom of the pot – you should see water coming out of the drainage holes. Always keep you container plants evenly moist, never allowing them to dry out completely. By the same token do not overwater your crops – this will slowly kill plants because the roots will not receive enough oxygen. When watering avoid getting the leaves wet , especially if you are watering late in the day. Wet leaves encourage the development of plant diseases. Experienced tomato growers know that if watering is not consistently maintained, tomato plants are unable to take up calcium, a vital nutrient to healthy plants. The result will be tomatoes with a dark leathering spot on the blossom end. This doesn’t signal disease and there is no magic spray to fix it – you just need to pay attention to your crops.

Fertilizer – Container grown vegetables need to be fertilized more frequently than field grown vegetables because they have less soil from which to draw nutrients. As a general rule, add an all purpose dry fertilizer – organic or chemical – according to package directions when you plant This can be applied while watering, or in a powder form that you scratch into the soil and then water.

Light – Nearly all vegetable plants will grow better under full sun. However, leafy crops such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage and parsley are more tolerant of shady conditions. Fruit bearing plants need the most sun – at least 6-8 hours a day. Remember – you can always move that container!

Harvesting – Harvest your vegetables at the peak of their maturity – when they will be the most flavorful. At the end of the growing season, discard the plant and soil from the pot. Do not reuse the same soil for a second season.

What to plant

Most any vegetable that will grow in a backyard veggie garden will grow in a container – you have to be sure and get the correct container size. Some of the best vegetables for container growing include tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, green onions, beans, Peas ‘N-A-Pot, lettuce, radishes, parsley. If you choose to plant snap peas or pole beans you need to be sure and give them plenty of support and plenty of room for their vines.

Seeds should be started in a warm area that will receive sufficient sunlight about 4-8 weeks before you want to put them in their final container and out in the yard. Most vegetables should be transplanted into their outdoor containers when they develop their first 2-3 true leaves. When transplanting be careful with the plants as they are still quite fragile at this time.

Container Gardening Success

Container gardening can be very successful and rewarding. Plant growth and vigor can vary depending on pot location, and the amount of attention and care you give the plants. The following is a list of golden rules of any vegetable garden:

1- Inspect your plants daily, and if necessary water, trim, train or prune

2- Check your plants daily and remove pests and weeds – treat disease and insects if needed

3- Sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Some varieties to try in your container garden

Beets (5 gallons, 5-6 plants) Scarlet Prince, Burpee’s Golden

Carrots (1 gallon, 2-3 plants. Use pots 2” deeper than the carrot length) Short & Sweet, Petite & Sweet

Cucumber (1 gallon, 1 plant) Pickle Bush

Peas (5 gallons, 1 plant);

Peas ‘N-A-Pot (5 gallons, 8plants) Sugar snap peas, shelling peas

Peas ‘N-A-Pot

Leaf Lettuce (1 gallon, 2 plants) Butter crunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, Mesculin etc.

Pepper (5 gallons, 1-2 plants) Most any

Tomato ( 5 gallons, 1 plant) Patio, Pixie, Tiny Tim, Cherry

Spinach (1 gallon, 2 plants)


Broccoli (2 gallons; 1 plant) Packman, Bonanza & others



Kale (1 gallon; 2 plants) Any variety

Melissa M for Skillin's Greenhouses
April 23, 2010

Soil for Containers; My bulbs are Coming Up!

Hello again!

We received a couple of great email questions from our customers in the last couple of days and here they are!

Customer Sharon L had a question about using old soil in containers: "Can I save potting soil from annual plants to reuse later, instead of always buying new potting soil? That is what I have always done, but not sure if it's ok. Always trying to recycle plus save money whenever possible."

Our answer: This is a great question. What I usually do is reuse about ½ of my old soil and devote the other ½ of the container to new soil. For the soil I most often recommend Bar Harbor Blend by Coast of Maine Organics. It is locally produced, it is the BEST soil I have ever used and it is a better price than the brand names—(because it is locally produced and transported).


I devote the unused ½ of the soil to either new containers OR put it in my compost pile. I use quite a bit of my own compost as mulch around my perennials and annuals (another cost saving technique).

Customer Joanne's question: "My daffodils are up about 1/2 inch or more next to the house. No snow. Should I cover them with shredded leaves or leave them alone?"

Our answer: Mine too! This lack of snow plus warm weather has the bulbs like daffodil and crocus revved up. At this point I would leave them alone; they will still blossom at the proper time. When we do get more snow; I will shovel a little extra on top of my daffodils but that is about it!



We love customer questions! Drop us a question anytime at skillins@maine.rr.com and we will get you an answer. We answer the question directly to you and then if we feel the question is really topical we will include the information (but not give away your identity) right here at the Skillin's Garden Log!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 14, 2010

Container Gardening--some Basics

Hello again,

I found this following article at http://www.ezincearticles.com/. It is a good quick read about what to think about before you undertake container gardening. This is a fast growing way to grow and display some of your favorite flowering plants in a more controlled and even vertical environment. Many people are now growing vegetables in containers. Later this Spring we are planning a class or two on container gardening.

Here is the article:


"Container gardening allows you to change your color schemes as the different plants finish blooming. It does not matter whether you want to harmonize or contrast your colors; just make sure you have a variety of plant heights. Also consider the shape of the leaves. The taller plants work well in the background while lower-growing varieties work towards the front of the pots. It is also wise to choose long blooming plants for less maintenance.

You may also find it fun to try out unusual containers. Maybe you have some old bowls lying around or you want to try building something out of old lumber. If you are purchasing new containers, choose the ones that do not absorb your water. Terracotta pots look wonderful but they rob your plants the moisture they need by absorbing it into the container walls.

If you purchase the cheaper plastic pots, you can paint the outside with water-based paints in order to create a better looking effect. Don't forget to buy matching saucers to catch the drips. This will save cement floors getting stained or wood floors from rotting.

Another important factor to successful container gardening is the potting soil. You will want to use a potting soil that has moisture saving granules mixed into the soil. The granules will soak up the water as it is applied and then release it slowly over the day to keep the plants healthy.

To keep your plants looking spectacular you will want to make sure the containers placed in sunny locations get water every morning and each evening.

You will also want to determine ahead of time where you will be placing the containers as some plants need sunlight and some need shade. Try to stay away from plants that have larger root systems as those types should be grown directly into flower beds.

With some creative thought and determination, you will soon have a blooming container garden that will be the envy of friends and strangers alike. "

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
January 18, 2010