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Blunders Often Encountered in Container Gardening (3 Key Points)

Steer clear of these three common mishaps in container gardening as you cultivate your vegetable plants in pots this growing season.

Gardening Blunders in Container Gardening: A Look at Three Common Errors
Gardening Blunders in Container Gardening: A Look at Three Common Errors

Blunders Often Encountered in Container Gardening (3 Key Points)

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In the world of gardening, container gardening has become increasingly popular, especially for beginners. One such expert in this field is Randy from FarmDaddy.com, who was recently interviewed on the Beginner's Garden Podcast.

Randy offers a wealth of knowledge and resources for those embarking on their gardening journey. He provides free guides to help beginners grow a rewarding garden, including a Raised Bed Soil Options Guide, Blueberry Planting Workbook, A-Frame Trellis building guide, Garlic Planting Cheat Sheet, and a 15 Mistakes Beginning Gardeners Make Ebook, among others.

Subscribing to the "In the Garden E-mail" grants access to these free garden downloads, as well as periodic updates on garden resources. Additionally, subscribers can access a 7-day garden plan and several free downloadable garden resources.

One of the key benefits of container gardening is the use of self-watering systems, which can help eliminate the headache of frequent watering. However, it's important to note that containers demand more frequent watering, especially in the heat of the summer.

When it comes to planting, cool-weather crops like spinach, lettuce, greens, and peas should be planted in the very early spring or fall to avoid bolting. On the other hand, planting heat-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers in containers too early in the spring will cause their growth to stunt.

The size of the container is also crucial. Containers for most vegetables should be at least 10'' deep. Planting too many plants in one container can lead to stunted growth and less yield. Fewer plants per container can result in more yield.

The potting mix in containers should ideally be a combination of peat moss, perlite, and pine bark. Garden soil is too heavy for containers and doesn't allow for proper drainage.

Shallow-rooted crops and light-feeding crops like lettuce can grow in more shallow containers. However, self-watering containers require less fertilization because the nutrients won't leach out. Supplemental fertilizer is necessary for container vegetables to maintain healthy growth.

The Beginner's Garden Podcast discusses common container gardening mistakes and how to prevent them. According to Randy, the three biggest mistakes people make when growing in containers are overwatering and underwatering container plants, planting crops in a season not conducive to the plant, and planting too many plants in one container.

By following these tips and resources from Randy at FarmDaddy.com, you'll be well on your way to a successful container garden. Happy gardening!

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