A few beginner questions...

16 years ago

Hi everyone! I am just getting started with gardening and, unfortunately, may have gotten off to a poor start. My plan was to just do a tomato plant, a hot pepper plant, and some herbs this year (all in containers) to get my feet wet. Next year I'd like to do more vegetables and will probably build a raised bed for some of the larger vegetables.

Anyway... I didn't find this forum until after I went ahead and planted. I've spent a LOT of time reading the forum since and definitely would have done things differently had I known better. That said, I'm hoping to make the best with what I have for this year and be much more prepared next time around.

That said, here is what I did...

- 'Celebrity' tomato in a 7 gallon plastic container with a tomato cage.

- 'Super Chile' pepper in a 4 gallon plastic container.

- Thyme, Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley all together in a 5 gallon container.

I used the Miracle Grow moisture control potting soil for all of them and raised the pots off of the deck a bit for drainage. Next time I will likely go with the 5:1:1 mix and use Foliage Pro for fertilizer, etc. I still have a lot to learn!

Basically I have 2 specific questions at this point...

1. Should I start fertilizing even though I used the miracle grow potting soil?

2. I'm having a real hard time determining if the soil is draining properly and if I'm giving them too much water. I read to water them until it starts draining from the bottom... but it seems like I sit there with the hose until it's muddy on top before anything starts draining from the bottom. So I stop because I'm afraid I'm going to drown them. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any help! This is a great place and I look forward to learning from you all. Maybe even contributing one day!

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Comments (7)

noinwi
16 years ago
I think the tom and pepper will be ok. The only thing I would do differently(but I'm no expert)is separate the herbs. I don't grow parsley, but I believe it can get pretty large, as can basil. Basil and thyme like full sun. Cilantro is more of a cool weather plant and will bolt in the heat. You may have to do successive plantings over the season to keep harvesting it. Most herbs do better with little to no fertilizer, and well draining soil. HTH
There is a separate forum for herbs with lots of info...

Here is a link that might be useful: Herbs forum
rnewste
16 years ago
craig,

"but it seems like I sit there with the hose until it's muddy on top before anything starts draining from the bottom."

The first rule to learn when Container gardening is to pick the right grow media. Miracle-Gro Soil in not what you should have used. MG Potting MIX is the better grow media. Your watering observation shows why. Soil will compact and eventually starve the plants from getting oxygen. It may be too late, but I would try to work some Perlite or bark particles down into your soil to give it some aeration.

Next year, in your raised bed you won't have to worry about aeration, as the worms and other insects will take care of that chore for you. Different story in Containers, however.

Raybo
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craig311
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the helpful replies!

Raybo - I just went and checked the bag of the "potting soil" I used. It is, in fact, the potting MIX. Sorry for the confusion!
rnewste
16 years ago
Craig,

That is good news! But even with 100% potting mix, you can have aeration issues. In fact, for top down watered containers, many have good results with "diluting" the potting mix so that it makes up only about 20% of the total grow media. My own Combo Mix for SWC applications (where upward wicking is a must) is composed of a 3:2:1 ratio of potting mix, decorative groundcover bark, and perlite.

Again, if you want a really "happy outcome" this Season, try to mix in some small bark particles and / or perlite. You will be very pleased with your first year results in Containers.

Raybo
craig311
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks again Raybo. I will see if I can get some small bark/perlite mixed in. I only planted these 2 days ago. So... can I dig them out, remove some of the potting mix and replace it with the bark fines/perlite? Or am I better off leaving the plants where they are and doing my best to remove/add/mix around them?

In other news... I am heading outside to insert some wicks up through the drainage holes now!
rnewste
16 years ago
craig,

Since you only planted them two days ago and they haven't developed a root system yet, I would dig them out and amend the Mix with Perlite / Bark Fines as you can. Your crop in August will "thank you".

Raybo
craig311
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks again!