Container garden - New at this

19 years ago

Hi All!

This is my second year with having a container garden but I still feel very new and I have some questions:

I planted a few types of tomatoe plants:

Roma, Celebrity, New Girls, Big Boys, Patio Tomatoes

I planted them pretty deep and I hope I didn't ruin them. Does anyone have any tips? I used Miracle Grow Veggie soil, should I also water them with Miracle Grow?

I also planted:

Basil

Haberno Peppers

Zucchini

Eggplant

Parsley

They were also planted with the same soil as the tomatoes, so should I water them with Miracle Grow as well?

They were all transplants - I hope I didn't plant them too deep - is there a rule of thumb? Should I water them right away with regular plain water? Any tips on how to care for these would be very helpful.

Also, as suggested by the guy in the nursery I put rocks on top of the soil with some dried blood to keep the cats in the neighboorhood from using them to go to the bathroom. Last year my veggies didn't do well because of them.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

carol_71
19 years ago
Hi colleen, tomatoes planted deep is no problem, it'll make roots wherever soil touches the stem. Just make sure that *no leave* touches the soil. Parsley planted deep is also no problem. Deep planted Basil might be a problem if it is a weak plant (don't let the stems or leaves touch too moist soil). All three of them should be kept well watered (as long as the excess of water drains well), leaving the soil just moist but not waterlogged. I would use a general purpose organic fertilizer about once a week, if you had to water daily. If weather cools down a bit and you decide to better hold off the water couple of days, then plan the fertilizer for couple of days further than planned.
For the rest of the plants, I prefer to leave someone that knows about them.
good luck
Carol
Violet_Z6
19 years ago
Here is how to transplant... you might review for future endeavors...

Here is a link that might be useful: Transplanting for Success
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Violet_Z6
19 years ago
Not everything should be transplanted deep. Tomatoes going in the ground should not be transplanted deep into the ground in the spring because the soil temperature a few inches below the surface will still be cold which is why it's better to lay the stem horizontally and bury it. The top of the plant will upright itself within a few days. But you don't have to worry so much with a container.

Water when you see the sides of the soil against the pot pull away from the pot. Watering with rain water is best. Next would be sun warmed water.
digdirt2
19 years ago
Hi Colleen - You said you used "Miracle Grow Veggie Soil"? No product by that name so I hope you mean you used Miracle Grow Potting soil - the one for containers - and not the MG Garden Soil? The MG Garden Soil isn't intended for containers (see note on the bag) and has real water-logging/drainage problems when used in containers.

Did you just transplant these or have they been planted for awhile? If just transplanted and it is the Garden Soil they will do much better if transplanted into a potting soil mix. There have been several discussions on the problems of using MG Garden Soil in containers that a search will bring up for you.

Hopefully there is no problem but thought I'd better mention it just in case. Good luck.

Dave

PS: Also be sure to heck out the Container Gardening Forum here if you haven't already. ;)