As one could expect, the larger the containers are the more success you will have. Even a head of lettuce will grow better and larger in open ground. Nevertheless, something is always better than nothing, no? I use 5-gallon plastic buckets to supplement my garden. But I use them exclusively for peppers. Peppers seem to manage quite well in that size container. I've done herbs. I've done turnips. But anything else that's supposed to grow BIG will need a big container. Last year I successfuly grew a couple of cabbages in those huge containers that are used to transport shrubs and trees. This year I'm growing patio tomatoes in the same containers, and they are doing well. The bottom line is BIG plants need big containers. I've never tried it, but I imagine that burying the containers would keep them cooler, hence less evaporation.

I'm one who believes that marigolds deter aphids so I place a number of potted marigolds around my garden in early spring. It is my experience and belief that if the aphids are checked early they stop being a problem later on.

I think using containers when you have open soil is a waste of money and efforts (they dry faster).
Just plant in open soil, fertilize as they grow (but you would still need to do it in containers), mulch with grass cuttings and water well (grass cuttings will slowly decompost as you water and give your plants food).

I grew some carrots from earlier this year in 21 oz. cups. They didn't get very big but they did taste like a normal carrot. (I ate them about 1 month ago). (I tryed planting some more carrots about 1 month ago but they are flowering now with little to no carrot part).

When you say your soil is poor, what do you mean? Poor as in little nutrients or poor as in hard as a rock and compacted like cement?

Do you *want* to grow in containers? ;-)

I really love container growing and find it solves a lot of in ground growing problems. It is more work with watering and fertilizing, but much less work with weeds and containers can be located close to the kitchen door which means you keep a better eye on them and spot problems quickly.

Container sizes largely depend on how much of something you want. For lettuce I often use trough shaped containers that are 6" wide, 6" deep and 30" long. For varieties that I want to grow to full size I plant every 6" and for 'cut and come again' types I just scatter seed and 'mow' them when I want some.

Carrots can be planted 2" apart so just do the math to figure how large (surface area) you want the container to be. The critical part for carrots is depth. You generally want *at least* 12" of depth to get straight carrots. A rubbermaid tote of sufficient depth with a couple drainage holes will work well.

Broccoli and Cauliflower I would use a 5 gallon bucket for each plant although I have not grown either in a container so this is just my speculation.

You might like to browse through some of the posts on the Container Gardening Forum to get some ideas on what to use for growing medium, watering and fertilizing.

Thanks for all the input! justaguy, I would rather not have to use containers since they seem to dry out so much faster and require more attention. I have not had my soil tested for nutritional value, but my two crops of corn did not do very well although most plants produced edible ears. The ground is pretty hard, but it could be much worse. I have a compost pile going (slowly though so I must not have the right combo of greens and browns), but it won't be ready for fall usage and even if it was, I don't have enough material to amend all the ground I would like to plant in for the fall. So from the advice I've recieved so far, it looks like most seeds are going into the ground although I might try a few in containers to see how they do. Thanks again for all the advice!

WestTexan,

One way to get the best of both worlds is to use a container with the bottom cut off and buried a few inches (or more) into the ground.

This allows you to fill the container with an ideal growing media, allows roots to grow into the ground if they wish, the media will wick water from the ground reducing watering frequency a bit and you can use 'heavier' products like compost and various soils without worrying about drainage issues they would present in a normal container situation.

You can think of them as mini raised beds.

I've successfully grown broccoli & cauliflower in 4 gallon square topped buckets (from "whole salted eggs" but same type as cat litter buckets) about 9 x 9 x 13" deep. Heads were about 6" diameter. I use drip fertigation. Also romaine lettuce, 4 per bucket. That's also the typical bucket I use for peppers & tomatoes. Just don't forget the drain holes.

{{gwi:87505}}

Mark