Place black plastic over the planting bed to warm the soil. Cut an X in the plastic to set tomato seedlings in the soil. Set out tomato seedlings in midafternoon after the air and soil have warmed for the day. Seedlings set out on cold mornings are more susceptible to chilling injury—their metabolic reserves have
What vegetables should you grow in your garden? There are three basic guidelines to follow: Plant the vegetables that you and your family like to eat; plant vegetables that are suited to your region, to the time of year, and to the space and time you can devote to gardening; decide if you are going
Cool days and nights can be a problem for tender warm-season crops such peppers, melons, and eggplants. Temperatures in the 40sF won’t kill these plants but their growth will be stunted. Wait to plant out very tender crops until the lowest temperatures do not fall below 50°F/10°C—55 or 60 degrees is even better. If you
Cloche is a cover to protect plants from bad weather–made of glass or plastic. Cloches and hot caps can be used to protect individual plants or a few plants at a time. A cloche or hot cap used at the beginning or end of the growing season when there are big swings in the daytime
Chop plant debris to turn under or compost Clean the garden of plant debris and decaying vegetable matter at the end of the season to be sure insect pests and plant diseases do not overwinter in your garden. At the end of harvest or after the first hard frost, clean the garden and compost plant
Containers for container gardens can be terracotta, wood, plastic, or metal. Choose the style that best fits your patio, balcony, or roof terrace. The larger the container the less watering and feeding will be needed since larger containers can hold more soil or potting medium, moisture, and nutrients required by plants. Small pots and window
Container and growing pots come in a variety of sizes. In the United States nursery and garden centers sell pots by the size in inches and gallons. In the United Kingdom, Europe, and most of the rest of the world containers are sold by the size in centimeters and liters. There are few standards when
Pots and containers for growing vegetables and herbs on patios, balconies and roof tops must be large enough for the crop to mature. A container must hold the soil and moisture that deliver nutrients to growing plants allowing them to leaf, flower, and fruit. The pot must be large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots.
To grow vegetables and fruits on a windy balcony or roof terrace choose low-lying crops. Choose a large container but keep the soil level fairly low so that the container provides some protection to the plant. Add a thick layer of mulch—compost, planting mix, or straw—to protect the soil against the drying effects of wind.
A balcony or rooftop garden has advantages and challenges. Enough sun is commonly not a problem for rooftops but might be for balconies. Snails and slugs and many other creeping insects or pests are usually not a problem. But wind and accessible water can pose challenges. Here are basic and important considerations when considering balcony or rooftop
