With limited space or choosing not to grow in the ground, growing in containers is both rewarding and satisfying. Seasonal fruits, vines, herbs and vegetables can thrive in containers. The best thing is they can be moved around easily and given cover protection from chilling frost and searing heat.
It’s really trendy right now to be purchasing Dwarf Fruit Trees, especially citrus, which grow really well here in the South Burnett. However when growing Fruit Trees in pots it actually doesn’t matter if you purchase Standard sized Trees or Dwarf Trees. The reason being that the roots are naturally restricted in gowth by the edges and size of the pot and so both types will have the same restriction and balance of top growth. Both will be smaller growing, easy to manage and the bonus of being able to reach the top of your fruit tree. Size really only matters when you are choosing to plant into the ground where the root system is not restricted.
When Planting a Fruit Tree in a pot you have the opportunity to think about the “thriller, filler and spiller” technique of planting. You could have a Meiwa Kumquat or a Hickson Mandarin in the centre as your “Thriller”, then bright green curly parsley, baby spinach or carrots as your “Filler” and perhaps lebanese cress, gotu kola or rainbow parsley as your “Spiller” over the edge.
Also consider the pH levels of your plants. You will need to lower the pH of your potting mix if you want to plant acid loving edibles like strawberries and blueberries. An easy way to lower the PH is adding tea leaves or pine needles. Or you can increase your pH level if you are planting lavender, oregano, garlic, onions and chives. Increasing the alkalinity of your soil in this case will give great results and a bountiful harvest. This can be achieved by adding garden lime, wood ash or baking soda; all of these contain calcium and/or magnesium which neutralise acidity. While fresh coffee grounds are slightly acidic, used coffee grounds are closer to pH neutral and won’t significantly change soil pH; however they do make a good addition for their nutrient benefits.
Remember too your edible flowers of borage, calendula, daylilly, dianthus, nasturtium, pansy and viola; even the flowers of society garlic. All these can be added as garnishes for cakes and meals as well as having the important role of providing for your pollinating insects; especially the bees.
Ideally your potting mix should be well drained. Whether you’re growing in elevated broccoli foam boxes, purpose built containers, old wheelbarrows or general pots drainage is essential. If you are using around sixty percent quality potting mix and forty percent compost or cocopith fibre you will have good aeration and moisture retention in your mix. This blend will save you time and water; with mulch helping with the moisture holding capacity.
Growing a Harvest Garden in Pots can be a very rewarding experience; sometimes though there will be lovely critters like grasshoppers that might enjoy your vegetables too.
An easy organic soution is to put about a tablespoon of mollasses or golden syrup with a cup of water into a spray bottle. Grasshoppers hate sticky feet and bonus, you are feeding your plants when the plants’ leaves are washed with rain or watering. With the white cabbage moths, remember that they are territorial and will not lay eggs if they think another moth has occupied the space. You can mimic this occupation by cutting out some white plastic from an icecream container into a small moth shape. Suspend a few on sticks just above your winter vegetables and problem solved.
When thinking about your food plants, think about suitable containers, potting mix and cocopith, fertiliser, water, light, temperature and attracting the pollinating insects. With some good morning sun, manageable containers which can be clustered creatively together and some good wholesome effort you will enjoy your harvest for many years and have some for sharing.
“Happy Gardening” everyone. Kind regards, Romaine