That’s the Trick
You need to have all this land. Say it with me: potty mix, worm casting, compost. Keep it flowing, don’t stop, keep it flowing. I was like, “What the heck is that?” Oh, screaming. So that’s the trick!
Welcome to Playing in Dirt
Hello everyone, welcome to Playing in Dirt. My name is Flur. I am a small-space container gardener in Zone 8. I’m going to share with you the tips and tricks of growing tons of food, not only in a small space but in containers.
That Is Further from the Truth
When I first started my gardening journey, I used to think that you need this huge yard. You need to have all this land so you can have gardening in small backyard your row of tomatoes and your row of this and your row of that, but that is further from the truth.
Secrets of What It Takes to Grow Tons of Food in Containers
This is literally my preferred way of growing food: in containers. If you’re one of those people that are waiting to have a big yard, please don’t. The information that I’m going to be sharing with you in this video, the secrets (I don’t know if they’re considered secrets, but I don’t see it talked about often in other gardening channels), so I’m going to share with you guys some secrets of what it takes to grow tons of food in containers.
Focus on Growing High-Yielding Crops
We’re just going to jump right into it, y’all, because I’m excited. The number one secret to growing tons and tons of food, first secret, I consider that to be the best. Well, no, no, no, that will probably be number two, but we’ll start that at number one: focus on growing high-yielding crops.
The More You Harvest from These Crops, the More They Produce
We’re in spring right now, and I’m growing mustard greens, kale, collards. I’m growing, and I’m growing lettuce. The reason why I consider them to be high-yielding is because you can get multiple harvests from them. The more you harvest from these crops, the more they produce.
They Keep Giving
My two favorite cool-weather crops are the collard greens and my kale. Kale is one growing collard greens in containers of those crops that just keeps giving, growing kale in containers. They keep giving, and they keep giving, and they keep giving.
My Kale Teenager Plants
These are my kale teenager plants. They haven’t fully matured. They’ve been going through all the changes of the weather. The weather hasn’t been ideal, but this is one of my growing mustard greens in containers favorite crops to grow. And then it’s my first time growing mustard greens.
Don’t Let Me Get into the Summer Crop
The same thing with mustard greens: the more you harvest from those types of crops, the more they produce. Don’t let me get into the summer crop. You’re going to get a lot of harvest when you grow crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers.
I Grew Cucumbers Last Season
Oh my gosh, I grew cucumbers last season. It was my first time. I was growing so much cucumbers, I didn’t need to buy any high-yield crops, cucumbers the entire summer, because I was growing them in one container. The top-producing summer crops are going to be your tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers. I’m sure there are other crops.
Speaking of Tomatoes
Speaking of tomatoes, there are varieties that produce thousands of tomatoes in just one plant. One of the varieties that I’m going to try out, they’re like really small cherry tomatoes. I don’t know how well it’s going to do, but it’s supposed to be an indeterminate tomato, meaning it grows all season.
Multiple Harvests from Them
And for your fall and spring vegetables: collard greens, mustard greens, kale, Swiss chard, you’re going to have multiple harvests from them. So that is one secret of growing tons of food in containers.
The Second Secret Is the Container Size
The second secret is the container size, second secret. Y’all, if you have a small container, then you’re going to get a small plant. The container size, this is the number one mistake. Small pots is going to lead to more stressed plants, because some of these plants have roots that go deep.
Their Roots Need to Spread
Their roots need to spread so the plant can grow properly, so you need to be putting them in containers that are going to accommodate their roots. And I think that is one of the biggest mistakes, especially if you’re new to gardening, that gardeners make.
The Container Size Does Matter
I know when I first started my journey, I didn’t really give much thought to the container size. I wasn’t getting the harvest, I wasn’t getting the results that I was looking for, and then I started looking into it and I realized that the container size does matter.
Plant That High-Yielding Plant
If you have a small yard, you don’t have that much space, let’s say you cannot fit multiple containers, you can just start with one and plant that high-yielding plant. So if it’s summer, then grow that tomato or any high-producing vegetable you prefer.
A 45-Gallon Pot
This right here is a 45-gallon container. In this container, I’m growing my fruiting vegetables, such as my cucumbers. This is the container that I grow my Sugar Baby watermelon. I did not think that it was possible to grow what size container for tomatoes watermelon in containers.
A 15-Gallon Grow Bag
So this is a 15-gallon grow bag, and you’re going to need this size grow bag for your tomatoes. Your tomatoes are going to need a lot of room to grow, especially the indeterminate tomatoes, the ones that get to be 5, 6, 7ft tall.
Most of My Containers Are a Minimum of 10 Gallons
I purchased these from Amazon. These are the 15-gallon grow bags. This is where I’m going to grow all of my tomato plants, y’all. Your containers or your grow bags need to be the right size. Most of my containers are a minimum of 10 gallons, so between 10 and 25 gallons.
Depending on the Variety That You’re Growing
Tomatoes need between 10 to 15 gallons of growing space in order to grow properly, depending on the variety that you’re growing. If you’re growing peppers, they pot size for pepper plants need between 5 to 10 gallons of grow space, depending, again, depending on the variety, and the same goes with pot size for cucumber plants.
Cucumbers Need a Minimum of 5 to 10 Gallons
Cucumbers, cucumbers need a minimum of 5 to 10 gallons, depending on the variety that you’re growing. The main message that I’m trying to drive is we can’t be trying to grow, like, a large cherry tomato in this pot size. I think this is like a 2-gallon pot size.
The Plant Is Going to Be Stalled
Come on, y’all. The plant is going to be stalled. It doesn’t have the room to grow in this little pot. That’s not going to work. So make sure that you guys are doing your research to find out the right size container or grow bag to have to grow your… Do you guys get the theme?
I Am Going to Be Bold in My Small Container Garden
I actually just recently bought this, y’all. This season, I am going to be bold in my small container garden, okay? Third secret: it’s going to be my second year growing. I know more than I did when I first started, so this leads me to my next secret: you need to be growing vertical.
You Guys Need to Be Growing Vertical Instead of Outward
This means you’re going to have to get a trellis.Aim upward rather than sideways, especially where room is tight. Climbing crops depend on a trellis or sturdy support to rise and grow well, like cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, and peas. .
Some Folks Might Think I’m Crazy
Some people might think I’m crazy. That’s okay, that’s okay. If I’m growing more food, then mission accomplished. That is my goal. I am being bold this season. You guys need to be bold as well.
The Other Crop That Yields a Lot of Food
Pole beans, that’s the other crop that yields a lot of food. I haven’t grown pole beans yet. I’ve grown bush beans. While bush beans are okay, I find that you have to grow tons of them in order to get a substantial harvest that can make one meal.
I Want to Grow a Bean Heaven
I want to grow a bean heaven. One of the beans that I’m going to be trying to grow this season is pole beans, yard-long beans. I don’t know if it’s the same. This is why I bought this trellis. I’m going to be putting this in one of my 18-gallon containers.
This Pink Container Is an 18-Gallon
Let me show you guys how it’s going to look. I don’t know if you guys can see this container. This pink container is an 18-gallon, and this is where I am planning on growing the long yard-long beans.
Let Me Dedicate This One Container
It’s going to be my first time growing this type of crop, so I was like, “You know what? Let me dedicate this one container,” and I think I’m only going to grow one plant. I can probably comfortably fit two plants, but we’re just going to grow one, and I’m going to take this, y’all, and I’m going to put it, ’cause it’s the right width.
Think Outside the Box
I’m just going to stick it inside of this container. And there you go. That way, when my beans start to climb, it can have all of this trellis to climb up and produce more food. We’re gonna have to think outside the box if we want to grow a lot of DIY trellis for climbing plants food.
A DIY Trellis That I Created
This, y’all, is a DIY trellis that I created when I first started gardening. I went to Home Depot and I bought these CV, CVP, PC, PCV, CVP… I, I don’t know, but these pipes I bought. The pipe, I built this trellis.
More Room to Go Up
I added two wood that I got from Home Depot when I realized that my cucumber plant, it wanted more room to go up. I thought this was going to be enough laughter for the cucumber plant, but it was reaching, it was trying to reach and grow, so that’s where I went ahead and bought this PCV pipe.
The Plants Had More Room to Spread
I don’t even know if I’m saying it correctly. I added some twine to make the netting, and then I attached it on top of this so that way my cucumber plants had more room to grow. I know that looks ghetto, but that’s okay. The plants had more room to spread.
You’re Going to Need Good Soil
The next secret to growing tons of food in, fourth secret, containers is you’re going to need good soil. Container plants have access to only the soil that you give them, so if the soil is poor, then they don’t have anywhere else to go for nutrients. If you’re growing in-ground, then they have access to more nutrients as opposed to growing in containers.
Get Yourself Some Good-Quality Potting Mix
Get yourself some good-quality potting mix. It doesn’t have to be this brand in particular; it could be any brand of your choosing. And also compost. I started my compost last year, so I had compost for my spring garden, which I’m so excited about, and I am continuously making compost.
You Can Buy Compost
If you guys are just starting out and you don’t have compost, you can buy compost. The one that I use, you don’t have to use it, but the one that I used when I first started my journey and that I still use right now is Black House.
I Have a Big Bag of Worm Casting
Get yourself some good-quality compost, good-quality potting mix, and also worm casting. I have a big bag of worm casting. This is going to last me all year. I use a lot of worm casting. Worm casting is what’s going to add nutrients to your snorts soil. I think it’s worm poop, and plants love it.
Sometimes I Add Perlite
Sometimes I add perlite. It’s not really necessary, it’s not really needed, but, you know, if you have some perlite on hand, this is really good because it helps to draw out moisture. It helps for the soil to breathe, so you can add a little bit of perlite to your soil.
You’re Going to Have to Feed Your Plant
Fifth secret: the next secret to growing tons of food in containers is you’re going to have to feed your plant. Containers lose nutrients faster than ground gardens when you’re gardening in containers. When you’re gardening in grow bags, you’re going to have to feed your plants often.
This Is My Weekly Snack
This is my weekly snack. Whenever I water my plants every Saturday or Sunday, I’m giving them some nitrogen. This is every week, y’all, religiously. It doesn’t matter which plant it is, I give them nitrogen whenever I water them.
It Washes Out the Nutrients
When you’re growing in containers, heavy rain, all of that, it washes out the nutrients. You’re going to have to keep adding nutrients back to the soil. The nutrients, they stay in the ground longer if you are growing in-ground than if you are growing in containers.
Slow Fertilizers Once a Month
We have fertilizers that are slow-release; these are going to be your dry fertilizers. And then we have fertilizers that are fast-release, which are your liquid fertilizer. So liquid fertilizer every 1 to two weeks, slow fertilizers once a month.
I Was Not Feeding My Plants at All
When I first started my journey, y’all, I was not feeding my plants at all, ’cause I didn’t know anything about… I mean, I knew they were fertilizers, but I didn’t know how often to feed, so I wasn’t feeding them at all, and I was also afraid of feeding them too much.
There Is Such a Thing
There is such a thing, don’t get me wrong, there is such a thing, but in my case, I wasn’t feeding them at all. I remember I grew cabbages. They were transplants that I bought from Home Depot, and I never fed them.
Banana Peel Water
Every now and then I would make banana peel water and give it to them, but I never gave them any fertilizer, and those cabbages remained tiny. They never grew, they never thrived. I was happy for my harvest nevertheless.
My Little Bitty Ornamental Cabbage
I got to harvest my, my little bitty ornamental cabbage is what it looked like. But I learned my lesson. I learned now that they need to be fed. Some plants are heavy feeders: tomatoes, cabbages being one of them, and mustard greens.
They Need Regular Feeding
These are all heavy feeders, and they need to be fed regularly, so do not skip that step like I did. Okay. The next secret to growing tons of food in containers is succession planting, sixth secret.
Succession Planting
When I first heard that word, I was like, “What the heck is that? Succession planting, what is that?” I did a little bit of digging. I’m like, “Oh!” Screaming. So that’s the trick. In layman’s terms, growing plants in rotation.
Start Yourself a New Seedling Indoors
For example, if you’re growing collards, as the plant is approaching its end stage, maybe it has another month left before that plant is done, start yourself a new seedling indoors. Once that mature plant is done, you can be planting other seedlings in its place.
Succession Planting Is Going to Be Your Best Friend
You’re not planting everything all at once and then once you harvest everything, that’s it. No, you need to be keeping that momentum. That’s the secret: succession planting. I hope you guys understand, but succession planting is going to be your best friend.
You Guys Need to Be Harvesting Often
Keep it flowing, don’t stop, keep dropping new seeds. My last secret, y’all, is you guys need to be harvesting often. We’re not growing gardens, we’re not growing plants just to look at them. We need to be harvesting the plants, because that’s what’s going to help them grow.
I Was That Person
The more you harvest, the more it gives. I was that person. I just left my plants in the containers, and I just looked at them and admired them, and I wasn’t harvesting them. If I was that person, I know I’m not the only one.
It Looks So Pretty Like That
Some people, they’re out here with their garden, the plant is just bursting, wanting to be harvested, but they’re like, “Oh, it looks so pretty like that. Oh my gosh, look at my garden, looks so pretty. So I’m not going to touch it, ’cause the garden looks so pretty.”
You Need to Be Harvesting Your Garden
No, you need to be harvesting your garden. The more you harvest, the more food you get from your plants, so make sure you guys are harvesting your plants. Okay. Some of the crops that enjoy harvesting is collards, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, basically just about every plant that encourages growth.
Don’t Be Afraid to Harvest
Don’t be afraid to harvest your, your vegetables. Don’t just allow it to sit there and look pretty like, “Oh, I grew this. Okay, let me admire it, let me take a picture of it.”
The Last Bonus Tip
Okay, the last bonus tip that I want to share with you guys is this right here that’s coming, that’s approaching us: it’s sunlight. Your plants need sunlight. You cannot try to grow food in a shaded area. It’s just not going to work.
They Need More Sun
6 to 8 hours of sunlight for most plants, that is non-negotiable. Plants in containers, they need more sun, believe it or not. They need more sun because they’re going to grow faster. That’s what gives them the energy to grow, so make sure that you are gardening in a space that’s going to receive a sufficient amount of sunlight so that you can have a thriving garden.
I Have a Monthly Planting Guide
I have a monthly planting guide. It comes with a fertilizing coach so you know exactly how frequently to fertilize your plants, depending on the type of crop that you’re growing, the monthly planting guide so you can succession plant every single month.
A Container Size Cheat Sheet
You know what to start indoors, what you can direct sow every single month, a container size cheat sheet so you know exactly what size containers, depending on the crop that you’re growing, and it also comes with a companion planting chart so that you know what grows well alongside each other.
I’m a Goofball
I’m going to link it down below. I hope you guys found this video helpful. I did enjoy making it, because, y’all, I’m a goofball. When I first started making videos on YouTube, I was so afraid to show my personality, and this is who I am, and I hid that for a while.
Go Out There, Start Your Gardens
I was afraid of being in front of a camera, showing my face. I enjoy sharing what I’m learning in my journey. Thank you so much for being here. Go out there, start your gardens. I want to see big, small gardens this year.
Thank You So Much for Watching
Don’t forget to check out my previous video, y’all. Thank you so much for watching. Make sure you hit the like and subscribe button, and I will see you all in the next.
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