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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, February, 2005 - Page Water needs are generally proportional to the size of the 12 What do you know about indoor gardening? Pollination. Be aware that indoor gardening can create pollination problems. Toma- toes set fruit best if the flow- ers are vibrated when they by Dan Drost,Utah State University Extension Vegetable Specialist Growing vegetables in containers can be both fun and challenging. Surprisingly, Some cucumber varieties most vegetables do very well in containers, but it is important to pay attention to light, temperature, soil media, root- may need to be physically cross pollinated since the plants produce separate male and female flowers on the plant. ing space, plant selection, watering, feeding and pests. Most gardeners grow plants in containers if they do not Potting mix. Purchase a potting mix that drains well enough to avoid root rot but also holds enough moisture to supply the plants water needs. If you prefer to use garden soil, it must be sterilized. Once free of soil pathogens, it will to be mixed with sand or organic matter or peat moss, then tested for pH. Homemade mixtures tend to be heavy when wet. There are have enough space for a regular garden. Plants in containers can be grown indoors, on a patio, deck, terrace or balcony. They can be grown in window boxes, walkways, hanging baskets or other places that receive proper light. Consider the following information for successful container gardening. good soilless cial potting mixes that work very well and are not expen- - Lighting. Adequate lightcritical. Generally it is is ing recommended that vegetables get a minimum of six hours of full sunlight. This is not a problem during the summer, but when growing them indoors in the winter, supplemental light is needed. Purchase and use grow lights, especially for vegetables that produce fruit, such as tomatoes. Temperature regulation. Tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables require temperatures near 80 F during the day and 65 F at night. This ensures good fruit set. These temperatures are warmer than most home settings. At cooler temperatures, plants grow less vigorously and fruit size and number is compromised. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce grow Container size. The small- est pot size to consider for in- door gardening is eight inches diameter and eight inches deep. This works well for let- radishes, onions or herbs, large plant, such as a to- inato or cucumber, will require a much larger container to allow for ample root development. Make sure the container has sufficient drainage holes to avoid root rot. Large containers to consider are half barrels, tubs, con- structed wooden boxes or any other material that will hold the soil. Remember to consider the size and weight of the pot. This becomes important if you intend to start your plants indoors and then want to move the container so excess water does not ruin carpets or wood floors. Seeds or transplants. You can start your pots using ther seeds or transplants. ei-ope- n. When using seeds, overplant the pots and thin later to get the desired number of plants per container. Be sure to allow plenty of space so the plant can grow without crowding. If you want to use transplants, either grow them or wait until the local nursery or garden center begins to stock them. Sometimes it is easier to start new plants in late mer for your fall indoors etable garden, Water. Proper watering is critical for successful container y gardening. It is easy to water and cause root rot. At the same time, if you leave for a few days, plants can wilt verely or die. It is difficult to recommend water quantity and frequency, A good rule of thumb is to ap-i- n ply water when the soil is dry about one inch below the dia surface. In the heat of sum-mer it may be necessary to water more than once a day. sum-nee- d veg-pumic- e, watering, container plants need to be fertilized regularly with a complete fertilizer mix. Since there are virtually no nutrients in soilless mixes, be sure the fertilizer you choose has all the essential nutrients needed for growth. Most container gardeners use a liquid fertilizer at a quarter to half strength every time they water. Be sure to follow the directions on the fertilizer package to ensure the plant gets necessary nutrients for proper growth. Pests and disease. Aphids, fungus gnats, white flies and plant diseases can be a problem in containers. If you start with disease and insect-fre- e plants, you are less likely to problem if you dont water carefully. Plant height and growth habit. When selecting veg- etables to grow, remember to consider plant height and growth habit. Tomatoes and cucumbers will need support and can grow very large. Look for plants with a compact growth habit and those that mature rapidly. While there is a lot to consider when gardening in containers, the reward is the freshest of vegetables, even during the winter. Containers also lend themselves to smaller gardens and patios, thus allowing food production in urban settings. over-man- se-siv- e. me-tuc- e, A i3r. Suess & 4H Join us on Wednesday, March 2 as we celebrate the Birthday of Dr. Suess them outdoors. Remember also that plants can be moved better at cooler temperatures and are generally easier to back in the house in the fall. Be sure to place a dish under grow. Open T uesday tkru Saturday commer- - plants. Fertilizer. In addition to have pest problems. Since containers are isolated from each other, the spread of these problems is also minimized. Diseases can become a 4-- 3 O to 930 pm LAMPLIGHT 4 j Drop by any time between 6 and 8 and hear a story or two written by Dr. Suess. Booths will be set up for you to browse to give information about different 4H projects and ideas for projects you can do at home. A live presentation of a Dr. Suess classic will be at 7 pm. The event will be set up fair style, and people can come and go as they please. Sponsored by Moniirello 4H Teen Couneil, USU Extension. 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