Show Supplement to The Richfield ReaperTleaper Extra March 16 1994 7--S Containers Replace Large Garden Spot Bv Duane Hatch CSC EXTENSION SERVICE A large expansive garden spot is not required for food produc- tion For those short on land some containers a soil mixture seeds sunshine water and a little time can supply fresh produce over a long period of time Containers provide an excellent wav to raise vegetables in limited space They are easy to maintain and have some advantages over conventional gardening but there are some special problems that accompany the advantages Container soil warms up and dries out faster than the ground in the spring giving gardeners a head start on early planting But as the season progresses this rapid drainage and drying means the gardener must water more thoroughly more often Also since the plant roots in the container are above ground they must be protected from extreme cold and heat The container must be able to withstand w atering and drying out for a w hole season be able to hold moisture long enough to provide plant needs and drain quickly to keep roots from becoming water logged Preparing the container Containers should always have drainage holes in the sides near the bottom but not in the bottom Drill four or more holes for drainage of w ater When filling the containers with container mix (recipe fol‘i-inc- h lows) place a piece of broken clay pot or wire ball over the drainage hole so excess water can seep through This prevents the soil mix from compacting around the hole and stopping drainage Containers may consist of just about anything: wooden boxes constructed of scrap lumber coffee cans clay pots plastic buckcans old tires ceets gallon-sizment blocks barrels or hanging baskets However all must be at least 9 inches deep If built of wood redwood or cedar is more rot resistant Pine or Douglas Fir may be substituted if treated with copper napthenate Do not use creosote or penta Cleats under wood boxes and feet on clay pots permit free drainage increase air circulation prevent decay and discourage pests such as slugs and snails e Container mix: Special mixes mostly made without soil may be purchased If they are high in organic matter they tend to be too soggy Mix kfi to Vs their volume with sand or perlite to provide drainage An excellent container medium may be prepared from a 1:1:1 ratio of loamy soil sand or vermicu-lit- e which is mixed with peat moss or other organic material Add to this a complete slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote which may be purchased at any local garden supply store This mix keeps the soil light promotes root growth and drainage Prepare the container: Scrub all containers well to remove fungus spores and insect eggs Then if they are made of porous material such as clay wood or cement soak them well before filling with damp soil mix A thorough soaking of a container prevents it from pulling water away from the soil Dampen container mix thoroughly before placing it in the container to ensure good filling and proper moisture content throughout the mix When filling the container w ith damp soil mix never fill completely to the top Allow a lip betw een the top of the container and the soil level for watering Watering: Container soil dries out and heats up more rapidly than garden plot soil because there is not subsoil from which to draw moisture It is necessary to check soil often for moisture and when the soil becomes dry to a depth of 2 inch it is time to water During early grow th plants w ill not need as much water as when they are larger Tow ard it may become necessary to water every other day every day or even twice a day depending on the porosity of soil the particular crop and amount of sunlight Water thoroughly and slow ly A hard fast stream of water aimed at the container only knocks soil away from top feeder roots plus it compacts and crusts the soil mid-summ- surface Use a slow even stream of water Watch for it to seep out the bottom Water in the early morning so that leaves are noi wet at night when temperatures drop and mildew and disease organisms flourish If plants wilt temporarily during the heat of the day a spray of water can be beneficial Fertilizers: a slow 4 A release fertilizer such as Osmocote mixed into the growing medium may be enough to last the grow mg season Or apply a complete soluble fertilizer (one with nitrogen phosphorous and potash) according to the label directions about even-weeor two Pale green or yellow color may indicate a need for more frequent applications of the fertilizer solution Dry fertilizers are not as satisfactory as liquid or slow release They are harder to apply correctly and have a tendency to burn the plants if placed too close to the stem and not watered properly Fish emulsions blood and bone meal or cottonseed meal may be substituted for the commercial fertilizers listed above Manures or composts are good sources of organic matter to keep the soil mix light but may need to be sup- plemented by fertilizers New SuperSteer FWD Revolutionary turning performance Now you can get row-cro- p maneuverability with a big horsepower tractor The optional SuperSteer' HCD on the new Ford 70 Senes GENESIS' tractor reduces turnaround diameter up to 40 It means smaller headlands faster turns more productivity Depending on tread setting you get a turnaround diameter as small as fifteen feet with any size tire Programmable Upshift Downshift feature makes turning easy horsepower GENESIS' engines have Constant Power PIUS' performance up to V) PTO torque nse and incredible lugging piwer Ultimate operator comfort The GENESIS' cab interior is quiet clean and rugged Visibility second to none And the Sidewinder' movable console puts total tractor control at your fingertips Wind protection: When the vegetables in containers gain size and leaf area they may be bent or tipped over by winds Some type of screening or supor port should be provided choose a protected location Winds that whip 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