I've been spending a good deal of my time in the garden. Here are the potato pots I posted about last time. I've already added soil 3 times and I think the next time will bring the soil line right up to the rim of the pots. The amazing rain fall has been a huge benefit and though we've had almost 7 inches of rain in the last 4 to 5 weeks, we are still down about 5 inches for the year to date.
These are the "self-watering" containers that I'm experimenting with. We have spinach, Swiss chard, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots and lettuces all doing wonderfully and giving me extra time and space to get the in-ground garden going with tomatoes, cukes, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. I've still got lots more to put in. So far these containers are working out well. There is a reservoir in the bottom of the pots which you fill with water from time to time. The water is absorbed upwards into the pot and the plants are thriving. I have used a 50/50 mix of organic potting soil and compost to fill the pots. We've been eating the greens and they are as tasty as any I've had that have been grown in the ground. I'm using much less water and it seems a great way to get the early spring garden going before the ground is ready.
While visiting my grand kids in North Carolina this past weekend, I discovered the Western North Carolina Herb Festival and had a lovely hour or so to wander through rows and rows of potted herbs and vegetables and of course came home with more herbs to tuck in here and there. I added Sweet Annie, Meadow sweet, Lobelia, Angelica and more. There were lots of friendly folks with all sorts of growing tips and such.
I've also been doing some tincturing and tonight put together some lemon balm tincture and also plantain. Tomorrow I'll do the cleavers that are covering the ground in the orchard.
The season is just beginning and I'm having a wonderful time! Hope you are too!!
"I have used a 50/50 mix of organic potting soil and compost to fill the pots."
This is a risky planter mix to use with capillary action. Too heavy! There should be no top soil in the mix and no more than 1/2 - 1/3 aged compost. It will likely reduce your productivity and may lead to over watering problems. It is most helpful to us all that you're blogging about your sub-irrigated planter experiences.
Posted by: Greenscaper | May 15, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Hey Greenscaper, thanks for your comment. The potting mix I use is very lite and so far things are going well. The compost is a lovely one made locally just up the road at Panorama Pay Dirt, and is known as "gardener's gold" to us gardeners around here.
Posted by: jzr | May 16, 2009 at 09:18 AM