Have you ver wondered just HOW MANY plants to plan on for various containers? Came across this information and thought it was worthy to pass on: Containers: Round, square or hanging baskets: 10"-12": 4-5 plants 14"-16": 8-9 plants 18"-20": 10-11 plants 22"-24": 12-13 plants 26"-28": 14-15 plants 30"-32": 16-18 plants 30"x8" window box: 9 plants 36"x9" trough: 11 plants Containers for vegetables: Beans: 5 gallon window box Cukes: 1 plant per 1-gallon pot, or 2-3 per 5-gallon Spinach: 2 gallon pot, or a 5-gallon window box Swiss Chard: 1/2 gallon pot, or a 5-gallon window box Summer Squash and Zucchini: 1 plant per 2-gallon pot Winter Squash: 1 plant per 3 gallon pot Eggplant: 1 plant per 3 gallon pot Garlic: 1 clove per 8" pot Tomatoes: 1 plant per 5-gallon pot A 5-gallon container is usually 12"x12". If black nursury pots are used, size in usually on the bottom, is marked "2,3 or 5", indicates soil holding capacity. With container gardening, add special soil boosters each year to replenish what's been leeched out during watering process and over winter months. A good container soil is one with a mixture of potting soil, wood chips or sawdust (NO cedar or black walnut!), crushed leaves, peat moss (sphagnum or coir), vermiculite, perlite and compost plus a timed-released fertilizer (alfalfa meal, bone meal, kelp meal or other natural nutrients may be used instead). Happy growing!
Good advice weeds n seeds! I usually just keep adding plants until there isn't any room left My planters look full, but need constant watering.
I am thinking of trying courgettes/zucchinni this year do they need shaking like tomatoes do as I will be growing them in my father in laws greenhouse/ cold frame ( it is not heated) maybe I'll have room for two plants with tomatoes and peppers but certainly no more, thanks this information on the pot sizes couldn't have bee better timed
Thank you all for such neat replies! Have been hunting for this information a LONG time, hope it helps others as well. Playtime: On your corguettes question: some varieties can get BIG and overpowering in size, you might want to look into a type specifically for container growing that's smaller in stature. They need HEAT to germinate well: may I advise starting them in 4 inch peat pots, in the house, 5-6 weeks before transplanting into a container in the greenhouse? The squashes don't like their roots disturbed, the peat pots would eliminate this as you plant pot and all! Roots, by then, should be sticking out the bottom, carefully cut the bottoms in a + pattern and gently spread apart, and DO cut off any top-of-pot material so's it's flush with pot soil and plant to that depth. Leaving peat pot "tops" exposed causes evaporation (wicking) of water away from plant, hence quick dry-out that can lead to crop failure! Also, when planting seeds, DO NOT lay them FLAT but plant on their sides for best results. GOOD LUCK and DO keep us posted!
Good info there, wns, thank you for posting. I'm not a big container planter, but information is always good to have.
