URBAN HOMESTEADERS WITH SMALL SPACES

maryshomestead.com

URBAN HOMEMAKER'S WITH SMALL SPACES

Mary's Homestead has always wanted to help the urban homesteaders. There is an increasing number of people that want to do gardening because of the high grocery prices. We have decided to help the urban homesteders. You can garden in small spaces such as patios, rooftops,and window boxes. People are now digging up there front lawns to grow a garden because of the economy.

Jerrie and John have a big garden but we also, grow about 40-50 plants in containers and we bring them in the house for the winter. We use a halogen and grow lights in the winter for the containers and we have some fresh produce and herbs all winter. We have experience to help you and we will be glad to do that.

CHART FOR SMALL SPACE GARDENERS

For those who must grow their vegetables in small spaces this chart gives the approximate number of plants a square foot of container space will accommodate. Containers should be at least 8 inches deep for medium sized and small vegetables but a foot to 18 inches deep for vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants or corn. In the case of corn a 4-foot-square space is desirable to provide good cross pollination.

Measurements do not have to be exact and circular containers work as well as square or rectangular ones.

VEGETABLE NO./PLANTS/PER-SQ.FOOT

BEANS 3-4

BEETS 25

BROCCOLI 3

CABBAGE                   2

CHARD, SWISS          9

CORN                           2

CUCUMBER               1

EGGPLANT                 1

LEEKS                          64

LETTUCE(LEAF)       4

MUSKMELON            1

ONIONS                        16(COOKING ONIONS)

ONIONS                         100(GREEN BUNCHING)

PARSLEY                       16

PEAS                                25

PEPPERS                         4

POTAOES                        1

SWEET POTATOES       1

RADISHES                       144

SPINACH                          4

SUMMER SQUASH        1 (BUSH)

WINTER SQUASH           1 (BUSH)

TOMATOES                     1 (REGULAR)

TOMATOES                      2 (DWARF)

TOMATOES 2 (HUSK)ground-cherry

DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO

PLANT CONTAINERS.

BUSH BEANS

Bush beans do well in containers. The dirt should be at least 12 inches deep & 6 inches between the plants.

POLE BEANS

Pole beans also do well in containers. Plant at least 1/2 inch deep, 1-2 gal soil for a plant, & 4--6 inches between plants. They grow 6 to 8 inches tall and they have lots of leaves and they they need to be planted where they will not shade other vegetables. Pole beans take 5 to 6 days for germination.

CUCUMBERS

Cucumbers do well in containers and they are excellent for urban homesteaders. Plant 3 bush cucumber plants in a container 1/2 of a whiskey barrel. You will need at least 3 gal soil per plant, at least 1 foot deep, & plant the plants at least 6 inches apart and plant 1 foot deep. You can also plant them near a wall of the house and put a trellise so the vines will grow up the trellise. Cucumbers need lots of water. They like lots of sunshine and warm weather.

LETTUCE

For containers, plant one plant in a 8 inch pot or 4 in a 12 inch pot. Their shallow roots can be grown only 6-8 inch deep.

We have always grown lettuce in the house in the winter. Bring the pots in the fall and put them by a cool window. They will last 1 to 2 months and then plant chard. Chard is the vegetable that sometimes we have had very good success in the house in the winter. Beets are of the same family and we always have the beet leaves growing inside and they are delicious. To grow swiss chard in a pot plant 1-2 seeds per inch, 1/2 inch deep. Later you will have to thin some of the chard and eat the thinnings! Swiss Chard and Beet Greeens are grown and you cook them the same way.

EGGPLANT

Plant one plant in each 12-inch pot & you will need 3 gal soil. The container dirt should be at least a foot deep. If you want to put more than one plant in a container leave 18 inches between them. We have planted eggplant on a patio and it does very well. Then in the fall we brought it in the house and put it under the grow lights. You can grow lots of eggplant in the house because eggplant is a self-pollinating and does not need insects to help it grow the fruit.

PEPPERS IN CONTAINERS

To grow in a container, put 1 pepper plant in each 12-inch pot , and if you want to grow in a larger container or even a large box , space 18 inches apart, soil at least 1 foot deep, 3 gal soil per plant.

HOT PEPPER PLANTS

You can grow at least one of a small pepper plant in a 8-inch pot if you add at least 1/2 gal soil, 8 inches deep. In a larger container, space plants 6 to 8 inches apart.

CONTAINER GROWING FOR TOMATOES

Tomatoes are great container plants and they will do well on a window sill or in a hanging basket. Cherry tomatoes are good for small containers. Plant them when the seedlings ar 2 inches tall. Plant 1 tomato plant in a container the size of half of a whiskey barrel. You will need 3 to 5 gal of soil per tomato plant and plant it 12 inches deep.

In a larger containers space plants at least 18-24 inches apart. Plant small plants at least 12 inches apart.