Urban & Small Space Gardens 2010 - Container, Balcony or Patio - Page 5

[frugalmama]

I'm just starting with container gardening for veggies mostly - I'm in South Texas. I've not gardened since I was a small child, and I've forgotten most of what I knew then.

I'd like to grow:

Watermelon
Cauliflower
broccoli
carrots
parsnips
beets
rutabagas
tomatoes
some salad greens {anything but iceberg lettuce}
squash {yellow, zucchini}
cucumbers
red, green, and yellow bell peppers
onions
pumpkins
strawberries
onions

Can anyone recommend containers to use for these? I'm trying to do it on the super cheap plan since money is very tight and I'm gardening to try and stretch our food budget. I have a few gallon ice cream buckets, and I'm going to try to get a kiddie pool or two in our brush pickup which is in a few weeks. I only have a small space {maybe 4ft by 6ft} in the backyard that gets sun, the rest is all shaded by trees.

[Indigo73]

The pool is a good idea for shallow veggies (lettuce, spinach, herbs).

I use 5 gallon paint buckets, that I pick up at Home Depot for less than $3. I know you can sometimes but 2-5 gallon buckets from bakeries.

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

Can anyone recommend containers to use for these? I'm trying to do it on the super cheap plan since money is very tight and I'm gardening to try and stretch our food budget. I have a few gallon ice cream buckets, and I'm going to try to get a kiddie pool or two in our brush pickup which is in a few weeks. I only have a small space {maybe 4ft by 6ft} in the backyard that gets sun, the rest is all shaded by trees.

For containers, have you scoped out craigslist or freecycle? I'd imagine that plastic planters would turn up occasionally on there... especially the not so pretty, plain black models like I use If all else fails though.. for bigger/deeper rooted things like tomatoes, squash etc, you could probably get a couple of good sized ugly black pots (think what nurseries sell their shrubs in) for a couple of bucks and use freebies or your wading pool idea for the majority.

[amandajean191]

subbing!

This is my first year of container gardening and I'm loving it!! Working out the kinks..and will need to find this thread again for sure!

[Brown Lioness]

Bump!

Come onnnnnn, everyone, i wanna get in on the fun too!

Im BRAND spanking new to gardening, let alone container/urban gardening and I need all the help I can get!

Ive been researching and reading like a mad woman (i've been burrowing through the older urban gardening threads on here and i have "You Grow Girl" and "McGee & Stuckey's The Bountiful Container" on reserve at the library) and im SOOOO excited to get started.

Im located in Austin, TX which i think means im in Zone 8 (i think) and i have a west facing balcony that right now gets partial sun in the afternoon til dusk. I also have hooks that apparently have been installed for hanging pots as well!

I dont have lots of money to start with and i will only be growing edibles (veggies, herbs, fruit). Im really hoping to find some free or low cost containers from the local farmer's markets, restuarants, or delis, but if not, any other ideas on where to get food grade plastic buckets?

Im so excited, I cant wait to get started, im talkin pictures and everything! lol

[prescottchels]

I hit the mother load when I went around to nearly every restaurant in my town asking if any of their food comes in 5 gal buckets, when I landed at Blimpies. They get dill pickle chips in 5 gal buckets. The owner calls me when he's got 2-4 buckets saved up and I stop by to pick them up. I also discovered that the asian food restaurants are a good outlet, as many of them get soy sauce in 5 gal buckets, but none of them were willing to call me on a regular basis like the Blimpies guy does.
Then I make them into self watering containers. There are several blogs out there w/the how-to's if you do a google search, and I think I linked to one or 2 of them in a previous post.
I used them for the 1st time this year, w/some success. I think a few of them need tweaking for next year.
Good luck!!! and have fun!!

[Indigo73]

I get some of my 5 gal. buckets from Walmart's bakery or various donut shops. I don't do anything fancy with them besides drill holes into the bottom edge.

I've grown tomatoes, green beans, summer squash, cucumbers, peppers and loads of herbs this way. Tomatoes need to be watered daily and the rest every other.

If you have 2 liter bottles they work well as water funnels. I cut off the bottom, stick the mouth in the soil and fill with water. Works well if you are going away for a day or two.

[Brown Lioness]

Thanks you guys, ima try this this week and see how many containers I can collect!

[ameliabedelia]

I'm joining in too! So excited to get started. I'm in Zone 10, so now is the perfect time to start planting. We used to live up North near my family and my parents had a huge, traditional in-ground garden that I could just myself to anytime I wanted. I miss it. So, now I'm going to try urban gardening.

I asked my family to get me some grow boxes from agardenpatch.com as an early birthday (in Nov). and Christmas presents.

I'm thinking soil is going to be the most expensive part. Does anyone have any good tips on brand or where to buy to buy?

I want to grow mostly greens....lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, and maybe some tomatoes, peppers and onions,.

[abomgardner417]

Bumping up and...

Has a 2011 thread been started?  I've read through here and picked up some great tips, but I'm new to gardening and I think I'll need a small space support group this year! :)

[Indigo73]

I will get the 2011 thread started on Monday. I don't think I can get all the links copied on my mobile device.

[Indigo73]

2011 thread is up.  I know a bit late, my tomatoes are already nearly waist high...

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1315478/urban-small-space-gardens-2011-container-balcony-or-patio