Gardening & Landscaping
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Budding Green Thumb - Need Advice
Hey Everyone
I just moved into a new (rental) house, that doesn't really have room for a real garden. However, my deck is fairly good sized and I was thinking about starting a container garden. I'm looking for advice on good veggies/fruits/and herbs to start with as well as any suggestions on large planters/containers that you have found useful/attractive at a good price. Should I build my own? (Any instructions/blogs would be helpful) or should I buy some that are pre-made? I'd also like to put a grill and small patio set/swing out there as well. My deck is approximately 20x20. Any advice would be appreciated!
TIA!
Re: Budding Green Thumb - Need Advice
I would imagine for Montana it's a bit too late to start a garden this year. (it's unclear if you were wanting to start right NOW or in the spring)
But to answer your questions:
- You can grow any veg/fruit/herb in a container. Any. World is your oyster there. I've grown tomatoes, peppers, all sorts of herbs, arugula, carrots and blueberries in pots.
- We just use really large pots, but you can make your own planters. The Square Foot Gardening book has ideas on making mobile beds that wouuld work on your deck. Whatever you do, use potting soil or similar but not dirt out of the yard (unless you happen to have the most luscious loam ever.)
- Container gardening generally requires more water than in-ground so be prepared to water often.
- The ultimate success of any edible garden is how much sunlight it gets. To be really successful, 8+hours is best but most things can make do with 6 hrs.
You won't need to be concerned with cross pollination & getting freaky output unless you plan to save seeds.
Otherwise, some gourds (squash, cucumbers, etc.) have both male & female flowers on the plant. Obv., in order to get a fruit, you need the boy to fertilize teh girl (via pollinators). Thus, it's often a good idea to plant more than one of these so that there's a better chance of having boy & girl flowers at the same time.