3 Easy Tips for Successful Container Gardening I Want To Grow Heirloom Tomatoes

I am especially fond of planters that are on wheels so I can maximize the sun. But as I live
in an apartment they will not let me use this kind of thing.

Here are three easy things to do to guarantee a successful container garden - no matter the plants you're growing  This is only my second year growing tomatoes in Lake Oswego, but last year Sungold, Jaune Flammee, and Cherokee Purple were all productive and tasted great. This year I'm also growing Kimberley, Spudakee, Indian Stripe, Vorlon, and New Big Dwarf, which have similar productivity to Cherokee Purple. Kimberley was the first to blush after just 67 days from transplant, two days before Sungold. The others are still a few weeks away from ripening, so I can't attest to their flavor. Last year my favorite farmers' market tomato was Paul Robeson, so I saved seed from it. Unfortunately, it's the least productive of the black tomatoes, having produced only about a dozen fruit compared to 18-20 for the others.  Of course you can expect this of Heirloom tomatoes they were bred for hardiness not production. 

Here are several tips for creating a wonderful hanging basket or container this summer.  The first is to use an artificial soil composed mostly of peat moss.  Good soils such as Fafard or Pro-Mix use perlite, peat, and other ingredients to produce a soil that will not compact over the summer.  Real garden soil compacts and turns into concrete under the pressure of regular watering.  And when it does, plant roots stop growing because they require good open spaces to move into and absorb nutrients.  Hard, compacted soils do not grow good plants so do not use real soil in your containers.  I re-use my artificial potting soil from year to year.  I dump it out of the pot. Chew it up with a shovel to cut up all last year’s roots and add approximately 10 % by volume of compost. The compost increases air spaces and gives plants a boost in healthy nutrition.  I have a worm farm which I use worm dropping for at least half the soil. I feel it is good use of my wet garbage as well. I love that Portland adopted using wet garbage to compost. Here is hoping Lake Oswego, does the same soon.

Feed your plants weekly.  Nitrogen, the engine of plant growth, is water soluble and as you water your containers from the top the dissolved nitrogen is leaving from the bottom.   I use a fish-emulsion liquid feed with seaweed to provide all the trace nutrients my plants require and recommend it highly.  You can use any liquid plant food (like Miracle Grow or Shultz) to promote growth.  Compost tea is the Cadillac of liquid plant food and if you make your own compost tea, your plants will respond with bigger and better blooms as well as increased vigour.

And finally, no matter the size of the container, it is important to soak it all the way to the bottom at each watering.  Continue watering until water emerges from the pot bottom.  This ensures the roots can reach all parts of the container and grow properly.  My niece has green houses and through out large pots often so I am lucky I get them. I have to sterilize them,
How to disinfect clay and plastic planters and pots
 but I am a recycle person. When I was in my house I painted old tires and stacked them. I used rain gutters, I once had an old wringer washer I planted in.  Now I live in apartments that have strict rules about what I can plant in, so I am really grateful for my niece now. My landlady only allows me 3 large pots. I have been on a waiting list for community gardens for three years now.
 I use whatever I can get to grow in that is interesting and that the apartments will allow me to use.