EZ Gardening For Beginners

Even if you do not have a big back yard and space for a big vegetable garden you can still grow vegetables such as tomatoes. Tomatoes are a great first vegetable to try in a container garden. Container gardens can be cultivated on balconies, patios, outdoor window sills, along the driveway or even on a roof top. There are a few essential tips to container gardening that you should keep in mind.

First of all, when starting your container garden, whether it is from seed or from a young plant from your local garden center, the soil is essential. Many plants are very sensitive to the soil they are planted in. Unlike weeds, fruit and vegetable bearing plants do not grow everywhere and even if they grow on some minor soils, they might not bring they crop they would on a good soil. So get your pots clean and ready with a good soil recommended for gardening. Also keep in mind, that the container needs to be at least 5 gallons or more to properly support the growth of the plant.

Your second important choice is the plant itself. Tomatoes come in a great variety of sizes, colors and tastes. From cherry and olive tomatoes over plum tomatoes to big size sandwich tomatoes (such as fat boy), it is all available. Besides the size and taste of the tomato the size of the plant falls within this size. Some tomato plant get to a full grown height of only a few feet while others might grow up to 5 feet tall. If your space or height is limited where you are planning to cultivate your container garden, make sure that you pick one of the smaller varieties. A friendly employee at your local garden center should be able to direct you to a good variety such as the bushy types for container gardening.

Even in a container garden it is important to support tomatoes properly. The tomato fruit actually is very heavy for the weak branches of the plant; therefore it is necessary to attach the tomato plant to some kind of a support such as planting stakes, tomatoes cages or small trellises.

Tomatoes generally need 5-6 hours minimum of sun so pick your spot for the container garden appropriately. Do not pick the shade side of the house, too little sun will not ripen your tomatoes in time and also minimizes the chance of a good crop. The more sun the better will your tomato plants grow and most likely the more tomatoes you will harvest.

Tomatoes need to be watered on a daily bases in hot or dry climates. Generally it is better for tomatoes if they are not watered from above, but rather from below. This should be easier achievable in a container garden, since you will generally water fewer plants than in a big backyard vegetable garden. Also keep in mind containers, planting pots and hanging baskets dry out much faster than regular soil in a big garden.

Very important for container gardens besides the regular watering is fertilizing. Container gardens have a small amount of soil compared to the big surrounding of a vegetable garden in the back yard and therefore the amount of food for the plants contained within the container is much smaller. Regular fertilizing is necessary to provide the tomato plant with the essential nutrients to support a big crop and grow properly.

Tomato container gardening is a very possible undertaking for many different occasions. Tomatoes are such a versatile ingredient and can be used in salads, as snack, in soups, salsas, chili’s and much more.

If you think that gardening is only for people who live in moderate climates, think again. There are plenty of plants you can use in your garden no matter how chilly the weather gets where you live. The key to making your garden thrive when temperatures fall is picking the right kinds of plants for your climate and tending your garden properly. If you follow the right steps, your garden will look alive in the winter weather.

The thing about the cold that damages plants is that it causes the water inside the plant to freeze, which ruptures cell walls and causes the plants to die. When this happens, it is already too late to save your plant. The trick is to stop the freezing of your plants before it starts, no matter what kind of plants you have. There are a few things you can do to give your plants the best chance of making it through a cold snap.

The first thing you can do is choose a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. These soils encourage plants to produce sugary sap which freezes quickly in the cold. Next, think about where you are planting your plants. If you are going for a few tender plants, make sure you place them in the shade of the house or of a big tree, where they will have some protection from the elements. If your yard is sloped or rolling, place your most tender plants at the highest points. When your lawn frosts over, the coldest parts will be the lowest points, so keep these tender plants as high as possible. You can further protect your most delicate plants by planting them in special frost proof containers or planters instead of in the ground, to protect them during a hard freeze. Last but not least, in the event of snow, brush heavy snow off your branches and stems, but leave a small layer of snow in place. While too much snow can lead to breakage, a little bit of snow will act as an insulator for your plants.

Of course, all of this will be for naught if you do not choose the right kinds of plants for your garden. The best indicator is to visit your local garden center and find out what kinds of plants are known to thrive in your area. These professional gardeners will have experimented with many different plants and will know which ones can stand up to the strain of the cold in your area and which ones can’t. Another factor to consider is the amount of sunshine your garden will get, both in terms of placement in your yard and in terms of the sunshine your area gets on a regular basis. Cold and sunny climates call for different plants than do cold and wet climates.

There are a few basic rules you can follow when choosing cold weather plants, no matter where you live. First and foremost, skip variegated plants and gold plants for your cold weather garden. These plants are too tender for chilly temperatures. Of course, tropical plants and flowers, like orchids, some types of bamboos and lotus flowers will not thrive in the cold climates. Instead, the best plants to consider for cold weather are heather, heath, holly, witch hazels, crocuses, ivy, winter pansies, forget-me-nots, primrose, chrysanthemums, and poppies. These great plants will give you beautiful splashes of color in the garden during even the most dreary and gray winter days.

One word of caution -  just because plants can grow in the cold weather doesn’t mean they will. Even plants hardy enough for cold climates require special care to make it through cold winter months.