Container vegetables

[Brian1985]

Hey guys I'm looking at doing more in grow bags this year. Can you grow brassicas in them? What's some tomatoes and peppers that do well in containers? Tia

 

[headfullofbees]

Brassicas are unlikely to grow well in growbags used conventionally, because they need a lot of support from the soil. You would probably get away with spinach and radishes, and, if you cut them in half across-ways and turn them on their sides to get extra depth, you may get a cabbage, which may, or may not heart.

Not a great idea, to be honest.

Your fellow Americans would be better at advising on local tomato and pepper cultivars, but they do well, as do aubergines (eggplants) and cucumbers.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Brassicas are unlikely to grow well in growbags used conventionally, because they need a lot of support from the soil. You would probably get away with spinach and radishes, and, if you cut them in half across-ways and turn them on their sides to get extra depth, you may get a cabbage, which may, or may not heart.

Not a great idea, to be honest.

Your fellow Americans would be better at advising on local tomato and pepper cultivars, but they do well, as do aubergines (eggplants) and cucumbers.

Speaking of which you folks have reminded me I have a quantity of those felt type grow bags in my shed along with associated water trays. It is time to start summer seeds here in about a week. I think I will dig them out and use them this year to see how roots fair in our summer heat.

 

[marlingardener]

Brian, this is experience/advice from central Texas, and may not apply to your growing area and climate.
A friend grew broccoli in containers--one 5 gal. pail per plant--and it did well. Another friend had a grow bag of tomatoes on her back porch, until the bag gave way and she had a mess on her porch.
For containers, use the largest you can get, and go for the "patio" type tomatoes, which are cherry types. Also smaller peppers, like Jinglebells. You need smaller plants, and simply pruning them back won't do a thing to limit the rather extensive root structure tomatoes and peppers have.
Good luck with your bags and containers!

 

[CanadianLori]

Hello @Brian1985 ,
I do a fair amount of growing in containers (mostly 5 gallon) and my experience with brassicas is forget all but broccoli for container growing. My brussels never sprouted and the others were stunted. I did enjoy good success with a broccoli that was a hybrid. Asprabroc. Had small flowers and thin stocks that are quite tasty. None of it made it into the kitchen...due to me eeating my way throuh the harvest.

I grow all of my hot peppers in containers. I have grown tomatoes and other veggies in containers but have found that the ones grown in the ground do a lot better than in containers.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I just enjoy reading about so much actual experience that I had to poke in and say how beautiful sharing all that actual knowledge just jazzezes my batteries and thank you all for good times.

 

[CanadianLori]

Just started my hot pepper seeds in soil blocks today... sneezed, usedmamlot of tissue and was delighted for it.
I'm an old hobby gardener who always gets surprises. Oh really, was it supposed to get that big!

@Brian1985 just try it. Everyonenhas differnt successes. It's all fun.

 

[Brian1985]

What zone are you in lori that you started hot peppers? I'm told around March 1st here and I'm in 5b.

 

[DirtMechanic]

What zone are you in lori that you started hot peppers? I'm told around March 1st here and I'm in 5b.

Seeds for peppers and tomotaoes are started here next week. Week go frost free March 24 on average

 

[ShannonL]

Sweet potatoes go gangbusters in those bags.

 

[CanadianLori]

What zone are you in lori that you started hot peppers? I'm told around March 1st here and I'm in 5b.

I am in a 5a. I usually start them Boxing days because hot peppers take forever. I got a little behind because I had granddaughters here for Christmas break. I'll be starting new seeds every week this month and then next month the hanging pots will have been sown with their flower seeds.

 

[Brian1985]

Last year I grey jalapeño peppers, cayenne peppers, and bloody butcher tomato in a grow bag. Peppers did pretty good and bloody butcher did average probably. Was just wondering if there's better varieties to grown in pots other than cherries? Not a big cherry fan and don't plant any.

 

[Brian1985]

Should I be starting peppers early than march 1st in 5b? I was told that date by a guy who sells at the local farmers market. Said he started in February last year and never again. He had to keep repotting them into bigger containers. By the time he planted plants outside mid may they were almost full size already.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Should I be starting peppers early than march 1st in 5b? I was told that date by a guy who sells at the local farmers market. Said he started in February last year and never again. He had to keep repotting them into bigger containers. By the time he planted plants outside mid may they were almost full size already.

Even at "full size" the fruiting is so laboriously slow to maturity that pepperheads know to start early. The maturation might be enhanced with certain phytohormones but just getting the peppers on the plant early allows picking 30-45 days ahead. The fellow had to repot because he was new at the game. Just start out like the plant was larger and do less work as a result.

 

[Brian1985]

Even at "full size" the fruiting is so laboriously slow to maturity that pepperheads know to start early. The maturation might be enhanced with certain phytohormones but just getting the peppers on the plant early allows picking 30-45 days ahead. The fellow had to repot because he was new at the game. Just start out like the plant was larger and do less work as a result.

So your saying you'd start ahead of that? My average last frost date is may 15th here. When should I be starting them?

 

[DirtMechanic]

So your saying you'd start ahead of that? My average last frost date is may 15th here. When should I be starting them?

I am saying since it is artificial, and thats temps and not just a grow light, you can please yourself to the extent you have room to do so. I do not grow that many peppers, it is just Becky and I, so starting a few early is no big footprint for me. There is no right "date" in an artificial grow environment. There will be some transplant shock but you can help that with rooting compounds. For me, having edible peppers early is the goal. I am not planting them for looks so I start peppers and Tomatoes this week.

 

[adam_ca]

So your saying you'd start ahead of that? My average last frost date is may 15th here. When should I be starting them?

i'm in zone 6a (last frost may 1st ish)
i'm staring my peppers indoors on March1st
i'm a bit of a newbie, but thats what i think i should do given the info online.

 

[adam_ca]

Last year I grey jalapeño peppers, cayenne peppers, and bloody butcher tomato in a grow bag. Peppers did pretty good and bloody butcher did average probably. Was just wondering if there's better varieties to grown in pots other than cherries? Not a big cherry fan and don't plant any.

I heard that bigger tomatoes tend to take longer, your growing season might not be hot enough for long enough for it to really start producing alot.

i'll be trying:
'Tiny Tim' (Non-GMO) Dwarf Cherry Tomato - (Heirloom)
'Bonny Best' - (Non-GMO) - Tomato Seeds
'Money Maker' (Non-GMO) Tomato


the one that ends up producing more pounds of tomatoes will be the winner and all the others I'm not going to plant again.

 

[Brian1985]

I made my own potting soil last year for the containers. What should I do about amending them this year? I don't really wanna dump the soil if I don't have to.

 

[DirtMechanic]

You sterilize it. Steam or otherwise.