SPRING OF 2015 IS PERFECT

We are having a beautiful spring, here in the Ozarks, and everything is growing well (including weeds).  I am experimenting with some new ways of gardening which could be really great for those of you who don't have a lot of room.  It is container gardening (buckets, barrels and more).  No weed problems and few bug problems.  If and when we scale back a bit, container gardening could feed us well without a lot of work.  Place the buckets on a bench or concrete blocks and no bending over.
We have planted potatoes in the blue barrel which is a 55 gal barrel cut in half with drain holes

April 18, 2015

April 18, 2015

drilled in the bottom.  As the potatoes grow we will add growing soil and straw and when the plants grow over the top of the barrel we will add a wire fence ring and continue adding straw and soil.  Potatoes will grow all the way to the top of the wire fence or at least that is the plan.  I will update as they grow.

May 4, 2015

Picture at the left is two weeks later from last post on potato growing in containers.  I have added several layers of soil and straw so the soil straw layer is almost at the top of the barrels.  I will continue to add these layers to the top of the wire and then let them grow where they will.
Soil is a mix of good quality potting soil, composted cow manure, soybean meal(for nitrogen) and garden lime.  Water regularly.  We use stored rainwater saved from our barn roof.(See previous post)

May 23, 2015

The photo on the left is the latest image of the potatoes growing in th barrel.  The next photo will be when we harvest the potatoes. Right now they are just starting to bloom so it will be a few months till harvest.
The history of the planting and soil/straw addition is outlined above.
These are all red potatoes but as soon as we see how successful this method is, then we may try other varieties.

May 4, 2015

May 4, 2015

5 gal buckets work well for raising most any garden produce.  Placing the buckets close to a fence, arbor or trellis allows you to grow vertically and in a smaller space.  These buckets have a raised inner bottom allowing for
a 3-4 inch water reservoir in the bottom.
Pinterest.com has several ideas for these buckets.  Just search for "bucket gardening".  We raised lots of tomatoes with several of these set against a 5 X 16 ft cattle panel as shown above right.  The photo above left shows the buckets lined up against a fence.  A few string ties will help the tomatoes and cucumbers grow up the fence