Not everyone wants a huge garden but I think we all want to eat and these days, with even the president saying there is going to be a food shortage, there are small things we can all do. Lettuce, carrots and radishes in pots are not going to sustain us but every little bit we can do for ourselves will help. Of course, if you have absolutely no interest in gardening, that’s fine too.
Small plants like lettuce, radishes, carrots, green onions . . so many things . . can be planted in containers. I planted lettuce and chard in containers in September and those were great to have during the winter. Those pots didn’t produce the entirety of the lettuce and chard we used but, with the prices in the grocery store, I will be planting more
I’ve been saving all our one gallon milk cartons and water jugs. I cut the tops off, making the pots however tall I want them to be. I fill them with soil and compost, then plant. Every 2 to 3 weeks, I’ll plant more. I should easily be able to grow lettuce at least through June, maybe July depending on the temps.
Today I planted carrots, Mesclun lettuce and radishes.
I like these white radishes. They’re similar to Daikon but they’re my favorite salad radish.
The lettuce and radishes should be ready within a month. The carrots will take longer – probably 2 to 2-1/2 months. The shorter varieties of carrots work better for the container gardens.
These little carrots are so good for munching. I actually have more of these growing in larger containers, as well as longer carrots. I’ll probably never be able to grow enough carrots here for canning but I can grow at least some of what we eat.
Think outside the box, folks. Some of these things take very little space, no special tools, very little investment and not much effort. If you’ve never had a home grown radish, carrot or lettuce, I think you owe it to yourself to try it at least once.
patti says
we’ve tried radishes and carrots several times in containers with no success. we theorize that without stopping the watering process, neither try to “reach” for the water which makes them grow longer. i love white (icescicle) radishes and would love to have them for salads.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s weird. I’ve always had good luck with radishes. I’ve only planted carrots in containers twice before this and they worked fine but I do grow the shorter varieties.
Vivian Oaks says
I never thought about using milk jugs to plant in. Just today I was shopping and bought some potting soil, along with a bunch of different seeds. We haven’t had a real garden in years, since the state tested the soil in this area and found high levels of mercury, lead and zinc. A zinc processing plant used to be down along the Ohio river, just over the hill from us, and all those pollutants got into our soil. We’ve tried using tires, but I think the black walnut trees are too close, and there wasn’t enough sunlight, so things didn’t grow well. This year I’ve bought a bunch of those bags you talked about and got a few seed potatoes to get started. I’m getting excited to garden again! I’d love to be able to provide some produce for my kids that live in the area, as well. Wish me luck!! 🙂
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s why we can’t have a well here and why we’re using raised beds for our gardens.
Helen says
Do you put holes in the bottom of your milk jugs for drainage?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes.
Barbara says
I wish I had more sun in my yard. The back yard is adjacent to woods and is deep shade. My front yard is the last yard on the block full of snow, or it was until it rained again yesterday. I put a few tomato and zucchini plants in the front, and stuck a few herbs in a small flower bed, and I’m out of sunny spaces. Even the driveway is mostly shade. I had pole beans growing along a wall, but the last few years it has become nearly all shade and they barely produce.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, there are some obstacles that just cannot be overcome.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We don’t have much sun so we try to take advantage of what we do have. The entire front yard gets afternoon sun and that cooks everything. I’ve tried having plants in pots on the front porch and the sun scorches them even under the porch because as the sun sets, there’s a couple of hours where they get direct sun. I’ve planted rhubarb under some of the dogwood trees, hoping that provides them with enough shade to survive.
Our back gets morning sun but has quite a few trees and the area that gets enough sun has the sewer lines so that’s where we planted the raised beds. The north side is way too shady – the house shades it and then two rows of trees but that’s also where the propane truck drives to fill our tank. Even though we only have to fill it once a year, he still has to be able to drive there.
The west side has the solar panels and Vince’s shop so the size garden we have now is about all we’ll ever have here. And, without a well, we have to pay for water so we probably have more than we need.
Sally says
I wish I had a fence because anything I plant just becomes deer food.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We don’t have a fence but once we get it all set up, I’ll show you what we’ve done to hopefully protect the tomatoes from the deer.
Laura says
I grew carrots in a large pot this winter. It’s been fun – and tasty! I also like to grow herbs in pots.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I like to grow herbs in pots too. I can bring them in on cold nights and extend their lives and my enjoyment! I bought three rosemary plants this year and I’m going to plant one in the ground and see if it survives the winter here. I miss my giant rosemary “tree” that I had in Texas.
Sherry Bobak says
Judy, I just saw this sampler and thought of you. It combines your love of cross stitch and gardening. Hope the link works. Sorry if I’m being an enabler.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/176830128/instant-download-garden-sampler-cross?click_key=7e445356f66da07f43c55da4e162b2ad13156c22%3A176830128&click_sum=2b0a1332&ref=hp_opfy-3
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, you are being an enabler. I love it and added it to my cart!