Intensive Organic Container Gardening Pattie Louche Lisa Harty and Lisa Stefanick

Soil Preparation Reasons not to use outside dirt from your yard. – Too sandy, too much clay, too heavy – No nutrients – Weeds, seeds, diseases, insects – Chemical fertilizers may be present Reasons not to use soilless mix – Too light, not strong enough to support plant roots – Sterile and contains very few nutrients – Small amts of synthetic fertilizers and wetting agents- not organic

Read the label – “Certified organic” – Approved by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) – Some peat moss or limestone treated with prohibited material – Unreliable amounts of compost % – Should contain only natural plant and animal derivitives

Recipes for soil mix 1 part peat moss or mature compost 1 part garden loam or top soil 1 part clean builder’s sand or perlite Or ½ cubic yard peat moss ½ cubic yard perlite 10 lbs bone meal 5 lbs ground limestone 5 lbs blood meal *note if using own compost make sure it is mature (made last summer for this spring planting)

Soil testing Soil testing ahead of planting will let you know what to add – Saturated Media Extract test – Offered by most university and commercial horticulture labs – 1-3 week turn around

Fill pot ¾ full and add organic fertilizer to top 3 inches of soil and you are ready to plant!

Containers Types Preparation Sizing for particular plants How to fill with the proper blend of soil/organic matter etc…P/K/N

Plant combinations 5 gallon: tomato/peppers/eggplant or tomato/cilantro/onion (successive planting) 2 gallon: strawberry/spinach/chamomile 1 gallon: cabbage/garlic/green onion or lettuce/cukes/green onion (successive planting)

To fertilize or not? Soil testing before planting is your key to what your garden needs Increased demands from intensive practices Use organic fertilizer, fish emulsion, worm casting or tea, compost and/or compost tea Increased risk of overfertilizing – water thoroughly each and let drain through Adequate drainage is a must! Clump containers together-

Pest and critter control Diligence is key! Prevention and early treatment is a must Beneficial bugs, partner plantings Most pests are variety or crop specific Keep on balcony or porch (keeps bunnies and squirrels away!) Blast with water, soapy water, Neem or horticultural oils or cover with Remay cloth

Harvesting Trellising, supports, training upward or trailing downward, interplanting, successive planting, rotating plants, replacing with new seedlings often help prevent bolting and always having something new to grow and eat. Themes (Italian, Greek, salsa…) and partner plants Enjoy!