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Hensler North Dakota

We have ideas about growing a plant in a container for a
4-h project. The container would be a 1 cubic yard of soil. Not looking to set any records here, just trying to get a fruit set and growing a bit by the last week in June.
Has anyone tryed this and any ideas about fert. program.

Thanks
Dean

2/21/2007 7:49:10 PM

Denver, CO

Dean,
In the past, I have grown Ag's in 4ft by ft by 3 ft deep boxes, just letting them grow out onto our lawn. (Not sure what that translates into for yards/cubed. Anyway, got several in the 200 to 300 pound range. Just fertilize as normal, but it seems to be really important to let the plant grow about a foot out of the container, and then bury the whole plant in manure, leaves and all, leaving just the foot sticking out.

2/23/2007 9:46:34 PM

Denver, CO

Sorry, the deminsoins on the box should read 4x4x3 feet.

2/23/2007 9:47:16 PM

Rhode Island

i must admit that if you havea very limited space or planting a actual garden is out of the question, then what ghopson reccommended is better than nothing. especially if you have kids and the love growing a pumpkin.

i would not reccommend covering leaves and all though. id just pin the main and sides to the grass with cut up plastic coat hangers and go from there. the leaves need sun light( should not to be covered )

2/24/2007 6:19:02 AM

Hensler North Dakota

Ok I need to provide more info. The idea behind this container project is to bring the whole thing to a county fair the last week in June. Plant and Container.

2/24/2007 9:58:52 AM

Long Island,New York

Dean...I think it would be easier and more do-able if you just parked a large trailer...added soil (I would use a fabric beneath the soil and above the trailer bed) and grew it on the trailer. You would then be able to comfortably add posts to the sides or pvc hoops and tarp/plastic the entire top for transit (drive slow...lol). Then just drop the trailer in place...uncover...and show. Pack it up same way for trip home...park in driveway and harvest in Sept/Oct. You will need more length that width to get enough plant to set fruit....a car trailer might do the trick...a lowboy hmmm...now we're talkin......

2/24/2007 2:51:14 PM

[email protected]

Dean
I grew a few things in 25 gallon containers this summer. I did it as a test for my watermelons, and they did OK
Couple things I've noticed.
You can't have holes in the bottom of the container or you will have it rooted to the ground. And it's an extenvive amout of roots, that causes the plant to really wilt when you shear them off to move the container.
So plug all holes.
25 gallon pot would be the smallest I'd go with
Watering, be carefull, very easy to over water especially without holes in the bottom.
I fed mine Miracle grow every 3 or 4 days as the dirt depletes of nutrients very fast, but you can see that as they just stop growing.
I will do it again, the containers I used were black, and they sure did well for keeping the soil warm.
I managaed 10 lb watermelons up here, and the pots were outside with only wind protection.

2/24/2007 5:03:06 PM

Montoursville, PA

I'm excited to see these container experiments and the grow from them. Every winter for our local semminars I start a couple in .75 ice cream containers. They come home and I hate to dump them. Right now at the four week stage they are throwing male blossoms on both plants. The vine is but a mere eight or ten inches. Nothing more will come of them save a few more males. One can expect just so much from less than a gallon of soil. I tried Liquid Ironite foliar. That perked them up a bit but that's all. They greened up but did not resume any noticable growth.

2/24/2007 6:16:13 PM

Hensler North Dakota

Thanks.

2/24/2007 11:10:20 PM

[email protected]

I like Glenn's idea.

2/25/2007 8:40:40 AM