I'm getting 8 new EBS, actually, they are used; but, will have them in July and thought I would reserve them for strawberries; but, I'm not going to be growing as many tomatoes next time round and am trying to think what to grow, I can grow cool season and warm season veggies. I did dump all my smart pots out and gathered all my yukons and redskinned potatoes about 8 lbs each kind out of 8 smart pots, is it worth doing again???? I was thinking I might try them in the 5 gallon buckets next time round? I'm also planning on trying grapes, raspberries too, in 5 gallon buckets. I've not had much luck with spinach; but, will try again this fall. Has anyone grown squash, zucchini in 5 gallon buckets?
joy
I know this early but....
The only squash I seem to be able to grow is the Delicata, but that's probably more a factor of how much further south I am from you. My zucchini just rots every time I mess with it and I'm told to grow it successfully here I'd have to dab the ends with rubbing alcohol or some such thing. (presumably to curtail the rotting). Mammoth Basil in an e-bucket is kind of fun. Mine are about 3' tall so far, rather pretty and fragrant. Kind of must-have with that tomato forest project you've got going on up there. (I'm jealous, btw)
My personal opinion is that potatoes are so cheap I don't want to bother growing them. Maybe those purple ones just for sh*ts and grins.
I'm growing leeks in e-buckets, so I suppose I SHOULD grow taters to use them with.
The squash they grow around here and seem to like well is the long necked yellow squash. Everyone seems to like mustard greens and collards here also, so thought I'd use the EBs for them possibly? I think I went a little nuts with the tomatoes and it's starting to show, as I didn't expect to have as many tomatoes as I'm getting, DUH, but what did I expect with 70 plants right? LOL I'm rather curious as to how many potatoes others got out of the smart pots? I planted about 5 per smart pot and wound up with about 8 potatoes per smart pot? Not good numbers I would think? I have 40 of the 5 gallon ebuckets so will try potatoes in one of them just for kicks next year. I do prefer the EBs for my strawberries; but my sister wants to try some of Boca Bob's vertical stackers next season.
Might pass on the zucchini as I've been told by many that they are hard to grow.
joy
Joy,
I planted potatoes in two 20-gallon SmartPots and three old washing machine tubs. For me, it was a fun project trying to see if I would actually get something from so little effort. After the seeds were planted, it was a piece 'a cake to just throw some more potting mix/leaves on top every so often to hill up.
Well, my 1st harvest of a washing machine tub of Red Fingers was ultra small, but, nonetheless, very exciting and encouraging!
Then, I harvested one SmPt of Yukon Golds and got a little bit more (about enough to make one LARGE potato!). But, still, exciting.
A week ago I harvested the last two tubs of Yukon Golds and Kennebecs and was much encouraged with the size of the spuds I got. Still a modest harvest, but the size was pretty good.
I have one SmPt left. It has the Purple Vikings. Although it has been relatively hot here (mid- to upper-90s) I purposely left them alone because the vines aren't looking like they're ready to give up the ghost just yet. And, today makes 125 days from my February 14th plantout. So, I'm actually pushing the envelope on what's down there. I re-read the discription and noted the Vikings are drought tolerant, so I've been in no hurry to water them either. Finally, I used plastic poultry caging around all the containers, thinking I'd grow more spuds by hilling up with leaves -- NOT....But, the leaves on top might be keeping the soil below cool enough that the spuds are still growing down there.
In any case, in answer to your question "is it worth doing again?" I'd say, if you have a little extra space (it certainly didn't rob me of any growing space in my tiny setup), a little extra potting mix/leaves, and a little extra time to hill up some vines, it's definitely worth "doing again" if for no other reason than the satisfaction of sitting down to a plate of potatoes that YOU grew with your own hands!
I've already ordered triple the amount I planted last season, and will be sowing seeds again in August...
Here's my Yukon Gold harvest.
P.S. I'll be experimenting with "layering" my seed potatoes in the same container this next time 'round. I'm going to start the bottom layer with long-season spuds; the mid-seasons will go in a middle layer, and the early-season spuds will be in a top layer, all in the same container. So, I'll harvest the early season spuds first from the top, and work down as the season progresses, hopefully, without disturbing too much of the lower two layers. I expect the long-seasons will be the least affected (of course). I'm hoping to increase my yield per container.
Or, I could actually layer the same variety per one container, and harvest the whole thing at the proper time. Now, THAT would be a great maximization of the growing space, huh?
Linda
This message was edited Jun 19, 2010 2:21 PM
Gymgirl: Thank you for that pic, mine look the same. I had some fried tonight with my fried catfish and fresh sliced tomatoes (tomatoes are getting to be eaten around here 3 times daily lately - LOL). My army is on the way and I am befuddled right now, don't know if the brown bugs I'm seeing are stink bugs or soldier bugs, and one is a bad bug and the other a good one. My lady bugs, lacewings and beneficial nematoads should help win the war when they get here. I think I'm going to try potatoes next time in a self watering 5 gallon bucket, will put the potting mix on the bottom and in wicking chambers, and then put in my eyes and then just cover it up a bit and keep hilling til the bucket is full as the plant grows and see how I fare. I had a few rotten ones; but not too many most looked really good, didn't seem to have any problem with the bugs either. I'm getting a lot of tomatoes with catfacing on them due to the rain I think and I'm bringing in the tomatoes as they turn redish pink, not really soft yet; as when they get red and soft is when the bugs seem to zero in on them. They finish reddening up in the house. I have been doing good at keeping the fruit picked though, as I hear, that if you don't they will quit producing. I'm in love with the Burpee's Porterhouse tomato, it is producing a lot of tomatoes and they are huge ones too. The Mountain Bell cherry tomato is producing quite well also. My brandywines are just starting to flower and I have green balls on them; but they were the last to be planted. The beefsteak bush gave me lots of red juicy delicious tomatoes of a nice size. I've learned a lot from my mistakes this year again also. I'm going to be using a recycled rubber mat that Gardener's Supply has for down between the aisles next time and I will use some plywood to cover the wood frames I made for the 5 gallon buckets, as the weeds and grass still wants to grow up between the cypress mulch in between the buckets and it causes a lot of work, that could be avoided otherwise. I am not going to put as many EBs as close together, I did only put 4 per platform; but, think I should have done only 3, glad I didn't do 5, but think that 3 would have been even better. I'm only gonna do about 10-20 tomatoes next time and plant a variety of veggies next time like long necked yellow squash, cukes which I didn't plant this time and also some fruit like grapes and raspberries in the buckets.
joy