Growing Potatoes in Bags: 10 Steps to a Better Harvest TL;DR: For the best results when growing potatoes in bags, use a 10-gallon fabric bag with 2 to 3 seed potatoes, loose well-draining soil, 6 to 8 hours of sun, and steady moisture, then hill the stems as they grow and harvest once the foliage…
11 Pot Size Rules for Vegetables That Make Container Gardening Easier TL;DR: The best pot size for vegetables depends on both root depth and soil volume. Leafy greens can grow well in smaller containers, but tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and potatoes need larger pots to stay evenly moist, grow strong roots, and produce better harvests…
9 Things to Know Before Using Self-Watering Containers TL;DR: Self-watering containers are worth it for thirsty crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, especially in hot weather, as long as you use an airy potting mix, a properly placed overflow hole, and a reservoir large enough for the plant. They make watering more forgiving, but they…
Square Foot Gardening Spacing: 19 Vegetables and the Rules Charts Miss TL;DR: Start with the 1-4-9-16 square foot gardening spacing rule, then loosen the spacing when plants get crowded, soil is heavy, watering is uneven, or humidity is high. Let mature plant size and airflow guide the final layout. If you grow vegetables in backyard…
14 Vegetables That Thrive in 5-Gallon Buckets, Plus the Spacing That Works TL;DR: The best vegetables for 5-gallon buckets include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, beans, lettuce, carrots, beets, and radishes. Use the right plant count, a light potting mix, good drainage, and steady watering, and you can get a surprisingly productive harvest from a very…
5 Vertical Vegetable Garden Setups That Make Small Spaces Work Harder TL;DR: For a productive vertical vegetable garden, match the support to the crop: use simple trellises for beans, peas, and cucumbers, sturdy cattle panels with fruit slings for squash and melons, and towers for compact crops like greens, herbs, and strawberries. Build the support…