Sue's Views

Geometry, Gardening and Good Ideas
by Susan P. Piper, Publisher/Editor

We finally got rid of the huge pile of pea gravel that’s been sitting in our driveway since putting the finishing touches on the new front yard Victory Garden.

I made a slight “mis-calculation” when ordering the pea gravel. I guess I’m not as good at math as I thought. Always get a second opinion. And remember, a cubic yard has 27 feet, not 9 (like a square yard). We ended up with three times the amount needed. Ned spent a lot of time wheelbarrowing the excess to various spots around our yard. BYOB parties took on a whole new meaning, as we invited friends and neighbors to stop by and bring a bucket. Seventeen and a half yards of pea gravel is a lot!

But the garden is growing robustly and looking great. Already, we’ve sampled the lettuce and I think radishes will be next. We also will have corn, carrots, beets, tomatoes, basil, butternut squash, cucumbers, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins and green beans. Surely, a bountiful harvest lies ahead.

Our son Perry and his friend, Gabe Olano, constructed the green bean teepee following Nancy Chennault’s instructions in the April issue. They were so inspired by the project that they decided to pay tribute to the people in Grant Wood’s famous 1930 “American Gothic” painting (shown below).

Although the judges in the Chicago Art Institute’s contest considered it a “comic valentine,” the painting won the bronze medal and $300. The Art Institute later purchased the painting and it remains in the museum’s  collections today.

Some art critics assumed the painting was meant as a satire of small town American life, perhaps something like Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. There was even a backlash of protest about the artist’s true intention. But the painting has become an iconic symbol of the steadfast American spirit. During the Depression, Wood was quoted as saying, “All the good ideas I’ve ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.”

I’m enjoying watering and watching my garden grow. Like Grant Wood, maybe I’ll get some good ideas while doing my farm chores.

The Pot's the Plot
by Nancy Chennault

You say you don’t have enough room for a vegetable “garden” but would enjoy growing some fresh produce?  With the development of compact hybrid vegetables, you don’t have to cultivate an acre to reap the benefits of home grown food. Now, anyone with a spot for a pot can harvest at home.

Choose an area that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. 

For convenience, you should have easy access to a garden hose, but watering with a sprinkling can is an option, as well. 

Containers can be of any size or type.  Old buckets or tubs lend a rustic look to a patio.  Oversized, classic pottery adds flare to deck or front porch. The size of the container will dictate the type of vegetable grown, but there are many possibilities for even the smallest of spaces. Make sure the pot has drainage holes.

Fill with loose potting soil. Avoid using garden soil unless it is at least a three-fourths mixture of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite for aeration. Plain garden soil will compact in the container and will not drain well. Adding a handful of organic all purpose fertilizer will assure your vegetables get enough nutrients throughout their growing season.

TOMATOES
Choose a “determinate” type and plan on using at least a 5-gallon container. Look for “compact” or “bush” in the name.  Signage or plant labels will tell you if it is less vigorous than the “indeterminate” types.  A dwarf, such as “Tumbling Tom” is perfect for a hanging basket.  Your tomatoes will appreciate the maximum amount of sunlight.

SALAD GARDENS
Lettuces, green onions, radishes and cucumbers can easily be grown in containers. All but the cucumbers will thrive in minimum sunlight and you can repeat several crops throughout the summer. Cucumbers also can be grown in a basket.

FRESH HERBS
Herbs such as cilantro and basil are perfect for containers. Avoid overwatering and harvest regularly. To assure tender foliage for harvesting, repeat sowings are recommended. Have several plants “waiting in the wings” of these popular herbs. Nothing says “summer” like homemade pesto or salsa fresh from your garden.

POTATOES
Potatoes easily adapt to container gardening and the larger the pot, the more spuds you’ll harvest. Nestle a seed potato in 4-6 inches of soil in the bottom of the pot. When the sprouts reach 3-4 inches, cover with straw and repeat as the plants grow upward until you reach the top of the container. The potatoes will develop within the straw bedding and be clean when you hunt for them in late summer. Harvest “new” potatoes when the first flowers appear.  Larger bakers will be ready to dig after the foliage dries up in late summer.

CARROTS
Carrots and other root vegetables can be grown in a pot as long as the soil is deep enough to accommodate the length of their tap roots.  Choose seed that will grow stubby carrots instead of traditional garden carrots.

There is no limit to the variety of vegetables that you can grow in containers.  Select your favorites and experiment as your space allows.

For suggestions, visit www.gardeningabout.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/ContainerVeggie_2htm.
For more information on how to grow potatoes in containers:, visit www.container-gardening-tips.com/container-vegetable-gardening/growingpotatoes

Nancy Chennault works with WeHoP, a regional plant broker, selling and distributing starter plants to greenhouse growers. She and her husband, Jim Chennault, grow and evaluate new plant introductions to help growers and retail garden centers choose the best plants for Pacific Northwest gardeners.