Containers Perfect For Successful Gardening

Photo by Sally Carroll PRF Greenhouse and Nursery owner Ron Testerman tells those who gathered at a recent Back to Basics meeting how to start utilizing large containers for planting vegetables and more. Container gardening has several benefits, Testerman said. “You don’t have to till and there’s not much weed picking,” he said.
Photo by Sally Carroll PRF Greenhouse and Nursery owner Ron Testerman tells those who gathered at a recent Back to Basics meeting how to start utilizing large containers for planting vegetables and more. Container gardening has several benefits, Testerman said. “You don’t have to till and there’s not much weed picking,” he said.

Those who like to enjoy the fruits of their labor can streamline their operations and make gardening a little easier, a local farmer and gardener said.

Container gardening has several benefits, according to Ron Testerman, PRF Greenhouse & Nursery owner. "You don't have to till and there's not much weed picking," he said.

Testerman recently spoke at a Back to Basics meeting, telling those who gathered how to start utilizing large containers for planting vegetables and more. He suggested starting by selecting a large container, filling the bottom with water, and then adding creek rocks, to create a water reservoir.

That start of water and rocks should then be covered with about six inches of cow manure and topped with a composted cow manure mix.

Gardeners can also plant in smaller 3-gallon containers, then place those in the large container. Small peach trees and blackberries are perfect for the 3-gallon containers, he said.

Raised beds also provide a good foundation in which to garden. He suggested putting down landscape timbers, then soaker hoses and then placing ground cover over that. Testerman said gardeners should let the ground cover set for about two or three months. In that time, the rain will help settle it down. Gardeners will be able to irrigate their beds easier with the soaker hoses already in place, he said.

Testerman's nursery offers fruit trees, vegetable plants and seedlings, among other items. Figuring out a successful recipe is challenging, but Testerman loves to grow a variety of items and see success.

Part of that recipe involves container gardening.

Last year's crop brought in about 175 watermelons, 400 cantaloupes and a lot of strawberries.

The family also enjoyed a bountiful crop of sweet potatoes, grown in a large container, he said.

As any gardener or farmer can attest, keeping the animals of the wild at bay can be a challenge. Several group members asked him how to keep the animals from destroying their plants and vegetables.

Planting chocolate mint, garlic and onion can keep out rodents, he suggested. Coons and coyote both like cantaloupe, he admitted, and rabbits also can do a lot of damage.

Squirrels are definitely a menace and have enjoyed his peaches in the past.

"You have to declare war on squirrels," he said, laughing.

General News on 03/22/2018