Container &

Backyard
Gardening
Hosted by Transition Toronto &
sponsored by LEGS Lakeshore
Environmental Gardening Society
Presented by: Monika Meulman

Workshop Outline
Whats

in a container starting basics

To move or not to move size matters
Growing friends together bioplannning
Planning out your edible season
Bug Off the end
Questions

Whats in a container
Just the basics please plant, soil, water
is that it?

Plants will grow:

anywhere

Any tool
Or structure
Will do

Structure basics
selecting plants

Structure basics
selecting plants
selecting space

Structure basics
selecting plants
selecting space
selecting time

Selecting Plants
Size?
Sun

loving?
Edibles?
Care free?

How much room do you have?

Sun lovers need lots of water

Edibles need replenishing

High need plants need daily

maintenance

Size

vs

Sun or shade

PORTULACA GRANDIFLORA
Sun plant - flowers bloom only when
sun is shining

Begonias & coleus

Great shade lovers

To eat or not to eat

Nasturtium
Is it a flower or a salad?

Sedums can become succulent

walls

Common use of flowers in salads.

You can incorporate them into sauces, tarts, preserves, pickles,
fritters and salads.
Small delicate flowers can be eaten whole, or you can separate
the petals from larger varieties.
Remove all the green parts, stems and leaves, and any white
'heels' on petals.
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) : A common annual, in various
shades of yellow to orange, with a quite definite flavour. Brightens
up a salad.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) : Striking yellow, orange and red
flowers on an annual plant which grows rampant and easily selfseeds. Leaves and seeds can be eaten in salads along with the
flowers, and the seeds can be pickled as a substitute for capers.
Borage (Borago officinalis) : Beautiful blue flowers with a sweet
flavour. Pull on the central part to pick the flower whole, and
sprinkle on a salad or in Pimms.
Daisy (Bellis perennis) : The smaller variety is common in the wild
and on lawns,larger cultivated varieties are available. Pick just
before they are to be used, to prevent flowers from closing up,
and use small flowers whole or separate larger petals.

Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) : A common perennial, coming in

a variety of colours. As well as the flowers, the scented leaves of
some varieties can be used in salads.
Rose (Rosa spp.) : All rose varieties can be used in salads. Some
varieties could be too heavily scented.
Pansy (Viola wittrockiana) : A common perennial garden flower,
can be used in salads.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) : There are many varieties of
lavender, and most are strongly flavoured use sparingly, finely
chopped, in salads.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris) : Primroses are becoming rare in the
wild, and so cultivated plants should be used. Use the flowers
whole in salads. Use liberally to impart a delicate flavour to
apple pies.
Cowslip (Primula veris) : Treat as Primroses.
Violet (Viola odorata) : Delicately flavoured small flowers can be
used whole in salads.
http://www.ibiblio.org/permaculture-online/artedibl.html

Where can you plant?

Everywhere!
Balconies, Terraces & Patios
Indoors & Outdoors
Fences & Posts
Walls, Houses, Furniture

How Much Space Do They Need?

Some vegetable plants are vines (and will sprawl). Others
grow underground.
Each plant needs a certain amount of space.
Shallow Rooters:

Medium Rooters:

Brassicas
Beans, snap
Celery
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Corn
Chard
Endive
Cucumbers
Garlic
Eggplant
Leeks
Peas
Lettuce (5 inches only!) Peppers
Onions
Squash (summer)
Potatoes
Turnips
Radishes

Deep Rooters
Asparagus
Beans, lima
Parsnips
Pumpkins
Squash (winter)
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes

Whats in a container
Just the basics please plant,
is that it?

soil, water

What is soil?
majority of food comes from soil
- complex mix of minerals, organic matter, &
life
Types of soil we can grow up in:
-

-
-
-
-

Clay
Silt
Sand
Loam

Did you know?

One cubic centimeter of soil can
be the home to more than
1,000,000 bacteria.

Soil type: clay

-
-
-
-
-
-

Very fine particles

Holds water very well
Binds together
Locks out oxygen & water
Low rate of percolation
Cause runoff

Plants that love clay are

Cabbage

Cabbage will grow well in most soils, providing that it is well drained, so amend clay soils with lots of compost before
planting. Apply fish emulsion or compost tea about month after planting to provide extra nutrients. Cabbage likes cooler
soil.

Corn

Corn prefers deeply dug, well-manured soil, but will tolerate most soil textures. Corn does not do well in cold, wet soils, so be
sure to warm soil where corn will be planted with black plastic. Mulch to retain soil moisture.

Squash

Both summer and winter squashes will do well in clay soils with lots of compost or rotted manure to aide drainage..
Transplant winter varieties in soil that has been warmed by black plastic and mulch to retain soil moisture.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are not fussy about soil texture, but they do require fertility. Amend with compost when preparing soil, then add a
spade full of compost or well rotted manure to each hill during planting.

Okra
Okra tolerates clay soils with high nutrients and good drainage. Add compost during soil preparation. Pre-warming the soil
with black plastic mulch will speed the germination process. Apply compost tea or fish emulsion once a month.

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard tolerates clay soils that are rich and well drained. Add lots of compost during soil preparation, but little further
amendment is necessary.

Lettuce
Lettuce germinates poorly in warm soils, so cool clay soils may be welcomed. To ensure good germination, prechill seeds in
the refrigerator before sowing or start warmer, summer crops from transplants. Raised beds are recommended.

Garlic
Garlic will do well in well drained, fertile, humusy soil. Raised beds, amended with generous amounts of compost are
recommended. Encourage vigorous growth with applications of fish emulsion or compost tea.

Melons

Melons do well in well manured, well drained soil that has been thoroughly warmed. Set out transplants into raised beds
that have been pre-warmed with black plastic. Give weekly applications of compost tea or fish emulsion.

Soil type: Silt

-
-
-
-
-
-

Larger particles than clay, irregular

shape
Still Holds water
Usually where rivers used to flow
Good base soil for mix
Hold nutrients well - fertile
Allows more water & oxygen in than
clay

Plants that love silt are

Brassicas continued
Broccoli grow as either spring or fall crop
Require 6-8 weeks to mature, shorter in the fall
Brussels sprouts firmer heads in heavier soil
Thrive in cool weather.
Require pH 6.5

Soil type: Sand

-
-
-
-

Very large particle size

Percolates water quickly
Lose nutrients easily
Allow for great oxygen
circulation

Plants that love sand are

Carrots & lettuce & spinach
Turnips & potatoes & garlic
Strawberries, peppers, squash, zucchini,
collard greens and tomatoes.

Soil type: Loam

Highest concentration of organic

matter
Very fertile
Crumble easily when squeezed
Black to dark brown in color
Smells (rich musty odor)
Contain humus

Most Plants love loam!

-
-
-
-
-

Soil pH
pH is the measure of a soils acidity or alkalinity. Most
plants do well in soil with a neutral pH of 6.6 to 7.4, or
in slightly acid soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Soil pH is
important because it affects the availability of
nutrients to plants and the activity of microorganisms
in the soil.
How to use a soil tester kit:
Remove a small handful of soil.
Add distilled water to the soil, follow directions on
package (adding soil-testing ingredient)
Compare the colour of the water with the colour
charts

Most garden crops prefer slightly acidic- slightly alkaline soil

(6.5-7.5), but some crops like potatoes, tomatoes, raspberries,
blueberries, cranberries prefer moderately acidic-very acidic
conditions (5.5-4.5)

Eco-Friendly Soil Amendments

Here are some things you can add to your soil before and
during prep work, and on an on-going basis to improve the
quality of your soil:

Compost (green bin)

Compost (animal manures e.g. sheep, cow)
Greensand- a great source of slow release potassium and trace elements for the soil.
Kelp Meal-Provides the essential micro-nutrients needed for healthy plant growth.
Blood meal- extremely high in nitrogen for green growth, deters small animals
Bone meal- high in phosphorous which encourages root growth, essential for development of
fruit, flowers and seeds.
Carbonitite- supplies a broad spectrum of slow release essential mineral such as calcium,
phosphorus, potassium, iron, sulphur, manganese, zinc, copper and boron.
Limestone- Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and calcium magnesium carbonate (called dolomitic
limestone) are natural forms of lime that are used to adjust pH and provide nutrients.
Others: crushed eggshells, molasses (for calcium, iron, potassium). Tomatoes love them!

Take me with you!

Full Sun= >6 hrs/
day
Partial Sun= 3-6
hrs/day
Shade= <3 hrs/
day

Made in the Shade

Blue Lake bush beans
Yellow wax bush beans
Detroit Red Beets
Early Girl tomato
Indeterminate Roma tomato
beef steak tomato
Any cold crop:
lettuce, cabbage, onions, radishes, garlic, etc.
they prefer cooler weather
Look for varieties that say they are wilt / mold resistant.

Whats in a container
Just
is

the basics please plant, soil, water

that it?

Did you know?

silt, and sand in a soil
determine its texture. Loam, the
ideal garden soil, is a mixture of
20 percent clay, 40 percent silt,
and 40 percent sand.

Season of Eating
One time crops
Beans,

Peas
Radishes,
asparagus
Carrots, onions
Pumpkins,
eggplants,

Multiple Crops
Tomatoes,

peppers
Herbs, flowers
Lettuce, kale
Chard, spinach

Tip: single crop plants plant every 2 weeks in spring

Lets eat

Growing friends together

bioplannning
Plant Families Together

Legumes: peas, beans, limas

Brasiccas: cabbage, kale, broccoli,
collards, cauliflowers, kohlrabi, brussels
sprouts
Curcubits: cucumber, melons, squash
Nightshades: peppers, tomatoes,
potatoes, eggplants, radishes,
rutabagas, onions, garlic, leeks
Corn
Leafy greens: spinach, chard, lettuce

Plant smellies together

Asparagus helps tomatoes

Alliums help fruit trees, nightshades
(tomatoes, capsicum peppers,
potatoes), brassicas (cabbage,
broccoli, kohlrabi, etc.) carrots
Beets help lettuce, kohlrabi, onions
and brassicas
Radishes help squash, peppers,
lettuce, and cucumbers
Tomatoes help roses, asparagus, and
peppers

Plants keep bugs away

Basil - asparagus beetle, mosquitos, thrips, flies
Borage tons of pests
Cilantro aphids, spider mites, white flies, potato beetle
Chives cabbage worms, carrot fly, aphids
Dill aphids, spider mites, squash bugs, cabbage looper
Garlic - Aphids, cabbage looper, ants, rabbits, cabbage
maggot
Peppermint - cabbage fly, ants, cabbage looper
Sage - cabbage flies, carrot fly, black flea beetle,
cabbage looper, cabbage maggot
Tansy - flying insects(Ichneumonid Wasps), Japanese
beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs and
ants

Please dont touch me

Geraniums dont like tomatoes and eggplants
Nasturtiums dont like radishes and cauliflowers
Apple trees dont like cedars cedar rust.
Pepper fungus can seriously hurt Apricot trees.

I love you: Marigold

Marigolds are a wonder-drug of the
companion plant world, invoking the
saying "plant them everywhere in your
garden".
French marigolds produce a pesticidal
chemical from their roots, so strong it
lasts years after they are gone.
Mexican marigolds do the same, but
are so strong they will inhibit the
growth of some more tender herbs.

Troubleshooting: Common Plant

Diseases and Garden Pests

Most vegetables will have indications of some ailment (viral,

fungal, bacterial or insect). Holes usually indicate insect
damage, though some insects do not create visible damage to
foliage.
If a plant has a noticeable disease (spotting, discolouration),
tend as best as possible, being careful not to touch other
plants after handling to avoid transferring fungi or bacteria to
other plants.
Many fungal diseases are exacerbated by moist, humid
conditions- best remedy is sunlight and lots of airflow.
If you experienced some diseases in previous years, try
rotating crops in different areas (some microorganisms can
survive our winters).

How to Deal with other Garden

Critters
Slugs and snails can be baited with beer traps, are
repelled by coffee grounds, crushed eggshells,
diatomaceous earth and tobacco.
Powdered hot peppers keep squirrels at bay. Sprinkle
liberally on freshly planted areas (after watering) and
reapply after rain.
Raccoons can be kept out of your garden by stapling
black plastic to your fence. They cant climb the plastic,
its too slippery, and as long as you encircle your garden
without gaps, they wont dig underground.
Sprinkle cat fur (from brushing) if rabbits are your
culprit, replacing after rain.
Put up bird netting around berries if necessary.

Question time
Ill tell you everything I know,
but first whos got cookies?