Do you use fabric containers?

[A. Lyric]

My motivation for purchasing seven fabric containers last spring – aside from being able to grow more plants – was knowing I could fill them with bagged medium from Lowes and not have to worry about squash vine borer larva lurking in it.

The problem I have with my fabric containers is watering them adequately. I mulch, I water at soil level, I don't splash, etc. But the instant, the millisecond I put the hose in, water runs out the sides of the containers. Not a little. A lot! So much so that I'm never sure the containers are well watered.

Adding to my suspicion was discovering that my first few bell peppers had blossom end rot, which I understand to be a watering issue. And following a significant rain event, the improvement in appearance and growth of all seven plants was dramatic.

Please share your thoughts and experience with fabric containers. Do you suspect watering issues? I'm wondering if I got the wrong brand or should give them up. Thank you!

 

[oneeye]

I don't use fabric because it's hard to maintain good water management. I still only use plastic because have good results.

 

[big rockpile]

You want to water a little at a time.

They are good for letting air to the roots which is good but you will have to water more often.

You mentioned Lowes I got Sunshine 4 there I'm still wondering.

The soil stays wet longer than I like but it was explained to me it is like a wet sponge, wring it out and it is still wet.

Plus if you are using Sunshine 4 make sure you feed it with first watering this means some lime. It doesn't have much of anything in it.

big rockpile

 

[Meadowlark]

I don't use fabric because it's hard to maintain good water management. I still only use plastic because have good results.

Same here.

 

[big rockpile]

Thinking of going to just plastic Buckets again I got bunch of Buckets that have drainage holes cut in them. I think I can lift them with one hand.

big rockpile

 

[A. Lyric]

You want to water a little at a time.

They are good for letting air to the roots which is good but you will have to water more often.

You mentioned Lowes I got Sunshine 4 there I'm still wondering.

The soil stays wet longer than I like but it was explained to me it is like a wet sponge, wring it out and it is still wet.

Plus if you are using Sunshine 4 make sure you feed it with first watering this means some lime. It doesn't have much of anything in it.

big rockpile

I punctured some holes in empty milk jugs, my version of drip irrigation. A little trouble, but I think more water is staying in the containers. The containers I got from Amazon, the compost, etc., that I filled the containers with came from Lowes. What is
Sunshine 4?

How's the weather been in Lebanon? That's no far away. My small garden has been pretty much a disaster this summer. I blame that partly on being a new gardener, but also on weeks of uncooperative weather.

 

[big rockpile]

I punctured some holes in empty milk jugs, my version of drip irrigation. A little trouble, but I think more water is staying in the containers. The containers I got from Amazon, the compost, etc., that I filled the containers with came from Lowes. What is
Sunshine 4?

How's the weather been in Lebanon? That's no far away. My small garden has been pretty much a disaster this summer. I blame that partly on being a new gardener, but also on weeks of uncooperative weather.

Gardening has been fun if there is a problem.

Is it the Drought, Bugs, Soil or did I do something wrong.

We are closer to Bennett Springs and haven't had squat in the amount of rain town has.

Sunshine 4 is a potting mix with no nutrients. Some of my plants really like it others I'm very nervous using it.

big rockpile

 

[A. Lyric]

Gardening has been fun if there is a problem.

Is it the Drought, Bugs, Soil or did I do something wrong.

We are closer to Bennett Springs and haven't had squat in the amount of rain town has.

Sunshine 4 is a potting mix with no nutrients. Some of my plants really like it others I'm very nervous using it.

big rockpile

I'm relieved if I think a problem I see is caused by bugs. Bugs I can do something about, unlike the weather. I've pretty much given up on this summer's garden and focusing on changes I should make for next spring. Mainly preventative measures for various
diseases and when to start them. I don't know much about prevention and have never tried it, but I want to learn.

Thanks for your response.

 

[Meadowlark]

... I don't know much about prevention and have never tried it, but I want to learn.

Thanks for your response.

One of the best preventive measures you can take is planting cover crops. Not only will they build your soil, control weeds but are also very effective at reducing/eliminating insect and fungus problems.

I've been at this for decades and I don't own or ever use fungicides. They just aren't needed with good cover crops/rotation. As far as insect damage, its few and far between.

Look into it and make an informed decision. I guarantee you many farmers in your County use those practices successfully.

 

[A. Lyric]

One of the best preventive measures you can take is planting cover crops. Not only will they build your soil, control weeds but are also very effective at reducing/eliminating insect and fungus problems.

I've been at this for decades and I don't own or ever use fungicides. They just aren't needed with good cover crops/rotation. As far as insect damage, its few and far between.

Look into it and make an informed decision. I guarantee you many farmers in your County use those practices successfully

I'll look into it, Meadowlark! Thank you. Can you recommend a cover crop? How do they reduce pests and diseases? That's so interesting!! But I'll read up on it so you don't need to type up a long explanation. I appreciate you sharing your experience.
Thanks again.

 

[Meadowlark]

The better your soil, the less problems you will have with insects and fungus. The best way to make your soil "better" that I have found is to use the time-honored and proven practices of cover cropping and crop rotation. Yes, there are all kinds of articles out there that explain it better than I can.... but if you have questions several on here employ these practices and they can help including myself.

For your area I would think a good combo would be something like winter rye (Elbon rye) and clovers such as crimson and white clovers. The winter rye, in addition to providing weed control and organic matter for your soil has properties which root knot nematodes cannot tolerate. The clovers are legumes which is another topic you could wisely spend some time reading about. Legumes add nitrogen to the soil which in turn makes for stronger, better producing plants that follow in the rotation. Stronger plants = less insect problems as well as increased production.

My favorite winter cover crop is alfalfa as it is a great nitrogen fixer and generates a lot of organic matter. Vetches are good, some root plants are good at bringing up nutrients from deep in the soil e.g. Dacron radish, turnips, etc. Cereal grains like oats, wheat, etc. are very good but can be somewhat less winter hardy depending on climate.

When coupled with a smart program of summer and winter cover crops and rotation, it is not overly difficult to achieve complete independence from synthetic fertilizers, harsh insecticides, and polluting fungicides as well as produce nutrient dense food that has literally out of this world taste.

It is a journey not a destination.

 

[Mick Emery]

Kitchen trash bags with the bottom cut out will keep your water in. (5-7 gal. grow bags)
Put the trash bag in the grow bag & fill it with your growing medium.
Boom! And Bob's your uncle.

 

[A. Lyric]

The better your soil, the less problems you will have with insects and fungus.

That has always made sense to me. It's hard to believe we are gifted with seed, soil, sunshine and rain...then challenged with so many pests and diseases we can't benefit. If that's the case, I'm thinking something is off.

Each fall I've added a layer of bunny berries, dead leaves, bagged mushroom compost, and any vermicompost I have leftover. Then I second guess everything. Is that enough nitrogen? Too much? What does vermicompost really do? And is mushroom compost the best compost?

I have two raised 4' x 8' beds, another 4'x8' optimistically in the making, and seven, 7-gallon containers. That's my garden! It's challenging to rotate, particularly to rotate plants requiring something tall to grow up, because the tall, ungainly things need to rotate with them.

This summer I'm mostly walking around a bunch of diseased plants. Something is definitely “off”. But I stubbornly believe it's possible to get it right, and I've been relentless in my (mostly failed) efforts. Cover crops I've never done. I thought they were for really big gardens.

A few quick questions about cover crops. What do I do with them when planting time comes in the spring? I guess I can plant cover crops next to the garlic? And plant the cover crops after I've put my other amendments on the beds for winter?

It is a journey not a destination.

Yes, I know. I'm just hoping for better scenery along my journey.

Thank you, Meadowlark, for giving me something worth checking out in my gardening journal under “improvements for next spring”.

 

[Meadowlark]

...

This summer I'm mostly walking around a bunch of diseased plants. Something is definitely “off”. But I stubbornly believe it's possible to get it right, and I've been relentless in my (mostly failed) efforts. Cover crops I've never done. I thought they were for really big gardens.

Check out this thread. It might give some ideas.

Small scale demonstration of biodynamic farming, soil replenishment, cover cropping, crop rotation, permaculture, polyculture, and organic gardening

BACKGROUND The common response when I present the techniques I use for gardening is that the techniques will not scale down to small applications. In this thread I will attempt to demonstrate that this premise is incorrect, that in fact the techniques do scale down to as small as ONE single...

www.gardening-forums.com

A few quick questions about cover crops. What do I do with them when planting time comes in the spring? I guess I can plant cover crops next to the garlic? And plant the cover crops after I've put my other amendments on the beds for winter?

Till all that green manure into your soil. It is tremendous soil conditioner and likely better than any amendment you can purchase anywhere.

Find a source for compost, e.g. cow manure, horse, chicken, etc. and make your own amendments...again far superior to commercial stuff which carries the risk of latent herbicides in it. Also, add all the organic matter you can to your beds.

With three 4x8 beds you can set up a great rotation program. Be creative! Use companion planting. It works.

Yes, I know. I'm just hoping for better scenery along my journey.

Thank you, Meadowlark, for giving me something worth checking out in my gardening journal under “improvements for next spring”.

Start the cover crops NOW or very soon. Don't wait until spring. You can't go wrong with some legumes and/or winter ryes. It takes some time but year after year, your soil will improve, your insect problems and fungal problems virtually disappear and best of all you will produce nutrient dense veggies with great taste.

 

[DirtMechanic]

My motivation for purchasing seven fabric containers last spring – aside from being able to grow more plants – was knowing I could fill them with bagged medium from Lowes and not have to worry about squash vine borer larva lurking in it.

The problem I have with my fabric containers is watering them adequately. I mulch, I water at soil level, I don't splash, etc. But the instant, the millisecond I put the hose in, water runs out the sides of the containers. Not a little. A lot! So much so that I'm never sure the containers are well watered.

Adding to my suspicion was discovering that my first few bell peppers had blossom end rot, which I understand to be a watering issue. And following a significant rain event, the improvement in appearance and growth of all seven plants was dramatic.

Please share your thoughts and experience with fabric containers. Do you suspect watering issues? I'm wondering if I got the wrong brand or should give them up. Thank you!

Corresponding diameter saucers are used. Mine are maybe 2 inches deep. I can water once per week that way. I have 7 gallon and 15? fiber bags that are good backups. I once had a contaminated compost problem and so went that route for the summer.