| Which vegetables can I grow on a balcony in a container pot? Also, how do you grow Texas Sage? |
| Most any vegetable can be grown in a container, provided the container is large enough. Corn would be a bit impractical as many plants are needed for good pollination, but most other veggies can be container grown. It is important to choose a good growing mix rather than using garden soil, to select the proper size container and to water and fertilize regularly. Many suitable types of soilless mixes are commercially available or you can mix your own with 25% peat moss, 25% compost, 25% perlite or vermiculite (for drainage and aeration), and 25% washed builder's sand. Container size will vary according to the vegetable to be grown and space available. Pots from 6 to 10 inches in size are satisfactory for green onion, parsley and herbs. For most vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, you will find 5-gallon containers are the most suitable size. They're fairly easy to handle and provide adequate space for root growth. Larger containers like half whiskey barrels are fine too. Regardless of the type or size of container used, adequate drainage is a necessity for successful yields. Make sure the container drains well. Container grown vegetables need regular watering as their roots are confined. Daily or twice daily watering may be required in the summer to keep up with plant's needs. Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) is an evergreen shrub, native to arid western areas. As a result it prefers a sunny, dry, sandy site with a soil pH of at least 7, and despises moist, poorly drained, and acidic soil. It typically will flower in cycles during the summer in the lower south, often after rains that follow dry periods. It needs little pruning, but may benefit aesthetically from periodic grooming to trim back leggy growth that often develops over time. |
