CHINESE CONTAINER GARDENS - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 189

2 tablespoons superphosphate (0-20-0)
Keep your soilless mix in a covered container when not in use, so it stays sterile.
Keep the tools you use for working with it as clean as possible also. (I keep a plastic
scoop right in the container.) If you garden with things that go into the dishwasher
(many people use kitchen spoons), you can be sure your utensils won't spread disease
from one container to another.
Fertilizer for Containers
Any good garden fertilizer works for containers, but some types are particularly handy.
(See page 196 for more about fertilizers.) Any formula that's described as being good
for vegetables will give you a satisfactory crop, and you won't have to do anything ex-
cept follow the recommendations on the label. With outdoor container gardens, remem-
ber that rainfall is constantly washing out nutrients, so these need fertilizing more often
than plants growing inside or in the ground. This is especially true after a long rainy
stretch. (In dry weather, when you're supplying all the plants' water, this is less of a
problem.) Indoors or out, it's safest to feed frequently but lightly.
Time-release fertilizers. These are a boon for today's busy gardeners because they're
added once and last all season. Mix into the soil before potting (the label usually gives
amounts for pots of different sizes). That may be all you need, but keep an eye on
your plants. Large vines and heavy-bearing plants may need a snack later in the season.
Liquid fertilizers. These make it easy to supply a late-season snack. Or you can use
them all season long, feeding as you water. For container plants, dilute liquid fertilizer
to at least half the strength recommended on the label. Some gardeners prefer to feed
plants with quarter-strength fertilizer every couple of weeks.
Watering Containers
Watering outdoor containers isn't much different from watering an inground garden.
Theoretically, plants need an inch of rain a week, but various conditions affect this.
Some plants are thirstier than others. Large plants, and those with a big root system,
need more frequent watering. A windy or very hot, dry day evaporates water much more
quickly than a still or humid one.
You can set a small dish out near the plants; if the cat doesn't drink it, it will give
you a rough record of rainfall. You can also buy a rain gauge, but I'd rather go by the
appearance of each individual plant. Check the soil in each container. If it seems dry an
inch down, it needs water. Don't let excess water stand in a saucer more than a couple
of hours; most vegetables dislike having “wet feet” just as humans do.