RE: [CH] Which Grow Best In Pots?

T. Matthew Evans (matt.evans@ce.gatech.edu)
Thu, 13 Mar 2003 09:39:36 -0500 

Paul -

Love your method for "converting" the 5-gallon bucket.  I use a similar
procedure for mine.  I just wanted to point out that by using the
fine-over-coarse soil layering in your buckets you are also increasing the
storage capacity of your growing medium (an added bonus, I must say).  Note
also that the soil in this configuration will always (always!) drain prior
to saturation (assuming that the system is not clogged), thus avoiding any
type of root rot.  The concept is called a capillary barrier and is often
used in design of pavement subgrades in areas where frost heave of soils is
a problem or in landfill covers in arid regions.

The bottom line, I suppose, is just that you are using a setup that is
vastly superior to "dirt in a pot".

Matt

P.S. - Many of the seeds that you sent are starting to sprout - are you
having any luck with mine?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
T. Matthew Evans
Research Assistant
Geosystems Group, School of CEE
Georgia Institute of Technology
URL:  www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte964w
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-chile-heads@globalgarden.com
[mailto:owner-chile-heads@globalgarden.com]On Behalf Of The NorthEast
ChileMan
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 6:48 AM
To: RisaG; chile-heads@globalgarden.com
Subject: Re: [CH] Which Grow Best In Pots?

Hi Risa!
   Sorry for the delay in response. Never too busy to help a PepperBud
though...
  Although my experience with growing in pots is limited to the last three
years, I find my yields in pots is as large as in the ground. Where do you
think those fresh peppers from me in Dec. come from? Five gal. pails in the
cellar, of course!
      IMHO the secret is in the soil. I've tried using soil from the garden
with amendments, with limited success. I've been using Miracle-Gro Potting
Mix for the last two seasons & have been very pleased with the results.


http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=productGuide.productDetails&p
artnerId=100003&poeSiteId=10928&strCategoryId=23830&strProductId=101725&dsvs
=FF56340E-9EEB-4138-B12D-FD44602D0E19,x,x

I believe the looseness of potting soils allows more root growth than plain
soil, thereby allowing plant to reach it's maxim fruitset. I usually put two
average size plants in one five gal. pail & have always had great results.
At bottom of E-Mail is my procedure for converting five gal. pails into El
Grande growing pots.

Yours in heat,
Paul
Usual disclaimers, I do not have any association with Miracle-Gro

Paul's Perfectly Potted Pepper Plants
Gather the following:
5 gal. pails
Pea gravel
Landscape fabric
Miracle-Gro Potting Soil
1/4" drill
3' bamboo stakes

Drill 20 or so holes in bottom of pail
Put an inch of pea gravel in pail
Line pail with landscape fabric
Fill to an inch of top with soil
Stick stake in center of pail & tie handle to it
Put 1 to 3 seedlings in soil
Add sunshine & water
Pick fruit when ripe
Overwinter plants in sunny spot


----- Original Message -----
From: "RisaG" <radiorlg@yahoo.com>
To: <chile-heads@globalgarden.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 March, 2003 3:00 PM
Subject: [CH] Which Grow Best In Pots?


> Since I am growing 20 types of heirloom tomatoes this
> year, I don't have as much room for chiles. I am
> growing 12 kinds of chiles, which at least 9 will be
> in the ground. Of the following, which would do best
> in the pots?
>
> Lemon Drop
> Orange Thai
> Orange Serrano
> Guam Boonie
> Fish pepper
> Yellow Mushroom
> Stripe Peppers
> Orange Devil Habanero
> Piquillo
> Ring of Fire*
> Spanish Spice
> Little Nubian
>
> * I have grown Ring of Fire in pots and it grows well
> and very prolific. Not very tall but lots of chiles.
>
> So, what do you think? Which ones would do better in
> pots? I have a feeling hab wouldn't do well. They need
> a lot of growing space.
>
>
>
> =====
> RisaG
>
> Risa's Food Service
> http://www.geocities.com/radiorlg
> Updated 3/07/03
>
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