Sunday, August 29, 2010

Bush Beans in a Pot

My gardening this year has been filled with lots of highs and lows. My containers have been the most successful, but even with those I've had some problems. When my eggplant died in June, I decided to try some Bush Beans in the now empty pot.

I soaked the seeds and then put them in peat pellets for sprouting. This works successfully for me as long as I transplanted them before the roots became too established.

I planted the sprouts in the empty pot. Of the twelve seeds, one was raided by a deck critter. I planted the remaining eleven. Probably too many, but I hated to waste Any. As you can see, five were fast starters. Of the remaining six, three more developed into productive plants.

The plants started producing about two weeks ago. On Sunday, I got my largest picking, enough for a nice dinner side dish. And there are lots more still to come. I count my Bush Beans in a pot a gardening success, at least for this year.

Do you do container gardening? What are some of your success stories? - Margy

8 comments:

  1. Hey, good for you, Margy. Glad your beans blossomed and became more beans.
    I'm an off-again on-again gardener of very little skill. My biggest success story had to be the year my squash plants decided to climb the big blue spruce tree. They did just fine until the squashes got too heavy, then they all came tumbling down. They still ended up on the table, however, and were delicious.
    This year I didn't plant any vegetables because last fall we adopted a gold retriever who loves to eat vegetables. I even tried to kill my rhubarb so she wouldn't try eating the leaves, but it turns out she's smarter than that.
    I have plenty of gardening stories but few successes. ;~)
    -- K

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  2. As you know most of my gardening is done in containers too, this year my turnips have done really well and you can eat the tops as well the root. I loved the last post about the chard, I just have a mental image now of you sitting sewing chard leaves together!

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  3. Well done! My veggie garden was a failure this year. After the move I will be happy to see what else I can grow on 6 acres! Nice to enjoy yours virtually!

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  4. Very nice-- they look delicious! We don't have any containers at all, because we're not faithful waterers! We have a raised bed with an irrigation hose so it doesn't take much work. Our spinach and lettuce did horribly this year-- it's been such a cool, weird summer! Our beans and peas have thrived, though.

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  5. Kay - A vegetable eating dog. Sounds kind of unusual. Our friend John's Black Lab eats a lot, but not veggies. For that matter, John doesn't either.

    Fran - Your barge will be a a wonderful place for growing in containers. I am excited about watching all the progress.

    Jenn - Sounds like your new place will have lots of growing room. That'll be fun for you.

    lizzi - Yes it has been a weird growing season. I have either great successes or huge failures, nothing in between.

    Thanks everyone for stopping by to comment. - Margy

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  6. That's a great idea! I may try it next year. I grow vegetables and herbs in pots on my deck because either there's not enough sun in the yard or the critters eat it. Basically, I grow various kinds of tomatoes, basil, peppers, lettuce. I have some carrot seeds I should plant very soon. Next year, I'll plant cucumbers.

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  7. What kind of cucumbers did you plant? or does it matter?

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  8. Thanks for stopping by Splendid - I had two false starts with my cucumbers this year, but the ones that took hold and have been producing well were called Marketmore. They make a firm fleshed fruit with a slightly sweet flavour. The skin is a bit thick, but gives it a nice crunch. I bought the two sets at the local nursery so I assumed they were good for our locale and they have turned out fine. - Margy

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy