Gourmet Gardener: Container crop time
Our Gourmet Gardener, Tara Kate Linnane, is busy outdoors this month...
While March can be unpredictable weatherwise, we are guaranteed the familiar peppering of fresh green growth throughout our gardens in the coming weeks. Buds are preparing to open and the grass is beginning to show signs of life again.
This month the hour springs forward, meaning we have long evenings to potter in the garden. I have been using the extra length in the day to get to business with sowing seeds – tomatoes, beans, brassicas and salads.
Many of these crops can be grown in containers, which save on space and could be a suitable option for those that do not have a large garden or plot. I also find having a few crops extra in a couple of pots that can be moved around is always worth the extra effort. You can move them closer to the house for easy pickings for dinner!
I have picked my top three container crops, which you can sow now in March for your container garden.
Swiss chard
A crop that I go back to each year is Swiss Chard. This is not readily available in the supermarket, so it is a treat when you can grow the vibrant crop at home. Chard makes a very attractive container plant. Varieties such as ‘bright lights’ offer beautiful stained glass coloured stems, and the leaves can be picked and used as greens.
I highly recommend this to grow in a container or in a plot. The seeds are quite big so I sow one seed per module of compost. Cover and keep watered on a sunny windowsill before the young plants can be acclimated to the colder outdoors in their new container home. You can plant a couple of plants together in a pot for a long lasting harvest.
Chives
Chives are great for container growing as they don’t take up much space. They are adorned with pretty purple flowers during the summer, which are fabulous for attracting pollinators. You can sow a pinch of seed into a small pot and keep on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse. Water regularly.
Once the weather warms up, you can transplant the chives into a nice pot outdoors or even on a balcony. Pick regularly to encourage new leaves.
Kale
Kale is a versatile crop. It is recognised as being both ornamental and a healthy edible. It can sit as comfortably within a flower border as it does in a veg patch. It makes a lovely container plant and you can even plant it with other ornamentals for interest.
There are a number of varieties that provide different colour leaves, from deep purple to inviting green.
Kale can be grown in semi shade, so again could be a good option for balcony gardens. Seeds should be sown indoors to germinate before hardening off young plants for containers outdoors. If growing in a container, choose a largish pot with plenty of space for the roots to grow and fill. The crop can be harvested throughout the season with young leaves to use in salads, or lightly steamed as a veg.
Things to consider
When growing crops in containers you will need to manage the watering more carefully. Pots tend to dry out faster than the ground.
Group containers together to create a nice display for the summer months – a feast for your eyes as well as your mouths!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Tara Kate Linnane is passionate about sustainability and growing all things edible. Together with her husband Barry, she has embarked on a journey of designing edible spaces and getting others started on their gardening adventures.
Follow their journey on Instagram@twopeas_inapolytunnelor visit: thefoodscapedesignco.com to make contact for information.
Competition time!
If you have already started a pollinator project with an area for flowers this year, or are thinking of building your own bee hotel I would love to see and share some of your pictures. Please send them directly to foodscapedesignco@gmail.com or you can share them on instagram and tag @twopeas_inapolytunnel to be included in the competition. Remember to include a caption and names.
Entries Must be in by Tuesday, March 23, and a winner will be selected and announced the following week in this newspaper and online.