From: karpen@nrlfs1.nrl.navy.mil (Judy Karpen)
Subject: Re: Potted vegetables, ideas needed.
Followup-To: rec.gardens
Organization: NRL
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 21:46:28 GMT

[earlier discussion deleted]
> Question:
> 	How do other gardeners, with tight space limitations, decide what to grow
> and what to accept as "having to come from the grocer"?
> 	
> 	Would you really trade an extra vine of red beefsteaks for a bowl of
> purple mashed potatoes? ( If so I _promise_ I'll try the potatoes. ) 
> 
> 
> 			- Andrew -

My criteria are very similar to yours, Andrew (sort of like convergent
evolution? ;^> ) I also have a very small garden (three 3-4'x 6-8' raised
beds, 
plus an asparagus patch), and also started growing things in pots out of
desperation. Sun isn't as much of a problem for me, though, except for
1 bed that was placed too close to a tree (my own fault). If i had more
space, I'd try potatoes, melons, squash (well, maybe not), and other
sprawlers.  Instead, I tend to grow things I can't get in stores, don't
attract bugs or otherwise need lots of attention, AND that I eat alot of
(hence the asparagus). 

Here in the DC area one can find excellent organic potatoes of all colors, 
for example, and I don't eat them constantly, so they're not a 
priority with me (although i'm sure homegrown WOULD would taste better).
Greens are a big item in my diet, the more exotic types aren't often
available in stores, and they're easy to grow, so I grow lots of them:
broccoli rabe, mustard, swiss chard, kale, etc. (next year, growing mizuna
for sure). Tomatoes, of course, but I find it hard to fight fungal 
diseases because I don't have enough beds to do a decent rotation. Beans
(pole or bush) are a necessity --- the pole beans take up less horizontal
space, taste great, and bear for months. Ditto for yard-long beans, which
are fun besides. Peppers (hot and sweet red) also are a staple for me,
and can be grown easily in pots. Herbs -- basil, plus perennials that are
tucked in here and there (just thymes and rosemary at present). I also
grow garlic, although it started just as a companion-planting exercise
and I haven't quite caught on to when to harvest it. This year I removed
the tops when they wilted, then cleverly mulched the beds without marking
the garlic sites, so I lost most of the bulbs! Really Dumb. Another set of
vegetables worth growing are Chinese vegs. like bok choy, white radish,
etc., unless you live near a good Oriental grocery and/or don't care
whether it's organic. 

Marginal vegs. IMHO: Tried carrots but was disappointed; since organic
carrots are very common in stores I might not bother again. Tried okra this
year
too, but they produce sequentially so one would need lots of plants to get
a decent quantity at one time. Anyone know if there's some variety (pref.
dwarf) that is more productive? The flowers sure are pretty! Radishes: easy
to grow, but i always wonder why i bother (except for black radishes, which
are hard to buy and good to eat). Same for lettuce --- slugs like it more
than I do, anyway.

Things I've considered trying: spinach (too easy to buy), cucumbers (bug
magnets), radicchio (had 1 plant & liked it), chinese broccoli, beets. 
Question: Is it worth growing onions, either scallion or bulb types, in a
small
garden? 


Judy Karpen                "pushing back the frontiers of science"
karpen@nrlfs1.nrl.navy.mil