Expert: nick mccann - 9/18/2008

Question
I live in Southwest Florida and would like to try a container vegetable garden for the first time. I'd like to plant at the end of Sept. or Oct. For a container could I use an old child's plastic swimming pool? If not I have five gallon buckets. What could and should I plant for my garden in these containers? I love all vegetables and herbs.
Thank you

Answer
Hi Jennifer, I am in in SW Florida also, so I can advise you really well on this, for I too grow all my Veggies in containers; you can use the plastic pool, just make sure you punch some sizable holes in the bottom so there is no pooling of water in the bottom. Use a quality potting soil and mulch the top after you plant your choice of vegetables. The five gallon buckets can be used also, again lots of drainage holes, and mulched on top to keep the soil from drying out too quickly. There are certain tomatoes that do better then others here, I like Celebrity, Jettstar and Patio to name a few; hot peppers can be grown all year, where the sweet ones are pretty much done by April, but from now through April, you can plant a plethora of vegetables....happy container gardening Jennifer!..Nick:)