We want to put out a simple container veggie garden this spring to help cut grocery bills even further than we already have. We're focusing on a few simple things we eat a lot that aren't especially cheap at the local farmer's market. Such as various lettuces, heirloom tomatoes, and some herbs.
We're using 28-lb kitty litter buckets for large containers and cut-off 2-liter soda bottles and similar products for smaller containers. Both will have rocks and holes in the bottoms for drainage. We have a relatively small area of yard that gets enough sun for a vegetable garden, so our space is limited. Because I don't trust the dirt in our yard to be free of contaminants, we'll probably buy bagged soil.
We have lots of rabbits here, will setting our containers up on large cinder blocks be enough to keep the rabbits from reaching them? What else could we do without spending money? Where should we look to find unusual heirloom tomatoes to plant? Should we look for plants, or try to start from seed? What other tips can more experienced gardeners here share with us? We want to minimize expense and keep the work simple, while harvesting yummy produce. Thank you in advance!
Hardiness Zone: 5b
By Weavre Cooper from PA
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Because you will not be getting nutrients from the ground you will need to feed them occasionally. follow the recommendation of how often for the plant food you buy.
I grow a lot of vegetables in hanging baskets to keep animals away. I have had success with tumbling tomatoes and herbs. If you can get a child's sandpit on legs this could be used with holes punched in the bottom for salad ingredients, such as bell peppers, garlic, spring onions, lettuce, radishes etc, cress can be grown indoors on the windowsill as can herbs.
Outside you can plant sage, rosemary. mint etc in the flower beds. I doubt animals would like the taste of herbs all except parsley which peter rabbit loved lol
Other vegetables grow underground such as tubers and wouldn't be touched by animals such as potatoes, new potatoes, carrots.
I think your problem areas would be plants close to the ground such as cabbages and broccoli which you may have to cover with a framework of chicken wire mesh, which is what I would use.
Runner beans, green beans grow up poles and are also out of the reach of rabbits.
If you have a list of things you want to grow people could think up animal free solutions hopefully carol x
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