MadTomato.Org

-Terre Virna B. Tanquezon

Would you like to buy tomato at P4.00 per piece? Definitely not! Just last week, I went to the market and bought 2 pieces of tomato. I was totally surprised when the saleslady told me to pay P8.00 for that. I almost wanted to return it back but thinking of the recipe that I was going to make that time, I bought it.

Then I remembered tomatoes as well as other vegetables are so easy to grow in containers. Most of us think only of growing vegetables in an open field and vast areas of land. We tend to forget that we can easily grow it in containers just like our ornamentals in pots. So if we are afraid that we can’t grow vegetables at our doorstep, read on!

There are a number of advantages when growing our own vegetables. First, we eat it right away and enjoy its crispness, freshness and cleanliness. Second, there is no need to go to the market and exert effort to haggle the price with the sellers. Third, it is a very cheap source of vitamins and minerals essential for our health and well-being. And lastly, it is a good source of family income.

There are only few questions to answer before engaging into growing vegetables in limited spaces.

What are the vegetables that can be grown ?

What are the containers to be used?

What are the soil mixes or growing medium?

How to start planting ?

How to care for vegetables in containers?

In deciding what vegetables to plant, we should consider  adaptability and practicality. Plant vegetables that are adapted in our locality and often used in our kitchen. To name a few, we can plant tomato, eggplant, peppers, pechay, kangkong, cabbage, sweet potato for their tops and so many other vegetables.

The containers need not to be expensive. It is even better if we recycle some of our empty cans, metal or plastic drums, wooden crates, styropor fruit cases, old sacks and tires, mineral water and softdrink plastic bottles or anything that can hold soil. As long as it can be drilled with holes for proper drainage.

To add a few reminder in putting and selecting soil mixes in  our containers, we should put a thin layer of pebbles at the bottom of our containers to assure faster drainage of water. A good soil mix or growing media should be well-drained, good water retainer, and rich in organic matter . We can try experimenting with different materials like coco coir dust, garden soil, sand, carbonized rice hull and  vermicast. We only need to mix all the materials in equal proportions and that’s it. If we do not want to be bothered finding or preparing these materials, we can also buy ready made growing media like Peat moss from EWSC.

After having our growing media, we need to prepare our planting materials now. We can start it from seeds directly sown into the containers or have it grown first in seedling trays. Either way, seeds recommended are hybrids for best yield and performance. 

To care for our vegetables in containers, we just provide them adequate moisture, plenty of sunshine and nutrients. That is how simple.

So now, maybe we can already think of our favorite vegetables and grow it at our doorstep.