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Florida Gardening

Calling all experts

14 years ago

Everyone here is so knowledgeable and I enjoy reading all your posts. I need help.

I want to grow some veggies but am at a loss as what and how to grow here in Miami. I have many of the silver storage bins and am wondering if I could use them. Or would they get too hot and bake the roots? I planned on locating them behind a garage that gets tons of sun and faces south. I can locate them almost any where in my yard if you all don't think that would be a good location.

I planned on drilling holes along the botton and using packing peanuts for drainage in the bins.

Also wondering how much space I need for watermelons. could I plant in a low container and let the vine spill over?

I don't have any help, so building a raised bed or digging is out of the question. I thank you all in advance. One more question; What are good websites, or books for a beginner? Also seed sites. Thanks again,

Dena

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Comments (5)

msmarion
14 years ago
Here is a place to start with times to plant etc.
Have fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: Check it out!
amberroses
14 years ago
If the bins are made of metal it would probably be too hot. You would need to find something to insulate them from the sun. Cover the outside in something like styrofoam but more attractive and easier to work with. I am drawing a blank on suggestions at the moment. If they are plastic bins you can use them or spray paint the outside a lighter color to reflect the light. You don't need packing peanuts if you drill drainage holes and use good draining potting soil.

I had a watermelon in a container last year. I used an icebox variety called Mickeylee which is a little smaller in size that regular watermelons. It was in maybe a 7 gallon plastic pot. I tried to trellis the vines but gave up and let them grow on the floor. I got about 5 small watermelons from the one plant. It did have a lot of disease problems, but I didn't spray anything because it had an entire ladybug colony on it. It was vigorous enough to outgrow the diseases. The hardest part was deciding when the watermelons were ripe.
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denafern
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks msmarion. Any thoughts on the containers I want to use?
tomncath
14 years ago
Hi Dena,

It's getting late now for many veggies, not sure about watermelons since I don't have the room to grow them.

Are your bins plastic or metal?

Don't use packing peanuts at the bottom, you would only be raising the Perched Water Table, not a good thing. Read this post and you'll have a better grasp of container soil dynamics.

Tom
denafern
Original Author
14 years ago
The bins are plastic and they are a dull silver color. They are 18 gals I think. So they are pretty big. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll read everything you all sent and I guess learn by trial. Thanks again.

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