I grew them successfully in 2008 over in SW Michigan near Grand Rapids. They were started inside and transplanted much like tomatoes. They weren't very big when I put them in after the weather warmed up and they grew fine. They were in a raised bed with well drained soil so the soil was probably warmer than it would have been in the open garden. I didn't grow them this year. I think they look alot nicer than they taste :) and I will probably grow them again because they look cool. A few students recognized them (I had them in a school garden bed) and said they grew them at home, also. I should have gotten recipes from them! Clemson spineless was the variety I grew which I now hear is not the best tasting....so maybe I will like them more if I grow another variety. Try them again using transplants. Wait until the weather is warm to set them out....like when you would plant melons. Maybe try warming the soil before planting with plastic mulch. I think they would be good candidates for containers but have not grown them that way. Using a dark colored pot might help warm the soil more. Mine did fine even during dry spells, another trait that may be helpful when growing in containers.

A treat! I would hate to have to lug around those big clay pots. Blond on the Inside is appealing. And yes, after seeing many wretched photos of a deformed Blissful Blackberry Pie, it is interesting to see what it is supposed to look like. A great setting for the daylilies--a slight slope. A bit surprised, though, that there was not some inclusion of other plants (for accent or counterpoint) in all that area. This post was edited by mantis__oh on Sat, Jun 28, 14 at 22:49

Great slideshows Paul.. Thanks for sharing them... was hoping someone was going to post pics. Wasn't able to attend the convention but did manage to get to Rochester yesterday to take in the leaf show and vendors area. From the people I talked to it sounds like it was a great convention.

David, Interesting to read about your methods and results. Although I've gardened for 40 plus years I really never used containers till 2 years ago. This is my 3rd growing season with them. So far I've mainly grown tomatoes in them. Have one pepper plant in a container this year. Last year was better than the first and so far this year the plants are looking good for what they are and as late as I planted most of them. Due to the drought and my current work situation I only have plants in 11 containers. I use the 25-30 gallon feed tubs. I can get all I want for free from about any farmer/rancher around here who has cattle. They work well. I've grown in smaller containers. My personal opinion is the bigger the better and I would want at least a 5 gallon for even a smaller type tomato. I know several growers who have good results in ten gallon containers. I recycle my mix like you do. This year I added some HuMore compost and a little of the organic fertilizer I used this year. I tried a product from Fox Farms called Happy Frog for tomatoes. I've been impressed with the results. I also mixed a little in around the top and will again around Sept 1st. My plans for my container plants is I will move them from the partially shaded area they are currently in to full sun as the temps cool and then on into my lean to I put up and hope to extend my season 4-6 weeks. Some of these plants will be just starting to produce I figure about the time I move them inside. One thing I've found here in our heat that David don't have a problem with is the containers and especially the black ones will get real hot and even cook the roots. This year I put straw bales around the containers and also mulched the top well. I can tell a big difference even in the extreme heat we had this summer. I've used several potting mixes. I prefer the Ball mixes. I don't use potting soil. I have mixed in some manure compost before from my pens, some pecan hulls and some leaves if I have them. But this year it was just the HuMore mixed in with what was in there except the last 2 which got some Soil Mender I had handy and wanted to use up. Bonnie and anyone else growing okra in a container. I wonder how Stewart's Zeebest would do in a container. It is a big bushy plant so one to a container would be plenty. And one of them will usually out produce several regular plants. And a good eating variety also. In the garden I space them 3-5 feet a part. Jay