(5/2020) I’ve never experienced a weirder spring. Not only is the weather odd – April seems to have been colder and windier than March, no one is traveling, working from home makes each day the same as the last. Penn State Extension and University of Maryland Extension programs have been cancelled or converted to on-line classes. No hands-on gardening classes for us this spring.

But as more and more people are at home, questions about vegetable gardening have increased exponentially. The impact of how we take care of our environment, from our water to our bees, will become even more important as we drift through these odd times.

April would have allowed temperatures, rainfall, and time for planting potatoes, peas, beets, lettuce and onions as well as well as transplants of cabbage, broccoli, kale and brussel sprouts. But when it comes to growing veggies, May is THE month. The soil warms up enough to support our late spring crops, and with a little protection and a watchful eye on the weather, we can begin planting. All of the legume crops like green beans, pole beans can go in the ground. The cucurbits, like zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers and melons seeds can be planted in late May. Transplants of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are ready to be planted in late May.

Now that we are thinking more about growing our own food, those that haven’t done it before or haven’t grown food for quite some time may not be sure where to start.

Growing vegetables can happen any place there is a minimum of 6 – 8 hours of sunlight a day. This could be in containers, in a raised bed, mixed in with the foundation plantings around your home, in perennials and annual beds, or on a deck or patio. Let’s dissect why and how we might grow vegetables in these different situations.

Raised beds: the advantage to growing in raised beds is three-fold. One – soil in a raised bed warms up quicker in the spring. This allows for earlier planting of seeds. Two – drainage in a raised bed is typically better. Water drains quicker and reduces the potential for seeds rotting in the soil. Three – raised beds are so easy to manage. From adding compost, avoiding compaction of the soil by not walking on it, easily covering crops for insect control or frost protection, a 4’ x 8’ raised bed can grow lots of food and is small enough to scout for insects and diseases, manage weeds, and very easy to harvest.

Containers: Today there are many cultivars of vegetables that have been developed particularly for this purpose – growing in containers. When considering this way of growing, the first thing to plan is the container itself. Clay dries out quickly. Particular attention to watering must occur in the heat of the summer. Remember these plants are needing 6 – 8 hours of sunlight so between the porous pot and the sun, plants can wilt quickly.

Glazed containers, like decorative ceramics, are a better choice then clay if watering is as issue. But expense of those pots is not often practical. Plastic pots seems to be one of the most affordable material for containers, and hold water much better than clay. Other materials may include fabric bags, buckets, erosion control socks, and wooden boxes. The options are almost endless. But when choosing a container, be sure it is manageable, affordable, and big enough to grow the veggies you want.

Most any crops can be grown in containers. We just need to be sure that when determining the type of material the pots are made of, we also much be sure our pots are large enough to support the plant we are growing. I often grow cherry tomatoes in a large pot on my deck because they drop their fruit and reseed the following year so much that on a deck, that problem is non-existent. The size of container I use is an 18" plastic pot. This seems to be large enough to support the one tomato plant throughout the summer.

Salad greens are very easy to grow in containers, as are beans, cabbage and kale, and some cultivars of zucchini. Once you begin to do a little research on vegetable for container gardening, you will be amazed at the choices available. Just be sure that you don’t under-estimate the size of the pots for the plants.

Soil for containers is also unique to growing in the ground. Compost and potting mix is a good combination for containers. It drains well, and holds moisture well. Don’t use garden soil as it dries out too quickly and becomes hard as a rock, as will as carries disease that becomes a problem in a container.

When growing in containers, be aware of nutrition needs of the vegetable plants. Using slow release fertilizers are a good choice for this purpose. Veggies are needy – from nutrition to water, container growing adds a little extra attention. However, weeding isn’t an issue – yeah! – like it is in the ground. That’s always a good thing!

What if you don’t have space for a garden, and no patio or spot to put containers? How about mixing vegetables in with your other plants – maybe in front of the shrubs, or mixed in with perennial or annual beds? This can add texture to your beds, and interesting combinations as well. Growing gourds on a trellis can be quite interesting in a perennial garden. Or a grouping of kale along the front walkway can add texture to your entrance that you may not get from any other plant. How about planting some purple bush beans as an edging in front of the shrubs. The color will be interesting and I’ll bet no one else in the neighborhood will have the same annual plants!

Wherever you are growing your vegetables, be sure the sunlight is available. Remember, a minimum of 6 – 8 hours a day. Also be sure water is available to the location that the vegetables are growing. As fun as it is to grow our own food, we must be sure we can provide the needed sunlight and water to be as successful as possible. Also be committed to the crops. Be willing to scout for insects and diseases and figure out the best way to manage those potential issues.

Even though the extension offices are physically closed now, all counties are still open for business through emails and phone calls. Ask questions as you begin your gardens and understand the best way for you to grow. We are here to help you. If you have gardening questions, call us at 717-334-6271 or email mar35@psu.edu. Someone will get back to you as soon as we are able. It’s better to ask then to guess for the most successful season possible.

Read other articles by Mary Ann Ryan