Growing in Containers in the Fall, by HOSS on YouTube. 29 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 29 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick containers sized to your crop. Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach need about 6 to 8 inches of soil depth, while carrots, broccoli and cabbage need 10 to 12 inches or more.
Check that every pot has drainage holes. Drill or punch holes in the base if there are none, so fall rain and watering do not pool and rot the roots.
Choose fabric grow bags for good airflow and easy moving, or wood boxes for insulation in cold weather. Plastic and terracotta work too but dry out or crack faster.
Fill containers with a light potting mix rather than garden soil. Garden soil compacts in pots and drains poorly, which harms roots in cool, wet fall weather.
Place containers where they get at least 6 hours of sun and are sheltered from strong wind. Move pots closer to a wall or house for extra warmth as nights cool.
Sow seeds at the depth on the packet and keep the mix moist but not soaked. Small seeds like lettuce and carrots germinate poorly if they dry out, so water lightly every day until sprouts appear.
Thin seedlings once they are an inch or two tall so plants have room to grow. Crowded containers produce small, weak crops.
Water in the morning and check the mix an inch down before watering again. Cool fall weather means less water is needed than in summer.
Cover plants with frost cloth or old sheets when a freeze is forecast. Drape it over supports so the fabric does not touch the leaves, and remove it in the morning.
Tips and common mistakes
Wet potting mix is heavy, so place large containers where they will stay before filling them.
Terracotta pots can crack in a hard freeze, so bring them under cover or switch to fabric or wood for winter.
Do not let containers sit in saucers full of water during fall rains, as soggy roots kill more plants than cold does.
Check the soil moisture under the frost cover, since plants still need water on cold days.
Questions
What can I grow in containers in fall?
Lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, carrots, broccoli and cabbage all do well. Choose quick crops like greens if your first frost comes soon.
How do I stop my pots freezing solid?
Group pots together against a warm wall, wrap them in bubble wrap or burlap, and cover plants with frost cloth on cold nights. Larger containers hold heat longer than small ones.
Do I need special soil for containers?
Yes, use a potting mix made for containers. It is lighter and drains better than garden soil, which turns hard and waterlogged in pots.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
