Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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STEP 4 Insert the ends of the two rebar arches into

the trashcans, keeping the bars about 18 in. apart.

For added interest, you can keep the arches close

together at the bottom and lean the tops outward.

Now cut 14 pieces of aluminum hobby wire, each

16 in. to 18 in. long.

STEP 5 Attach the rebar cross braces to the arches

by using wire wrapped in a figure-8 around the

intersections. Use a level and tape measure to ensure

that the crossbars are level and spaced evenly along the

arches. This, too, is a step that will be easier with the

assistance of a helper.

STEP 6 Fill each can with 8 to 10 flowering annuals,

then sow 3 to 5 squash seeds at the base of the rebar

arch. As the squash plants grow, train the young vines

to climb the arch by tying them with jute twine and

guiding them in the right direction until their tendrils

are mature enough to provide support.

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4 5

6

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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MATERIALS NEEDED

1 large, heavy

container—glazed

ceramic or terracotta

is best

1 piece of^1 ⁄ 2 -in. or

(^3) ⁄ 4 -in. metal EMT
conduit, 5 ft. long
A roll of aluminum
hobby wire
2 old bicycle tire rims
Enough 50/50 potting
soil and compost blend
to fill container
3 to 6 sweet potato
plants or slips
TOOLS NEEDED
Tape measure
Marker
Copper tubing cutter
(or hacksaw)
Wire cutter
Many gardeners avoid planting sweet potatoes simply because they
don’t have enough room for the vines to ramble all over their garden.
But it’s easy to grow a great crop of sweet potatoes by planting them in a
container and training the vines to grow up a trellis.
Sweet potatoes require a fairly long growing season, and they love hot
summer weather, so if you live in the north, look for varieties that have
been bred to produce a good crop in a shorter period of time. ‘Beauregard’
and ‘Georgia Jet’ are two good choices for growers north of the Mason-
Dixon Line.
Sweet potato vines are easily trained to grow up this bike-rim trellis;
as they grow, simply weave the vines through the spokes. You can even
make patterns and designs by weaving the vines around the spokes in a
spiral fashion.

BIKE-RIM

SWEET

POTATO

TRELLIS

Continued

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