Did you receive a vegetable container from us this year (2022)? To register your information, click here.
If you received a container in previous years, and would like to know when next year’s distribution will happen so you can possibly receive one again, email gift@hcmga.org.
For more assistance, please call the Hamilton County Purdue Extension Education Center at 317-776-0854, or email hamiltongardenline@gmail.com. To connect with to committee that prepared your container vegetables, please click here. There are also many free resources available from Purdue Extension.
2022 Tomato:
DWARF MALLEE ROSE TOMATO: Dwarf Mallee Rose is a rugose, regular leaf variety that is a heavy producer of medium-large (five to fourteen ounce), oblate-shaped, pink fruits. The fruits are smooth, slightly ribbed, juicy, and meaty with a nice, sweet flavor. This is a beautiful slicing variety that grows on 3.5ft tall plants. They are perfect slicers that begin to ripen at around the 75 days, continuing to heavily produce all season long. Dwarf Mallee Rose will do well in containers.
Sun, Watering, and Feeding:
Place your container in full sun (at least 6 hours of sun a day).
Containers need watered every day, preferably in the morning. If the soil begins to feel dry and look lighter in color, you’ll want to give the plant more water. You can tell if the soil needs more water by digging down into the soil a couple of inches. If it feels dry, water until it drains out of the bottom. Pour water on slowly, being careful to not flood the plant. In hot, dry weather, this could be more than once a day.
Those that received a container garden in June should have received a small packet of fertilizer. This should be “scratched in” to the soil around the outer edges of the plant(s) in late June or early July.
Harvesting Basil:
You can find more information on growing herbs by clicking here.
Click here for more information on using and storing basil.
Harvesting Sweet Onions:
Click here to read more about growing onions.
Click here for more information on using and storing onions.
Harvesting Peppers:
To learn more about growing and storing peppers, click here.
Harvesting Tomatoes:
To read more about growing tomatoes, click here.
Common tomato problems are discussed here.
Click here for more information on using and storing tomatoes.
Common Pests:
If you see a hornworm on your tomato, pick it off and destroy it asap. Be sure to regularly check for this pest.
Ready To Do More Gardening?
This publication from Purdue Extension Department of Horticulture will help to guide you through the growing season.