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Front Porch Agriculture Posted by David-Shenandoah Valley of VA on September 9, 2024, 4:48 pm Just before the 4th of July, I went into Lowes to get some mulch. While there, I looked at some of their garden plants. I've been wanting to try sweet potatoes. I found them and some Ice Box Watermelons. At that time, we were about a month into some hot and dry weather. I decided to try them in a container and place them on the front porch so they could be easily watered and could also be protected from hungry wildlife. At present, I do have small sweet potatoes forming. I also have a few peach sized watermelons. My guess is that the watermelons may not get big enough based on their current size. I believe I have a better chance with the sweet potatoes. I think I can keep them going until late October or early November. It helps that they are a root crop. The variety is Beauregard.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by Tom in PA on September 9, 2024, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Front Porch Agriculture" Good luck with those crops. I’ve grown watermelon but never any type of potato. Is that a Majesty palm in the background?

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by David-Shenandoah Valley of VA on September 9, 2024, 7:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Front Porch Agriculture" It probably is. There are three of them on the porch. They were $5 marked down specials at Walmart back in March. There are also 2 snake plants, 2 hummingbird mints, a petunia, and a fig cutting I'm rooting.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by Rob N TN on September 9, 2024, 9:48 pm, in reply to "Front Porch Agriculture" Looks like a bunch of other goodies too. David watermelon can easily be contained but a 5g pot is best and for the sweet potatoes (so good for you) are wonderful pot grown. You will need a trellis for easy pickings and a good pot with drainage holes. They need full sun and a wind break if possible and don't forget the soil enriched with compost is best. You got this and nice to see people trying other forms of gardening.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by Fred SC on September 10, 2024, 6:09 am, in reply to "Front Porch Agriculture" David, I never have much luck growing in pots. I do think sweet potatoes should do well. Next year, I may try growing some of the small tennis ball size potatoes we get at Lowe’s. They start rot to sprout after a time in the bin , so I am thinking they might work well? We bought sweet potatoes yesterday. A very healthy food.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by Alvin, z6 on September 10, 2024, 8:38 pm, in reply to "Front Porch Agriculture" That's so cool, David! Yeah, melons need an earlier start, than July, even though icebox types mature a tad sooner, than regular sized ones. SAme goes for sweet potatoes,, if you want big ones.. I'm kinda surprised you are growing them in a window of, though. You have more ground space, than me. Nice mixed arrangement, too.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by David-Shenandoah Valley of VA on September 11, 2024, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Front Porch Agriculture" The watermelon and sweet potato plants were just an impulse buy while getting mulch at Lowes around the beginning of July. At the time, we had already had weeks of dry weather and above normal temperatures. I wanted to try them, but I didn't want to carry a lot of water. The chance of that was 100% at the time. Plus, I was planning on being away in a couple of weeks, so container gardening would allow me to retain moisture longer. Beauregard sweet potatoes are supposed to mature in 90 days. If I can keep them going until the beginning of November, it will be almost 120 days. The sheltered location on the south-facing porch might make it possible. I can see a couple of small potatoes forming already. It's a fun experiment. I'll see how it goes. There are Majesty Palms, petunias, hummingbird mint, snake plants, and a rooted fig cutting on the porch also. I tried to plant one of the hummingbird mints earlier, but a rabbit ate about 80% of it, so I dug it back up again.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by David-Shenandoah Valley of VA on September 11, 2024, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Front Porch Agriculture" It's just a fun experiment. With the hot and dry summer, I knew it would take a lot of watering to maintain them out in the open. I might try it next year, but starting earlier.

Re: Front Porch Agriculture Posted by David-Shenandoah Valley of VA on September 11, 2024, 2:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Front Porch Agriculture" Thanks. It was just an impulse buy. I love sweet potatoes. If I'm halfway successful, I might try it again, except starting earlier. There are ($5 marked down Walmart special) Majestry palms, snake plants, hummingbird mint, petunias, and a rooting fig cutting also on the porch. I tried to plant one of the hummingbird mints earlier, but a rabbit ate about 80% of it. So, I dug it up.

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