Pool Gardening

I have always had trouble growing a garden because the sand content of Florida soil is so high. But I have recently found a way to solve that problem—I plant my garden in a child’s wading pool.

After poking five or six small holes in the bottom of the pool, I fill it with a mixture of one quarter dirt, one quarter peat moss, one quarter vermiculite, and one quarter fertilizer. I then plant my seeds and care for them as I would in a regular garden.

My “pool garden” requires very little upkeep—weeds rarely grow in it. And it’s economical, too. After only a small initial investment, my garden produces an outrageous number of plants. Last year I grew butter beans, squash, and cucumbers, and I harvested more cucumbers and squash than I could comfortably eat.

People who live in apartments may find this idea works well for them, too. A wading pool on their porch would let them grow fresh produce in very little space.—Frances I. Councill, Tallahassee, Florida

Illustrated by Lapine Overy