I plant in pots first then. When the get sturdy enough to hold up to the wind and hard rain. I put them straight in the ground. I water them with 12- 55- 6 with mineral water and rotate between that and a 6-4-4 food every five days and flush between with mineral water and spring water. I use the different waters because they both have different additivez . The water here is harsh so I don't give them that. And if it rainz. They don't eat. I live in a very hot place and it rainz pretty often so they get a bit of mother nature too. Last year I planted in Earli April And they where in the ground late April. I pulled uP the boyz In July. That big in a few monthz