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Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or on a large country estate, gardening in containers is a way
to add color and the beauty of nature to your surroundings. The three main elements of creating
successful container gardens are: • Choosing the pots • Getting the right planting medium • Selecting the plants In all of these elements, the key is to create a healthy growing environment for the plant roots. For a healthy root system, water must be able to pass quickly through the soil. As the water drains out, air replaces it in the soil and an exchange of carbon dioxide is made with the plant roots. This movement of water and air is essential to a healthy plant. Here are some tips to help you choose from the dizzying array of pots, troughs and boxes: • Pick the spot for your garden first and then find a container to suit it. For example, a quaint wooden trough would not suit a modern balcony, nor would classic urn shaped pots be the best choice for an informal country style garden. In addition to style considerations, give attention to size and proportion issues. • Consider the weight of the container – not only empty, but filled with wet soil and plants. If there is a strong prevailing breeze across your outdoor space, the container must be heavy enough to prevent it from tipping over. On the other hand, the structure on which the containers are placed must be able to support them (so a large concrete trough would be less than ideal for a balcony or wooden porch, and a 6 ft wooden trough would need a VERY strong ledge to make it a suitable window box). Since a 30-gallon planter can weigh more than 200 pounds once it's filled, think about either planting the container in place, or setting it on plant casters or dollies. • Clay/terracotta pots are attractive and complement a wide range of foliage and flowering plants. They are the traditional potting container because, in addition to draining well, they wick moisture through their sides. This provides a drier root environment, which means less opportunity for root diseases. However, it also means more frequent watering is needed. If you tend to underwater, use terra cotta pots for only drought tolerant plants, or choose another type of container. On the down side, clay pots can be heavy and must be protected in colder climates during the winter to prevent cracking. A glazed clay container is non-porous, creating a moisture barrier. Because this will not allow the root system to breathe, glazed pots are best used with a regular terracotta pot inside of them. • Plastic pots are inexpensive, lightweight and functional, and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. If you don't like the look of plastic, apply a faux finish to fool the eye, or slip the plastic pots inside other containers. With the proper soil mix and attentive watering, plants do well in plastic pots. If you tend to underwater your plants, plastic is a better choice than terra cotta for you. However, plastic containers may need to be weighted down to stay in place on windy days. • Wood containers look good in naturalistic environments, and most plants do well in them. Wood drains better than plastic but does not have the wicking advantage of clay, and wood containers can be heavy when planted. Choose containers made of hardwood, such as redwood, cedar or cypress, which are less susceptible to rot over time. Lining wood containers with heavy duty plastic bags will give you added protection from moisture, but you must remember to provide proper drainage. • Metal containers can be used successfully in many modern settings. Galvanized containers are the best for planting – they won't leach rust or chemicals into the soil. Unless the container was designed as a planter, you'll need to add drainage holes to the bottom of the pot, or slip other pots inside it. • Found items can add variety and whimsy to your container garden. If you're going to plant directly in such items as watering cans, old boots, teapots or wheelbarrows consider drainage and air movement around the roots of the plants. Now that you chosen the perfect containers, you need to select the planting medium and the plants. We'll cover that in a future issue of Tales From the Porch Swing. |
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Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com |
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If you thought containers were only for flowers, think again! You could be
enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables grown on your porch or patio in containers
and hanging baskets. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1. Strawberries - Strawberries are easily grown in containers. Plant them in barrels, tubs, hanging baskets or strawberry jars. Plant in early spring and place them where they will get at least 6 hours of sun each day. When the season is over, don't toss them out. They can be overwintered by covering with straw or move the container into your garage or basement. The next year's harvest will be bigger and better. 2. Tomatoes - Who doesn't love the taste of home-grown tomatoes? Plant tomatoes in a container that is a least 16" deep and 20" wide. Be sure to stake or cage the plants to encourage a high yield and to keep them from flopping over. 3. Carrots - Carrots and other root vegetables will grow well in containers as long as the pot is deep enough. Be sure to choose a container that is twice as deep as the length of the carrot at maturity. 4. Salad Greens - Arugula, endive, leaf lettuce, and mustard are great choices for containers. Imagine being able to open your door and harvest fresh salad greens! Keep soil moist and be sure to fertilize every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer at half strength. You should be able to get four or five cuttings from each plant. Replace mature plants with new ones to keep your salad supply growing. 5. Herbs - Herbs are easy to grow in almost any type of container. Suggested herbs are: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, margoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme. Harvest as soon as there are a fair amount of leaves on the young plants. Cut off leaves as you need them, but never cut more than a third of the foliage at any one time. Constant trimming of the leaves for use in your kitchen will help keep the plants bushy and productive. Many herbs are perennials and can be overwintered by moving the container into your garage or basement. Take good care of your container grown vegetables and fruits by providing plenty of water, sun, and fertilizer as needed. You'll enjoy the fruits of your labor all season long! Copyright © 2002, Kim Noblin |
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Click here for
$20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! |
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Click here
to visit Gurney's, Seed and Nursery Company |
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Kim Noblin is the editor of FOUND IN A GARDEN, a gardening information and resource website. See what you can find in her garden at http://www.foundinagarden.com |
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©2003-2005crazycatmaninorangehat
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