Growing your garden in a pot
Even people with big yards like to garden in containers. Why dig
up the established landscape when you can grow vegetables, annuals,
shrubs and trees in pots placed around the yard for the best
effect?
Growing your garden in a pot
Even people with big yards like to garden in containers. Why dig up the established landscape when you can grow vegetables, annuals, shrubs and trees in pots placed around the yard for the best effect?
Flowers die down? Just move the pots to an out-of-the-way place and replace with something new.
Container gardening is one of the hottest trends in the yard. It is popular because some people have very limited space so the pots can go on a deck or small patio. Gardens in pots are also easy to manage and can change seasonally with little expense or effort. And they are portable. If you move to a new house or apartment you can take your pot garden with you.
Renee Shepherd, owner of Felton-based seed company Renee’s Garden, has jumped on this trend by producing a line of 10 different seed varieties specifically developed for container growth. The flowers are sized for containers and put on a beautiful display in a small space. The vegetables have been bred for small space gardens and, according to Shepherd “are the best tasting and performing ones I could discover over a two-year trial.”
Among the 10 container varieties grown from seed is a sunflower named Junior, a tomato called Super Bush, and a basil named Italian Cameo. The basil is special, Shepherd says, because this little basil grows in a small column with very large leaves. It was developed for the greengrocer market in Italy where they sell these little clay pots in spring so people can take one home.
Besides annual flowers and vegetables, containers are suited to everything from bulbs to dwarf trees to unusual shrubs and trimmed topiaries.
Regardless of the plant selected, the pot is important. Dark plastic pots can get too hot in the summer if they are sitting in full sun. This can burn the roots of the plant. Ceramic, fiberglass, wood, metal or stone are all acceptable as long as there is adequate drainage. If the container has no drainage holes, then drill three 1-inch diameter holes.
Among the interesting choices for containers are wonderful pots from China, Vietnam and Mexico. There are historical Italian terra cotta vases in many styles and sizes. You can buy interesting containers at garage sales and second-hand stores.
My favorite containers are “found objects.” Old wheelbarrows, carts, a kid’s red wagon, old stoves, wooden wine barrels and other farm implements are just some of the choices for a cottage garden. Visiting open studios when local artists exhibit their work will turn up unexpected treasures to add to a container garden.
There are a couple of rules to follow: Pick a plant suitable for the location. Put the plant in well-drained potting mix with organic compost added to the soil. Be sure the plant is consistently watered as container plants dry out more quickly than those in the ground. Drip irrigation is a good choice.
If you add organic compost to a well-drained container mix, you don’t need to fertilize the first year. A slow-release fertilizer for flowers and vegetables is a good choice if you are not adding your own compost. Be sure to add two inches of mulch to the top after planting.
A Reader Wants to Know: I have the “Sunset Western Garden Book” published in 1979. I know Sunset has just released an updated version. My question is do you think it’s worth the price to buy a new one? Do the books change that much? – Neal
Joan Says: An edition for 1979 is a fairly old book as far as gardening goes. Things change, new plants come on the market, techniques differ. So, yes, in answer to your question, I think you do need to invest in the newest “Sunset Western Garden Book.” However, if you were referring to the 2001 edition, I’d say you were OK for another five years until the next revised book shows up.
I have my father’s “Sunset Western Garden Book” from 1952 and it is amazing how much has changed in those years.
