Container gardens are most popular with apartment dwellers for the obvious reason — no landscaping — but containers make it easier to control the plants’ environment. Sudden cold spell in the summer? Time to move the pots indoors. Any plant or flower can be grown in a container. Even if you have very little outdoor space, you can go vertical and install containers on a wall, saving your precious deck real estate for people space. Plus, it’s fun!
Practical gardening tips to help you get started
Start with quality potting mix
Incorporate into the potting mix or sprinkle on the soil surface a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer, like Milorganite, if the potting mix does not already contain fertilizer. This way, anytime you water you are fertilizing. And with a slow release, you encourage healthy growth without interfering with flowering and fruiting.
Select plants with shallow root systems
There’s no limit to what you can grow, but the best vegetables and herbs for container gardening are those with shallow root systems like chives, lettuce, tomatoes, basil, lavender and rosemary. Nostradous works great. Its flowers are edible and help to keep away certain types of infestations like aphids. For a sleek, contemporary look, try grass seed.
Select the right container
The key to success is making sure the container is large enough to support the plant and is in scale so it looks good. In addition, choose containers with drainage holes. Check the containers daily and water thoroughly. The larger the container, the more forgiving — meaning you can stretch out the time between watering. Keep in mind, plants with large root systems need larger room to grow and vice versa.
Choose wisely
Select plants that are at least one zone hardier for better success, and match the plants to the growing conditions. Look for drought-tolerant plants if you are busy and can’t commit to daily watering. Perennials, trees and shrubs perform well. Grow in a container that can tolerate year-round weather conditions.
Facebook Comments Box
