Apr. 30 Column: Container gardening
This week’s column and video is about a very enjoyable subject: container gardening. In my column, I detail the methods for growing flowers and/or vegetables in pots. Here’s a link to it in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review: After choosing the right container, think thriller, filler, spillers. (or you can read my column lower in this post)
I included suggestions of plants to grow just to give you some ideas. But to really prepare for my video, I went plant shopping! (hey, it’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it, right?)
Each year, I plant two large deck pots with interesting combinations of annuals, along with two hanging baskets and two “picket fence planters” on our front porch. This year, I’m adding at least two more pots because there are just so many wonderful plants to grow!
My focus is to plant a lot of things that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
For my video, I created a slideshow from the photos I took recently at Liberty Park Florist & Greenhouse, located on Spokane’s lower South Hill at 1401 E. Newark Ave. Their phone number is (509) 534-9381. Thanks, folks, for letting me wander around taking photos of all of the beautiful plants you’ve grown!
Here is this week’s video:
Two more things:
- If you don’t have much (or any) space for a vegetable garden, you can grow veggies in containers. I wrote a column about this a while back: Space-saving containers allow for plenty of garden variety. For it, I interviewed Spokane County Master Gardener Marilyn Lloyd and she shared many tips and insights about growing vegetables in pots. I hope this will help you out as you get under way.
- Remember that if you live in the Inland Northwest (or other regions that are in USDA zones 5-6), our last frost date is usually in mid-May. So don’t get too carried away and plant your containers too early! And be sure to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts!
Container Gardening column:
by Susan Mulvihill
Whenever I visit a garden, I’m always drawn to artfully-planted containers. It doesn’t matter whether they’re filled with flowers or vegetables, a pleasing combination really inspires me.
Creating your own garden masterpiece isn’t that difficult once you understand the basics of planting containers.
Water is the most important aspect of container gardening. Pots tend to dry out quickly so be sure to check the soil moisture often. Despite this, pots should have drainage holes so the soil doesn’t remain waterlogged. If you’ve found a pot that you cannot live without but it doesn’t have holes, there are two options: drill holes in the bottom or fill the bottom of the pot with gravel and put your plants into a smaller pot (with holes) that fits inside.
Another option is a self-watering container. They have a water reservoir below the planting section. The soil wicks up water from the reservoir, keeping the plants happy. This cuts down on the watering frequency.
After choosing a container, you’ll need some sterile potting mix. I never use garden soil since it can be difficult to keep moist and might contain pathogens or other problems. You can choose a mix that contains fertilizer or sprinkle in some slow-release fertilizer after planting. Some mixes also have water-retention crystals to keep it moist for longer periods. I use an organic potting mix for growing vegetables in containers
Now it’s time to select plants, which is always my favorite part of the process.
Annual flowers can be planted after the danger of frost has passed. You will want a thriller (the focal point, usually a vertical plant), several fillers (those planted around the base of the thriller) and spillers (plants to trail over the edge of the pot). My advice is to play with different combinations at the nursery until the plants speak to you.
Thriller suggestions include purple fountain grass or other ornamental grasses, canna lilies, elephant ears (Colocasia), Dracaena, cordyline and flax (Phormium). Fillers could be coleus, lantanas, begonias, geraniums, impatiens, succulents or zinnias. Attractive spillers include sweet potato vines, Torenia, Vinca, Calibrachoa and Bacopa. But don’t let these suggestions limit your creativity.
When planting annuals in a container, I crowd them for maximum impact. After all, they’re just going to live for a single growing season.
Growing veggies in containers is a great solution if you don’t have space for a conventional garden. They can be right outside your kitchen door for easy picking, too. Make sure they’ll get at least six hours of sunlight daily.
There are plenty of vegetable crops that do well in pots; refer to the information box for ideas. If you’re growing crops that require support, be sure to add a cage, small trellis or obelisk prior to planting.
No matter which types of plants you’re growing in containers, remember to water them in well and apply some fertilizer if the potting soil doesn’t include it. Above all, don’t let your container dry out. Then sit back and enjoy your masterpiece.
Container Vegetable Suggestions
- Bush beans _ French Mascotte
- Chard _ Bright Lights, Peppermint Stick
- Cucumber _ Bush Pickle, Spacemaster
- Eggplant _ Black Beauty, Ichiban, Ophelia, Patio Baby
- Lettuce _ Flashy Trout Back, Red Sails
- Peppers _ Marconi Rosso, Pizza My Heart
- Tomatoes _ Better Bush, Celebrity, Minibel, Patio, Super Bush, Tumbler
- Zucchini _ Bush Baby, Patio Star