Container Gardens

Everyone is familiar with the strawberry jar. Strawberries do just fine in them, but what else can be grown in a container? Just about any garden fruit or vegetable can be adapted to grow in a container. Dwarf fruit trees can be container grown and have the added benefit of producing fruit earlier than standard varieties.

How to Design a Container Garden

First, decide how much space you have for your container garden. It may be enough room for a couple of large pots, or a whole array of pots and planters.

Next, decide what you want to accomplish in this space. Is the objective growing salad and vegetables? Should the plants block a view? Is the purpose year-round interest or summertime color?

One of the great aspects of container gardening is that multiple levels of interest can be created. Hanging baskets, small trees, short blooming flowers,and taller flowers can work together to create interest from the ground to 8 feet high.

How to Choose a Container

The next step is choosing a container. Containers can be just about anything, from 5 gallon plastic buckets, to old, enamel pots, to terra cotta pots and planters. The only thing to avoid is cheap plastic. It degrades quickly and will need to be replaced. Food and industrial grade plastics are the best.

Terra cotta pots come in a huge array of sizes and styles and most are reasonably priced. Terra cotta breathes, so if you use it, plan to water regularly and often.

Plastic pots are inexpensive, come in different colors and sizes, and are nice and light. Many have a built in saucer as well. Cement pots are very durable, but are also very heavy.

If you recycle plastic buckets or some other container, be sure to put drain holes in the bottom. A drill with a 5/8 inch bit will do the trick. A large nail can work also.

How to Choose a Potting Soil

Potting soil can be bought or mixed yourself. Either way, make sure it has a high moisture holding capacity. In most cases, this means a lot of peat and or vermiculite or perlite. A potting soil with good texture and nutrient value can be amped up by adding more peat, vermiculite or perlite to it. Coir fiber, made from coconuts is a good peat substitute.

A good mix to make yourself is 1/3 compost, 1/3 coir or peat, 1/3 vermiculite or perlite.

Tips on Planting

Loosen the root ball of the starter plant after removing it from its container. Gently pull on the roots to release them, especially near the bottom. A little root stimulator with the first watering helps plants from shocking.

Cover the plant with soil slightly higher than the soil level of the container it came in. This step along with loosening the roots helps plants grow out into the new container. Water immediately after planting.

Adding a layer of mulch can do wonders for retaining soil moisture. It cuts out weeds as well.

Tips for specific plants

• Strawberries – keep well watered
• Blueberries – plant in bark mulch to increase soil acidity
• Peppers – plant 1 per 5 gallon pot
• Tomatoes – consider a hanging basket or plant upside down
• Gourds – the smaller varieties do great in a hanging basket
• lettuce – a nice shallow container does just fine