Helpful Container Garden Tips
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Choosing Plants for Your Container Garden
While it is the same basic principle, it's not generally classified the same way.
Most people just think the term container gardening refers to growing edible plants, so that's what we'll focus on here.
You can grow many types of vegetables and herbs in containers, and a few types of fruit.
Herbs are the most commonly grown edible plant for containers.
Vegetables come in second, and fruit isn't grown in containers as often - probably because a lot of people think it would be too difficult to grow fruit in containers.
Strawberries are one fruit that grows particularly well in many types of containers. Strawberries are generally quite hardy, and can even be grown in special grow bags that can be hung on a wall outdoors.
Dwarf fruit trees can often be grown in large pots.
Many smaller dwarf citrus trees grow nicely in pots, and if kept well-pruned they can make beautiful indoor decorations.
Many types of dwarf berry bushes will grow in containers, although they are usually very heavy and can't be moved easily.
Dwarf varieties of blueberries and raspberries have been successfully grown in containers.
Container Garden Guide:
Want some help from the experts?
The Complete Container Garden
Amazon Price: $39.26 (as of 05/28/2012)
Customer reviews: Color Groupings Distinguishes This Work
By J. Hardy IV (Snohomish, WA United States)
This review is from: The Complete Container Garden (Hardcover)
Beautifully presented, this book provides two different functions. The first part of the book is a standard introduction to container gardening, with information about how to plant pots, the order, and how best to arrange them.
The author has some very nice instructional graphics to illustrate the steps, disembodied hands working in the dirt. The second and more interesting part of the book involved his breakdown of container plant types by color. Each main area of the color wheel is given a section, and plants for that color are described for spring, summer, and fall/winter.
If you like to work and create your arrangements by combining color schemes, this will be very helpful. I'm still at the stage where a book like Hillier's `Container Gardening Through the Year' was more appropriate providing concrete examples that you can go out and put together. Joyce does do that for a variety of pots, indicating through pot-maps where things should be planted etc., but that's not the main thrust of the book it appeared. I did like the presentation and can understand the high rankings this work receives.
WONDERFUL, and BEAUTIFUL guide to gardening,
By Bryna L. Reed "New Mom" (Lexington, KY United States)
This review is from: The Complete Container Garden (Hardcover)
I recently got married and decided that I wanted to start gardening. But, I don't have a garden. I just have a very large deck on our new apartment. I have always wanted to decorate a deck or patio and windows with beautiful flowers. I just haven't ever known how.
I found this book at a local book store and it has all the information you would ever need to know to set up your garden without a garden. It has beautiful pictures of container arrangements. But the best part is that in addition to the pictures it has diagrams of how to duplicate the arrangement.
The book has wonderful instructions for someone like me who doesn't know anything about gardening. I just took my book to my local nursery and showed them what I wanted. I took it home and now I have the beautiful deck I have always wanted. What a fun new hobby! I highly recommend this book.
Many Varieties Of Herbs Do Well In Containers
Parsley is perhaps the most popular herb for container growing.Basil and chives are also extremely popular for growing in containers. Cilantro can be grown successfully in containers.
In fact, almost all herbs can be grown successfully in containers. The key is finding a large enough container. Some herbs can easily be grown in relatively small containers. Chives, parsley, and basil can all grow in smaller pots.
But some plants grow a bit larger. Sage, for example, is a bush. It needs a pretty big pot. Oregano also grows rather large, and needs a large container.
Although technically a fruit, tomatoes are probably the most popular "vegetable" for home gardeners in general.
Container gardeners are no exception, and they plant tomatoes in droves. It's probably due mostly to the fact that good tomatoes can be very difficult to find. The tomatoes in most grocery stores are picked green and artificially ripened so they survive shipping without bruising and last longer on the shelves.
Most tomato varieties can be grown very well in containers, especially cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, roma tomatoes, and small salad tomatoes.
Other plants that are commonly grown in containers include lettuce and other salad greens, cucumbers, squashes, many types of beans and peas, radishes, carrots, scallions, all types of peppers, and even corn and potatoes.
Most vegetables can be grown in containers if you use the proper procedure. You can easily grow most of your plants from seeds.
If you're growing plants indoors, you can sow directly into the pot if you like, but you can risk damaging delicate seedlings during thinning.
You should probably grow most of your plants from seedlings that you purchase locally, but you can also start your own seedlings indoors in smaller pots, and then transplant them into larger pots later.
It's easier to start plants from seedlings when you can, but you may find a lot of satisfaction in starting your own.
Is this the ULTIMATE Container Garden?
Grow Flowers or Vegetables or Herbs inside your home all year around!
AeroGarden 901011-1200 Space-Saver 6 with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit, Black
Amazon Price: (as of 05/28/2012)
Good Morning America calls it, "One of the top new consumer products."Grow full-size vegetables naturally on your kitchen counter 365 days a year.
You don't need a green thumb to grow your own food. The AeroGrow AeroGarden Pro 200 is a fully automated indoor smart garden with built-in grow lights that removes all guesswork. With twice the light and height of the AeroGarden Classic, the Pro 200 has the size and power to grow big, fruit-bearing plants to maturity.
Microprocessor-controlled Adaptive Growth Intelligence monitors plant growth and instantly adjusts the levels of water, light, and nutrients for fast, full growth from germination to maturity.
Everything you need is included, such as a Gourmet Herb Seed Kit (4 months worth of basil, dill, cilantro, mint, chives, and parsley), 3 deluxe grow bulbs that deliver twice the light and height for up to 50% larger yields, a 24-inch adjustable arm, organic-based nutrient tablets, a Master Gardener 1-season set, a quick start guide, and a tending and harvesting guide. The Pro 200 measures 16 x 18 x 10.5 inches and is covered by a 1-year limited warranty.
Product Description
The AeroGarden PRO 200 has brains and beauty plus the power and room to grow full-size tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.
Brushed stainless steel accents look great in any kitchen and Adaptive Intelligence monitors natural cycles from germination to maturity and automatically adjusts light and nutrient levels at each stage. The result is full growth and maximum yields.
AeroGarden PRO 200 features a 24-hour light cycle allowing complete customization of your light timing, plus a bulb replacement reminder. Three deluxe bulbs deliver 4680 lumens of full-spectrum light to stimulate robust plant growth.
To accommodate that growth, the light hood arm extends up to 2 feet and can support an available trellis system (sold separately). The PRO 200 is designed for serious gardeners as well as style-conscious chefs.
This is irresistible container gardening for everyone, even if you don't have a green thumb!
Planning Your Container Garden
The first thing you need to decide when planning a container garden is whether you'd prefer to grow your plants indoors or outdoors.A lot of people think container gardening is only for indoor growing and patios, but containers can actually be useful for any garden situation.
Containers are great for growing almost any type of plant, because they offer great versatility. If you plant your garden in containers and you need to move it later, it's easy to do it. Not so if you have a traditional garden!
If you're expecting very bad weather, you can temporarily move containers to a safer location, like indoors or into a garage or basement. But there isn't much you can do for a traditional garden.
If you find your plants aren't doing well because the space you chose is too sunny or too shady, there isn't much you can do with a traditional garden, but you can easily move potted plants to a better location.
If you choose to have your container garden outdoors, you need to be sure to choose a good location for it. You'll want to choose a place that has the proper amount of sun for the plants you wish to grow, but it also needs to be a place that's very accessible. It's easy to lose motivation to work on your garden if it's several hundred yards away from the house!
Be sure to locate your plants as far away from streets as you can. Pollution from cars, as well as the dust they kick up, can damage your plants and contaminate them. You don't want to be eating all of that pollution, so locate plants as far away from those roads as possible.
Colorful Delight
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Green Arbor Container Garden Essentials
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If You Have Your Plants Indoors
Most plants need to be fairly warm, so you'll need to choose the warmest spot in your house if you use air conditioning.Many plants won't do well in very chilly homes, so you might need to choose a room for your plants and keep the vent closed in that room so it stays warmer there. If you can, choose a sunny room with a lot of natural sunlight.
Plants thrive best with natural light. If you don't have a room with a lot of sunlight, you'll have to use special plant lights for your plants. You can't use just any fluorescent lights, because plants won't thrive.
You need to use lights that are specially designed for growing plants. They contain a broad spectrum of light, which is closer to natural light than standard bulbs.
You may also have to adjust the humidity in the room with your plants.
Some plants thrive better in higher humidity, and others do well in lower humidity. You may need to invest in special equipment to adjust the humidity if you're raising very delicate or picky plants. You probably won't have to do this unless you're growing exotic varieties.
Next, you'll need to choose which plants you want to grow. Be careful! Too many people choose to plant far too many varieties, and end up frustrated. Don't grow anything you can easily pick up cheaply at the grocery store!
Stick to growing fruits and vegetables that you really enjoy and have a hard time locating locally, or those you find too expensive or too low quality. Tomatoes are a favorite for home gardeners, because their quality in stores if often very poor.
Finally, decide whether or not you want to grow your plants organically. If you're growing indoors, this will probably be very simple to do. But if you're growing your plants outside, you may find the frustration of dealing with pests is just too much for you. Don't feel guilty if you find organic gardening too difficult. You can always try it after you have more experience.
Bargain Price Pots for your Container Garden
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Container Garden pictures to inspire you!
New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day
Gardening Blog Posts from Google
- Shasta daisies absolutely pristine in garden
- By Norman Winter, McClatchy-Tribune These shasta daisies seen at the Columbus Botanical Garden in Columbus, Ga. caught their share of admiring eyes. Plant some at your home and you'll have neighbors thinking you have captured the green thumb award.
- Herb Gardening: Getting Down With Dirt In the Garden
- There may be soil there, but not necessarily the soil your herb garden needs. If you don't have access to a compost heap (and many of us don't), you do not need to worry. You can still have a luscious herb garden. To make your good soil, ...
- Take a Trip Into The Garden This Weekend
- If gardens are on a hill or an elevation, they might experience lower temperatures than the forecast suggests. Similarly, if the property is in a sheltered valley, it might not undergo temperatures as low as the forecast indicates.
- Green thumbs up: Savor the scents and flavors of herbs
- Even for those with limited space or challenging growing conditions, raised beds and container gardens offer the ability to grow edible plants where soils are non-existent or hard to cultivate. In addition to vegetables, herbs have become increasingly ...
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