Container gardening
Is it all it is cracked up to be?
The time will come when I decide that apartment living is for me. . . which means I will be reduced to container gardening. So, I thought I would investigate how
difficult or not, this way of gardening would be.
I have seen a whole rose garden surviving in containers,
and I have seen a wonderful vegetable garden flourishing in
containers as well.
I am rather partial to quirky containers, and I have a few.
I have an old copper full to the brim with flowering red
geraniums, a water urn sporting a ladder fern, and I am rather
partial to the odd terracotta pipe here and there!
Containers can come in any shape or form, whether an old
wine barrel, plain terracotta pots, colour glazed pots or even
an old recycled concrete wash tub. You can even utilise fence
space and do a spot of vertical gardening!
Having flowers and vegetables survive in containers all year
round. . . am I up to the task I wonder?
Vegetable container growing
I like the idea of growing vegetables as you get a lovely
reward from all that hard work. I know that potatoes and
tomatoes happily grow in containers, as do herbs and
lettuces.
Correct sized containers, good soil, plenty of water,
adequate sunlight and a good temperature are all necessary
to get good results. Your vegetables will also need to be fed
regularly with some good fertiliser and some compost for
added nutrients.
Some of the vegetables that grow well in containers are
peas, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, eggplant, leafy
greens, and peppers.
Almost any vegetable, herb, shrub, or small tree can grow
successfully in a container. Dwarf and compact cultivars are
best, especially for smaller pots.
Colourful flowers
Whether you choose colourful pots or colourful flowers,
you can make a lovely display with container growing.
Containers planted with hardy perennials and shrubs can be
grown and enjoyed from year to year.
How often you water your container plants depends on
many factors such as weather, plant size, and pot size. Don’t
let soil in containers dry out completely, as it is hard to rewet.
To keep large containers attractive, spread a layer of mulch as
you would in the garden. This will also help retain moisture,
but mulch away from the stems.
Container plants need regular feeding. Fertilise them often,
I like to use liquid seaweed, but you may find granules to your
liking.
For container plants to look their best, you need to
regularly remove tattered leaves and deadhead spent flowers.
Prune back plants that get leggy or stop blooming. To keep
mixed pots attractive, dig out or cut back any plants that don’t
grow well or that clash. You can add something else or let
other plants in the container fill the space.
I always think plants in pots look more aesthetically
pleasing if similar pots and plants are grouped together, but
that is just me. . . you do what whatever catches your eye!
So, if you have been playing with the idea of container
gardening, give it a go, yes, it is a little bit of work, but you will
find ways to make it easier for yourself and remember the old
saying “you reap what you sow”!