CONTAINER GARDENING

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If planting in the ground is out of the question, you can still have a garden, just grow your plants in containers!  Keep in mind that they will need a little more attention, but if you mulch them with lots of newspaper, you can cut back on the work needed to keep your plants alive.

Use any container you like, the bigger, the better. Make holes in the bottom for drainage. If the container is large enough, you can grow perennials along with the annuals. Add styrofoam (used in packing) or crumpled up newspaper in the bottom of your container before adding soil. The styrofoam will help lessen the weight of the pot as you may want to move the containers around for the most attractive views.

If you are in a cold climate, do not use terracotta pots as they will crack and become useless after the winter, unless you can store them indoors. If you will be using terracotta, they need to be soaked thoroughly before you plant them up.

All containers and particularly those made of wood should be elevated on pebbles or whatever is available, to allow for proper drainage and air circulation. Wooden containers must be lined with plastic, before soil is added.

Purchase potting soil specially blended for containers or make your own by mixing three parts peat moss (wear your mask!) with one part of either perlite or vermiculite or sand and one part compost, if available, if not use a slow release fertilizer, the amount recommended on the package. Moisten the mixture by adding warm to hot water as dry peat moss does not mix well with cold water. Just remember to allow the soil to cool before adding the plants or seeds.

Fill the pots, leaving a two and a half inch space between the soil and the rim of the container, then add your plants, soak the soil, add several layers of newspaper and more soil, then water again. This can only be done with plants not if you are starting seeds, when your seedling get going, you can then mulch them.

After a month, begin to fertilize every time you water the plants. A water soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer is best. Fish emulsion is also good. Do your watering either in the morning or afternoon after the sun has moved off the plants and try not to splash the leaves, only the soil needs a drink!

Regularly remove faded flowers (dead-head) from your annuals and they will continue to bloom.

All annuals will grow in pots.  You can have success with some perennials.

Here's the list..

Annual seedlings for sun:

Petunia, gazania, portulaca, geranium (pelargonium),  salvia and dusty miller, and nicotiana.

Annual seedlings for shade:

Lobelia, begonia, impatiens, coleus and ferns.

Annuals - trailing plants:

Ivy, sweet peas, nasturtiums, lobelia, asparagus fern and fuchsia.

You can also start seeds in your containers as soon as the weather allows - nasturtiums, calendula, bachelor's buttons, zinnias and alyssum and poppies.

Summer Bulbs:

Your flowering bulbs can also be grown in containers, however, once the cold sets in, you need to protect these bulbs as they are not winter hardy. To store them for the winter, remove them from the soil, cut off the tops, remove the old corms, wash them and allow to dry.  When they are completely dry, store them in a cardboard box in peat moss and not touching each other, or wrap them individually in newspaper if peat moss is unavailable.

Try to find varieties that do not grow taller that two feet, unless you have very large containers.

Summer bulbs that should be planted in Spring, as early as possible in your area are; dahlias, gladioli, lilies and alliums. They like good soil, lots of water and sun.

Two hardy summer bulbs are alliums and lilies.  Before you purchase, check the height as they can become quite tall. In the fall lay your pots on their sides, cover (mulch) with a thick layer of dried leaves and the bulbs should survive winter.

Perennials for containers:

Sedum, few colors, about 18" tall, likes full sun.

Black-eyed Susan, (rudbeckia spp.) yellow, 24-36" tall, likes sun.

Speedwell, (veronica spicata) blue, 16" tall, likes morning shade.

Bee balm, (monarda didyma) red, 24-36" tall, likes sun.

Daylilies, (hemerocallis) several colors, range of heights, some shade.

Yarrow, (achillea filipendulina) gold, white, 36-48" tall, likes full sun.

Purple coneflower, (echinacea purpurea)24-36" tall, likes sun.

To be successful at growing perennials in containers, the pot should measure 24" or more, if your area experiences cold winters.

Do not fertilize your perennials after the middle of August as the plants do not need new growth going into the winter months.

A great article from Dutch Gardens about growing spring-planted bulbs in containers.

Gardener's Supply has a large variety of gardening supplies.

This company ships plants, seeds and more, worldwide! Find calendula and nasturtiums among others.

WhiteFlowerFarm carries a variety of containers.

Use the plant finder at Spring Hill Nurseries for perennials mentioned above.