Summer Fun: Container Gardening

    Container gardens can be a whimsical and charming part of your garden while being practical as well. We used to enjoy going to Uncle Donald's Farm when the boys were little. Every old container that would naturally kick around a barnyard was made into a planter or container garden at that place. Old washtubs that had sprouted rust holes, were put to use in a new life as flower pots. Old baskets, wheelbarrows, rusty tools, and even old pots and pans would be home to ferns, spider plants, ivy, and more, depending on where they came to rest.
    Of course in central Florida, the pinnacle of container gardening can be seen at Epcot each year in the spring when they host their floral festival. You don't have to have dollars like Disney to enjoy making a container garden, though. Barnyard leftovers and garbage day finds have a really shabby chic that speaks to one's sense of style.
    One of the advantages of container gardens is that you can anchor them at a height that is convenient for your back to reach. Old bottomless chairs, the kind you get for free along the side of the road, make great pot-holders for container gardens. A couple of feet off the ground is a lot easier to reach than crawling on your hands and knees to pull weeds.
    Fill the container of your choice with a little gravel at the bottom for drainage, pond pebbles work nicely. You can buy them by the bag at Ace Hardware. Then a good layer of organic compost or leaves, topped off with a couple of gallons of good fresh potting soil and you are ready to plant. You can mix flowers and vegetables, decorative grasses and herbs, or just about anything as long as you consider the size and water requirements for their future growth.
    We like to put at least three plants in a container for artistic symmetry. Try mixing different colors and textures for maximum impact. As you plan your container, you want a tall plant, one with good texture to fill the middle and one that will gracefully spill over the side of the container. There are many varieties of petunias, ivy, lantana, and purple wandering jew that make good spillers. Pick some with complementary colors like yellow and purple to pair up. You will be delighted with the instant impact the planter will have on your garden.
    Vegetables that will be happy in planters include kale, lettuce, mustard greens, and patio tomatoes. Herbs that like containers include rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme, oregano, mint, and basil. Be sure your planting container has plenty of holes in the bottom for drainage. When it is time to water, poke your finger down in the soil to test first. If it is still moist, wait a day. Plants in half shade will need less water than those in full sun. Remember, if you put your container garden near a house or structure it will receive shade for at least a few hours a day.
    We picked up a large clay pot at Ace this week to use for a container by the front door. We enjoyed double bonus points, because we could have fun painting it with acrylic craft paints first to make it cheerful and colorful. Check out Bz's Happy Plants for flower materials. They have pretty blanket flowers, pentas, salvia, daisies, herbs, and other colorful foliage plants. Remember, old farm-style containers lend themselves well to herb gardens and you can never go wrong growing fresh herbs. The nutrition and health benefits are immeasurable.
    Colorful bulb plants like caladiums and society garlic are able to stand up to the heat of summer. Stick a couple into a planter to enjoy.
    Send us a picture of what you are growing this week. We can’t wait to see. You are encouraging others to try growing things as well. Once again, my thanks for the beautiful garden pictures you all share; keep them coming. Please send us pictures of your blooming plants and garden projects to hollynewby1@aol.com or mail them to P.O. Box 1099, Umatilla, FL 32784. We love to share the fun in the garden with others. Keep growing…