CONTAIN YOURSELF: Many vegetables, herbs will grow happily in small spaces
You say your thumb isn’t exactly green?
Or maybe your place is so tiny, you daydream about having enough room for a garden as you wash dishes in your bedroom-kitchen combo.
Whether you’re a beginning gardener or have limited space, container gardens are a great option for growing beautiful flowers and even fresh veggies with ease.
“It’s a good way of self-limiting your garden,” said Denny Schrock, garden book editor for Meredith Books, the
parent company of Better Homes and Gardens. “If you’re not quite certain you want to jump in whole hog, containers are a good way to go.”
Plenty of plants to choose
Gardening experts say annuals such a impatiens, angelonias and begonias can do well in containers. Impatiens come in a variety of bold, fun colors and continue to thrive in the shade. Coleus plants also are simple to grow and can give an otherwise dreary balcony a lush look.
“It is possible to have success with [container gardening],” said Barbara Bates, unit horticulture educator for the Kane County University of Illinois Extension in St. Charles. “There are some wonderful annuals and flowers that will do just great in containers.”
In addition to flowers, certain types of vegetables also can be grown in containers. Peppers, for example, make great container plants, said Harmony Picciuca, garden and volunteer program coordinator for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance in Chicago.
“That’s what I grow,” Picciuca said. “The reason they’re good in containers is [the containers] do get hotter. Peppers really like it hot.”
But because containers tend to be warmer, Picciuca said to remember to water plants at a good rate.
Tomatoes also can be grown in containers as well as lettuce and spinach. Although tomatoes and peppers need plenty of sunlight, leafy vegetables such as lettuce can still grow in shady spots, Schrock said.
Herbs, herbs, wonderful herbs
Herbs also are perfect for containers and can add some zest to your summer meals. Schrock recommends starting with some chives, mint and thyme.
“You can’t grow them for years and years, but a season certainly,” he said.
April is a good time to start growing cilantro, Picciuca said.
“It’s a cool-season herb,” Picciuca said. “It’s really easy to start from seeds. You want to start it when the soil’s cool.”
Selecting the right
container
A single lettuce plant can grow in pots as small as 4 inches, while a 12-inch pot is recommended for multiple lettuce plants. Peppers should be grown in containers no smaller than 6 or 8 inches, Schrock said.
Pots and flower boxes should be made of non-porous material, such as plastic and should contain a drainage hole. Schrock said that traditional clay pots tend to dry out faster and take water away from the soil.
The dirt on soil and shade
When growing plants in containers, proper soil is crucial. Schrock said prospective gardeners should use a good, light potting soil that provides plenty of air.
Because fertilization also is important, Schrock said to choose a soil that already includes time-released fertilizer.
And although some plants can survive in shade, experts agree the more sun the better.
“That can be a problem with small spaces,” Schrock said. “Use some tricks to reflect more light. Place plants near a white wall as opposed to a dark brick wall.”
Too much or too little of a good thing
Still not convinced you can grow something? Gardening enthusiasts such as Picciuca insist that it’s all trial and error.
“People just need to pay attention,” she said. “The more plants you grow, the better you’ll be able to diagnose problems.”
But too much or too little of anything can spell disaster for plants.
“If someone says they can’t grow a plant, they’re either loving it to death, which means they’re over-watering, or it’s a situation of total neglect,” Bates said. “Some people will purchase a plant and never think of watering it. Those are the two most common problems.”
Container gardening advice
– Use containers that fit in with the decor of their surroundings.
– Containers should be made of non-porous material and have a drainage hole.
– Fill containers with good potting soil and fertilizer.
– Feel free to mix and match annuals such as impatiens and begonias to have a variety of colors in the container.
– Add indoor houseplants to containers in shady areas during the summer to give the deck or patio a more lush look.
– Use containers to grow your favorite herbs such as basil, parsley, chives and cilantro.
– Source: Joel Schrock, owner of Heinz Brothers Greenhouse Garden Center in St. Charles
Source: Kane County Chronicle
