southern container gardening
SOUTHERN CONTAINER GARDENING You can create a garden in any space!
Here in the South, we have those one or two pots by our front door. We feel like they say “welcome to our home”. How many times have we worried when having people over that our “pots need to look pretty”?
Today we are going to show you how in addition to those two pots at your front door, you can grow almost anything in a pot. We will learn how to change your space from looking like this:
To looking like this! The good news is that you can create gardens in containers and grow herbs, flowers, vegetables, shrubs and even fruit trees.
Why would you want to garden in containers instead of the ground? • It’s a lot easier to dig a hole in a pot than in the ground • It’s fun to be able to enjoy your plants close to your living space • Easier to garden in pots if you have disabilities • Many plants grow better in pots • More flexibility to customize your space by moving pots around and elevating plants • Can have plants anywhere you want – hanging from a wall or beam, under your windows or on top of pavement
• Sun Exposure will determine the type of plants for your container • Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of sun a day - Ferns, hostas, impatiens, caladiums • Part shade: 3-6 hours of sun per day, but no midday sun • Part sun: 3-6 hours of direct sun per day, afternoon sun is more intense and hotter than morning sun • Full sun: 6 hours of direct sun per day - Great for growing vegetables, many blooming plants and succulents
When it comes to choosing a container there are many options and size does matter – the bigger the better! A larger container will hold more soil so your plant will have more room to grow and will not dry out as fast.
So now that you have determined your sun exposure and have selected a pot, let’s cover some basics. Your pot must have drain holes!!! If not, drill some in the bottom of your pot. You can place an inch of crushed gravel in the bottom of your pot to help drainage or raise your pot on feet.
• Your pot has to have
Now we need to fill the pot with the correct soil and fertilizer: • Ideal soil should be loose and porous • Use a purchased potting mix for your container planting. Most bagged mixtures have a neutral pH and are usually ready to use right out of the bag. • You do not have to use new potting soil every time you plant. Just loosen it up and make sure it isn’t too full of roots. • You can customize your potting mix to your selection of plants. Example: Succulents: grow better in a sandy mixture • Add in some extended release fertilizer at the time of planting and most last for about three months
Now the fun begins! Let’s pick some plants based on the type of sun you have. Here are some examples of some easy plants you can grow in sun. Also, remember the filler, spiller thriller recipe but feel free to mix it up!
Herbs – basil, parsley, mint, chives, thyme, mint, cilantro, sage, oregano, rosemary • Hardiest of all plants • Relatively few insect and disease problems • They will boost your confidence as a gardener • Will add nutritional benefits to many dishes • Allow you to cut back on salt when cooking
Begonias, Spikes, Creeping Jenny, Silver Dichondra
Lantana – drought tolerant and will still look great in August!
Petunias, Million Bells, Geraniums, Verbena, Purple Fountain Grass
Coleus – one of the easiest plants to grow with foliage as pretty as blooms.
Purslane and Portulaca – extremely heat and drought tolerant but flowers do close up at the end of the day.
Succulents are easy to care for container plants.
Perennials can also be used in pots. You may want to look for selections that bloom most of the summer. Hostas, lavender, rosemary, pincushion flower all work well.
Some of my favorite perennials in pots are elephant ears. They come in different colors and can be under planted or used by themselves.
Tomatoes - are easy to grow in containers and there are many container options. Just be sure they get consistent water and proper fertilizer.
Lettuce, kale, squash and peppers
Citrus trees – try Meyer Lemon or Satsuma but remember to cover them in the event of frost.
Olive trees, palms and dwarf blueberry bushes grow well in large pots.
You can also mix herbs and flowers in the same pot.
If you have shade, there are plenty of options as well. Try Caladiums, Ferns, Rex Begonia, Heuchera, Ivy and Begonias.
Coleus, New Guinea Impatiens, Reiger Begonias and even Hydrangeas.
Vegetable Container Gardening
BACK DOOR KITCHEN GARDEN • • • •
Convenience Helps control pests Helps control diseases Takes less time and effort than a normal garden
Pick your container
Nursery Pots
Potting Soil
Location • Vegetables need about 6 hours of full direct sun • Easy accessibility to your back door
Critter Patrol
Irrigation • Check soil for moisture every day • Water the soil only • Water until it drains out of the bottom • Early am is best • May also need water in the afternoon during Summer
Drip Irrigation • Water goes only where you want it to • Less evaporation • Less water use • Timers can be programmed to water whenever you want
Companion Planting • Group plants that benefit each other • It maximizes space • And helps control pests and diseases
Marigolds and tomatoes • Marigold root chemical kills nematodes • Marigolds also deter tomato hornworms, aphids, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, thrips and whiteflies.
Herbs and Vegetables • Chives repel aphids and spider mites • Basil improves growth and flavor of tomatoes and repels flies and mosquitoes • Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Lavender, and Sage repel many insects • Mint repels but also invasive
Nasturtiums • Known as the “poster child” of companion planting • Release chemical that repels predacious insects • Repel whiteflies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage loopers
FLOWERS! • They are pretty • They attract pollinators
Benefits of Growing Vegetables in Containers • Homegrown are fresher and better • Harvest when they are fully ripe • Get maximum nutritional benefits when you eat them.
Some planting tips• It is a good idea to water the plant before you plant it • Press the sides of the nursery pot to loosen and release the plant • Look at the roots and loosen as needed. • Press soil gently but firmly around plants.
A little maintenance is required to keep plants looking their best. • Water thoroughly (until water drains out the bottom of the pot) as needed. • Apply a water soluable fertilizer every two weeks • Dead head old blooms • Trim back as needed • Inspect for any insects and spray if needed
Enjoy your plants and don’t worry if a plant dies. Also feel free to switch out a plant that isn’t working. The saying goes that if you aren’t killing plants, you aren’t gardening! • If you have any questions a great resource is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service at www. aces.edu. • You can also call the Master Gardener Plant Helpline at 1-877-252GROW (4769).
PLANT QUIZ: IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PLANTS. What is this great perennial trailing plant? • 1.
What is this tropical plant which grows well here during the summer? • 2.
What is this great warm weather herb that is delicious with tomatoes? • 3.
What is this perennial shade loving plant that comes in many colors? • 4.
What is this hardy herb that brightens up lemonade, cocktails and tea. It comes in many flavor variations. • 5.
What is this hardy annual that can reseed and can be grown effortlessly in sun and shade? • 6.
What is this newer plant that trails or grows upright and works in sun and shade? • 7.
What is this herb that enhances the flavor of many dishes and grows all over Birmingham? • 8.
What is this hardy annual that adds an airy texture to containers? • 9.
What is this upright or spreading annual plant that loves full sun? • 10.
What is this old favorite that is known for its pretty foliage and is easy to grow and propagate? • 11.
What is this perennial evergreen fern that looks great all year? • 12.
What is this trailing perennial with the strange name that is known for its foliage? • 13.
What is this upright plant with the pretty plumes? • 14.
What is this easy to grown perennial shrub? • 15.
What is this blue lily that is an old favorite? • BONUS
Here in the South, we have those one or two pots by our front door. We feel like they say “welcome to our home”. How many times have we worried when having people over that our “pots need to look pretty”?
Today we are going to show you how in addition to those two pots at your front door, you can grow almost anything in a pot. We will learn how to change your space from looking like this:
To looking like this! The good news is that you can create gardens in containers and grow herbs, flowers, vegetables, shrubs and even fruit trees.
Why would you want to garden in containers instead of the ground? • It’s a lot easier to dig a hole in a pot than in the ground • It’s fun to be able to enjoy your plants close to your living space • Easier to garden in pots if you have disabilities • Many plants grow better in pots • More flexibility to customize your space by moving pots around and elevating plants • Can have plants anywhere you want – hanging from a wall or beam, under your windows or on top of pavement
• Sun Exposure will determine the type of plants for your container • Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of sun a day - Ferns, hostas, impatiens, caladiums • Part shade: 3-6 hours of sun per day, but no midday sun • Part sun: 3-6 hours of direct sun per day, afternoon sun is more intense and hotter than morning sun • Full sun: 6 hours of direct sun per day - Great for growing vegetables, many blooming plants and succulents
When it comes to choosing a container there are many options and size does matter – the bigger the better! A larger container will hold more soil so your plant will have more room to grow and will not dry out as fast.
So now that you have determined your sun exposure and have selected a pot, let’s cover some basics. Your pot must have drain holes!!! If not, drill some in the bottom of your pot. You can place an inch of crushed gravel in the bottom of your pot to help drainage or raise your pot on feet.
• Your pot has to have
Now we need to fill the pot with the correct soil and fertilizer: • Ideal soil should be loose and porous • Use a purchased potting mix for your container planting. Most bagged mixtures have a neutral pH and are usually ready to use right out of the bag. • You do not have to use new potting soil every time you plant. Just loosen it up and make sure it isn’t too full of roots. • You can customize your potting mix to your selection of plants. Example: Succulents: grow better in a sandy mixture • Add in some extended release fertilizer at the time of planting and most last for about three months
Now the fun begins! Let’s pick some plants based on the type of sun you have. Here are some examples of some easy plants you can grow in sun. Also, remember the filler, spiller thriller recipe but feel free to mix it up!
Herbs – basil, parsley, mint, chives, thyme, mint, cilantro, sage, oregano, rosemary • Hardiest of all plants • Relatively few insect and disease problems • They will boost your confidence as a gardener • Will add nutritional benefits to many dishes • Allow you to cut back on salt when cooking
Begonias, Spikes, Creeping Jenny, Silver Dichondra
Lantana – drought tolerant and will still look great in August!
Petunias, Million Bells, Geraniums, Verbena, Purple Fountain Grass
Coleus – one of the easiest plants to grow with foliage as pretty as blooms.
Purslane and Portulaca – extremely heat and drought tolerant but flowers do close up at the end of the day.
Succulents are easy to care for container plants.
Perennials can also be used in pots. You may want to look for selections that bloom most of the summer. Hostas, lavender, rosemary, pincushion flower all work well.
Some of my favorite perennials in pots are elephant ears. They come in different colors and can be under planted or used by themselves.
Tomatoes - are easy to grow in containers and there are many container options. Just be sure they get consistent water and proper fertilizer.
Lettuce, kale, squash and peppers
Citrus trees – try Meyer Lemon or Satsuma but remember to cover them in the event of frost.
Olive trees, palms and dwarf blueberry bushes grow well in large pots.
You can also mix herbs and flowers in the same pot.
If you have shade, there are plenty of options as well. Try Caladiums, Ferns, Rex Begonia, Heuchera, Ivy and Begonias.
Coleus, New Guinea Impatiens, Reiger Begonias and even Hydrangeas.
Vegetable Container Gardening
BACK DOOR KITCHEN GARDEN • • • •
Convenience Helps control pests Helps control diseases Takes less time and effort than a normal garden
Pick your container
Nursery Pots
Potting Soil
Location • Vegetables need about 6 hours of full direct sun • Easy accessibility to your back door
Critter Patrol
Irrigation • Check soil for moisture every day • Water the soil only • Water until it drains out of the bottom • Early am is best • May also need water in the afternoon during Summer
Drip Irrigation • Water goes only where you want it to • Less evaporation • Less water use • Timers can be programmed to water whenever you want
Companion Planting • Group plants that benefit each other • It maximizes space • And helps control pests and diseases
Marigolds and tomatoes • Marigold root chemical kills nematodes • Marigolds also deter tomato hornworms, aphids, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, thrips and whiteflies.
Herbs and Vegetables • Chives repel aphids and spider mites • Basil improves growth and flavor of tomatoes and repels flies and mosquitoes • Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Lavender, and Sage repel many insects • Mint repels but also invasive
Nasturtiums • Known as the “poster child” of companion planting • Release chemical that repels predacious insects • Repel whiteflies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage loopers
FLOWERS! • They are pretty • They attract pollinators
Benefits of Growing Vegetables in Containers • Homegrown are fresher and better • Harvest when they are fully ripe • Get maximum nutritional benefits when you eat them.
Some planting tips• It is a good idea to water the plant before you plant it • Press the sides of the nursery pot to loosen and release the plant • Look at the roots and loosen as needed. • Press soil gently but firmly around plants.
A little maintenance is required to keep plants looking their best. • Water thoroughly (until water drains out the bottom of the pot) as needed. • Apply a water soluable fertilizer every two weeks • Dead head old blooms • Trim back as needed • Inspect for any insects and spray if needed
Enjoy your plants and don’t worry if a plant dies. Also feel free to switch out a plant that isn’t working. The saying goes that if you aren’t killing plants, you aren’t gardening! • If you have any questions a great resource is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service at www. aces.edu. • You can also call the Master Gardener Plant Helpline at 1-877-252GROW (4769).
PLANT QUIZ: IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PLANTS. What is this great perennial trailing plant? • 1.
What is this tropical plant which grows well here during the summer? • 2.
What is this great warm weather herb that is delicious with tomatoes? • 3.
What is this perennial shade loving plant that comes in many colors? • 4.
What is this hardy herb that brightens up lemonade, cocktails and tea. It comes in many flavor variations. • 5.
What is this hardy annual that can reseed and can be grown effortlessly in sun and shade? • 6.
What is this newer plant that trails or grows upright and works in sun and shade? • 7.
What is this herb that enhances the flavor of many dishes and grows all over Birmingham? • 8.
What is this hardy annual that adds an airy texture to containers? • 9.
What is this upright or spreading annual plant that loves full sun? • 10.
What is this old favorite that is known for its pretty foliage and is easy to grow and propagate? • 11.
What is this perennial evergreen fern that looks great all year? • 12.
What is this trailing perennial with the strange name that is known for its foliage? • 13.
What is this upright plant with the pretty plumes? • 14.
What is this easy to grown perennial shrub? • 15.
What is this blue lily that is an old favorite? • BONUS
