Container Gardening

We received the first snowfall and it is time to take out the snow shovel.

I would rather be gardening but instead I am putting the garden tools in the shed, draining the water from the garden hoses and coiling them up. Remember to gather up and clean your spade, hoe, rake and don’t forget the little ones such as pruners, scissors and trowels and store them in a dry place. Also, gather all the solar lights, remove the batteries, and store them in a place where they don’t freeze.

This is the time to get your tools, especially your mower, ready for the next season. With a little maintenance now of your gardening tools you’ll be ready to go to work next year when spring fever strikes.

Also, take a look around for the tools you do not have and put them on you Christmas wish list.

What are your favourite tools in the garden and cannot do without? Let us know.

“Don’t count the days, make the days count”

Lori

Had enough of raking leaves?

Raking leaves is a big part of autumn gardening. In my yard, the maple and cherry trees are bare now. With the windy weather the elms are finally losing their leaves and the yard is scattered with them. These leaves will be saved for the compost heap.

The best tool for the job of cleaning up leaves is a fan type rake made from good quality plastic. Next, pay attention to how you’re raking. Many of us tend to reach out too far causing us to over stretch our shoulders. Try moving your feet instead. Rake in an upright position, with one foot in front of the other to avoid back injury. It’s also important to switch from left to right instead of favouring your dominant hand. So, remember to keep things balanced with regular switching.

Lori

On this cold and frosty morning in the Okanagan, I am writing my first blog and I hope you will join me in this venture. If you have any questions, with the help of fellow gardeners out there, we should be able to provide you with answers.

As the fall progresses we put more of our plants to bed for the winter. Gardeners know that one of the tricks to successful gardening is a good thorough fall cleanup. You can make the basic cleanup chores happen gradually and naturally by giving your garden the once-over every week. As you spot plants that have stopped blooming or are killed by the cold, pull them up. This saves your poor aching back the huge effort later, and keeps your garden looking presentable. Doing bits of work as you spot a problem also provides you with the opportunity to see where you need some fall interest and to get any transplanting done as you clear the areas.
Plant spring bulbs and lilies, garlic and spinach before the ground freezes. Planting the spinach now will give you early spinach. Pull annuals when plants cease blooming or are dead from the frost. Clean up plant debris from beds and borders before mulching, and spread compost or other organic matter over the garden.

Garden Quote

What is a weed ? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

Lori Continue Reading »

Building you own greenhouse is an ideal way to have the greenhouse of your dreams. When you build your own greenhouse you can design the greenhouse to your own specification meaning you can make the greenhouse the exact size and shape that you require.

A greenhouse is an ideal growing location for most plants including vegetable, flowers and orchids. Greenhouses provide extra humidity and sunlight which these plants require to thrive. A greenhouse can also be a retreat from the cold weather outdoors, you can sow and plant seeds in the worst weather and still come out dry and warm.

There are a range of supplies and materials that can be bought that will help you with the building of a greenhouse.  These are generally cheap so you can still build your own greenhouse if you only have a small budget.  The size is of course one of the main things that will affect how much it will cost to make your greenhouse.  Remember, the larger the greenhouse the more plants you can grow.

Below I have provided a number of tips that should advise you on how to build your own greenhouse.

1).  You can always salvage materials to build your greenhouse; this will minimize the cost of building the greenhouse and will also recycle materials others would just throw away.  You will need to consider this when first designing your greenhouse.

2).  Consider your climate carefully along with the warmth and heat that your plants need.  An insulated greenhouse should keep the greenhouse temperature high during the winter.  In the heat of the summer some shade may be advisable, this will prevent your greenhouse getting too hot and potentially burning your plants leaves.

3). Air circulation is another thing that you should consider when designing the greenhouse.  Humidity control, ventilation and heat control are all important; you need to create an ideal location for the plants you are growing in the greenhouse.

4). Sunlight is important; you should build your greenhouse where there is enough sunlight. Try and build your greenhouse in a sunny location that gets at least eight hours of sun per day.

5). Are you going to build your greenhouse out of glass, plastic or fiberglass? Glass is ideal but is the most expensive, if you are on a low budget plastic is your best option.

6). Create solid foundations, you need the greenhouse to be safe and solid. You can build your greenhouse on the bare earth, on a stone foundation or a cement foundation.

7). A greenhouse is not just a place to grow plants.  Greenhouses are often used as a retreat to relax in.  Consider adding a bench or somewhere to sit in the greenhouse. You may also consider using things like automated watering systems, heating and ventilation equipment to make things easier.

8). Pest control is another thing that you need to think about carefully.  Pests and disease can be a real problem in a greenhouse.  I recommend using good animals to kill the bad - nature’s pest control.  Chemicals can also be used but I don’t advise using them.

9). Consider saving space to store your gardening equipment.  You may wish to store compost, tools, and selected fertilizers in your greenhouse.  Tools and equipment like this can take up a lot of room so you may consider storing these in a wooden shed.

Building your own greenhouse is the ideal way to make the greenhouse that you have always dreamed of.

When starting gardening it is common for people to think big and bit off more than they can chew. A large vegetable garden growing everything from tomatoes to sweet corn will be a lot of work, something that may be difficult if you’re just starting out.

That’s why I recommend that you first start growing in containers and slowly expand your garden as you need to. Container gardening can be so beneficial and also gives you a step up on the ladder to success.

If you start with a few pots growing your favorite vegetables and then slowly adding more containers of plants as you begin to feel more confident. Then once you have some experience and confidence you can start outside.

Start small and slowly build up to your perfect garden.

Peas are a great crop to grow in containers but not many people recommend you grow them in containers, I think this is because they take up large amounts of space in the garden.

There is a variety of peas called Burpee’s Peas ‘n-a-Pot and these are low growing so can be grown in containers. These seeds are available from a number of seed companies including Burpee.com.

I highly recommend you try growing these peas in your container garden next year!

When designing your container garden, the most important part is – you guessed it- the container! Choosing the right type of container will allow your plants to grow and thrive. The wrong type of container could be harmful, so follow these guidelines when choosing for your garden.

You need a sturdy container with drainage holes. Cheap plastic pots can be effective, but will not withstand the weather for multiple seasons. Terracotta pots are very difficult to keep moist enough, as the water is absorbed by the clay and then evaporates. The best type of pot is a glazed ceramic pot, with multiple drainage holes. Found containers can also be an interesting addition to your garden. I’ve seen planters made from shoes, tires, even an old bathtub! You’re truly only limited by your imagination.

Pots are not the only option, however. If you are handy, you may be able to build wooden containers that are perfect for your needs. I once built a modular garden on the sidewalk outside my rented apartment. Each plywood box nested against the other, and provided me with a convenient garden, although I lacked a traditional yard. The containers were transportable, although heavy, and I was even able to take my garden with me when I moved! Wooden containers can be custom built to the size and shape you desire, and can be very convenient. Avoid pressure treated lumber, and be aware that without proper drainage, your wooden container can and will rot

When choosing containers for your garden, be creative and keep drainage requirements in mind. You’ll be amazed at the imaginative ideas you have, once you begin to look for potential containers. Happy Hunting!

If you are a beginning gardener, container gardening may be the perfect option for you. It is easy to learn, and easy to maintain. You can grow a container garden anywhere you have extra space, and each pot can be cared for individually.

When starting your container garden, choose containers that have drainage holes in the bottom. This allows water to drain, and keeps your plants happy and healthy. Choose a good potting mix, and fill your container. Find a sunny location for your plants to enjoy, and begin planting your garden. Keep in mind that the plants in your container garden will need fertilizing weekly to monthly, to ensure that they have nutrients necessary for growth.

There are many excellent plants to choose from when growing a container garden. Bush varieties of vegetables work especially well, as they are designed for small spaces. Vines can grow well, if you add a trellis for them to climb. I’ve even seen tomato plants growing in containers upside down, hanging from an apartment railing. When designing a container garden, your options are limited only by your imagination.

Use your imagination when choosing containers, as well. You are not limited only to purchased flowerpots – if you have an item that has drainage holes and holds soil, you’ve just found your container. Using interesting and imaginative containers allows you to customize your garden, and lets your personality shine through.

Gardening is a simple activity that can bring so much joy to enthusiasts. It gives people the opportunity to nurture life. Gardening also has so many benefits including creating a light ambiance around the house, filtering the air, and having fruits and vegetables to harvest.

Many people think that to be able to engage in such a hobby, they need a big yard to grow vegetables in. This is not the case. You can create a wonderful garden in whatever little patch of land you have around your home. If you live in an apartment building, you can even create a small garden in your terrace and even put small potted plots on your window sill.

If you are new to gardening, you can start by growing herbs in plastic containers. This should give you some experience in gardening. You can also use the herbs you will grow as accents for your home or as ingredients of a great recipe.

Using containers for your gardening will also help you move your plants around the house when the weather calls for it. You can move the plants indoors or outdoors, even transferring them on different window sills depending on the plants need. Container gardening also offers more success for those who are just getting into gardening as it will help you focus on individual herbs on different containers. You can easily pay attention or replace plants that are not doing well. Gardening on containers also requires a lot less time to maintain and nurture than full yard gardens. Unlike yard gardens, container gardens are not prone to pests and weeds. There will be some of course but not too much that will require too much of your time eliminating.

If you are already set on starting your own herb container garden then consider growing ones that are easy to take care of. Mints can grow prolifically and do not require as much care. Even if you decide not to use the mint leaves, you will see that having containers with mint growing in actually look good around the house.

If you are planting herbs for aesthetic reasons, to create refreshing nooks around your home consider planting herbs with different texture and colors into one container. Having a plant box with a mix of Rosemary, Geraniums and other herbs would look great in your patio. You can also choose to have a little iron rack made so that you can plant different herbs in different containers and then place them on the iron racks to create a beautiful clustered look in your home. Group similar or even clashing colors together and see what a visual treat container gardens can be.

Another advantage of container gardening is that you don’t have to but any of those plant containers available in the stores. You can re-use other water containers and other plastic bottles for your plants. By reusing plastic bottles, you actually help save the earth.

There is plenty of potting mixes and seedlings available commercially so you can easily start your own container garden anytime.

In a sense, all gardens are container gardens. Just some containers are bigger than others. We can start by learning a little bit about ecology. A container garden is a mini ecosystem. To make a container garden work, you have to pick plants that “get along together.” This may be a new concept to some people, but just think about it for a minute. Not all plants need the same amount of water, or sunlight or even the same nutrients in the soil. It is a beautiful rule of nature, perhaps just like all fingers of a human are not equal. Let us now ponder upon few important facts of a container garden.

As long as you remember that container gardens are plant communities, and you make sure that your plants have common interests in how much sun they get, and how much water they get, you can have a successful container garden. The very way that we human need food and water for a living, keeping in mind that plants are living species, therefore for a successful making of a container garden one must give special attention to the sunlight and water needs of a plant.

When designing a container many people dwell on plant colors and plant heights, rather than on the needs of the individual plants. You wouldn’t plant a water lily in a window box, now, would you? Drainage is an issue to most plants. Make sure that the container garden has proper drainage for the plants you choose. The second most important factor of plant compatibility is the Ph of the soil. There are plants that thrive in alkaline soils which would kill other plants. Similarly, there are plants that would die in acidic soils.

Pick compatible plants and you will find that if your plants are happy with their neighbors the gardener can also be happy with them.