Containers....

...and More Containers...
In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

So the family are away...

I have that time I always think I haven't got to do a few things...among which will be the garden of course.  At this time of year it is a matter of just keeping on top of things, planning, a certain amount of watering, particularly containers.

Gardening requires lots of water — most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson

Containers need water every day, sometimes twice a day.   They are labour intensive but in lots of ways they are worth the little extra time and care because they add that vital pop of colour where it would be difficult to have growing colour otherwise.  They are the beads, belt and shoes to the garden that those accessories are to an outfit.  So this post is showing some of my containers.  (Click on the photos and they will enlarge)

Terracotta pots with pink and white miniature petunias (Surfinia mini)

Gels gave them to me a couple of years ago, she brought them back from South Africa.   I think is one of my favourites.

This basket is one I planted a while back, it has filled out well.
Pelargonium, Begonia, Verbena and Thyme

This one is one of the 3 baskets on the white Med-Inspired wall.   I am glad I went to the trouble of using 3 baskets, any less would not have given the impact I wanted.   Thankfully all the baskets have filled out and look great right now.

The Med-Inspired Wall
3 baskets containing Pelargoniums, Verbena, Thyme Petunias and Fuchsia
L-R on wall: Fig Tree, Pelargoniums, begonia and petunia, Mint,
a tub of pelargonium and a tub of gladiola not in bloom yet but the petunia with them is. 

Pelargoniums or as they used to be called Geraniums are really easy to grow from cuttings...this is the right month to take cuttings.   This is how it is done Click Here.   When Chris and I were working on his Home Schooling  we took a lot of cuttings from pelargoniums.  They nearly all took and I still have the results all over the place in containers.   They overwinter inside as they are far too tender to cope with a British winter out doors.

Cheap, successful, easy propagation - try it!

Our original pelargonium cuttings in most of these containers

I don't get too clever with containers.   I like simple things to put in them.   Petunias are good, fuchsias work well, begonias come again year after year if you look after the bulbs/tubers over winter. Verbena, the creeping sort that used to grow on the side of the road in South Africa, works well too in a container.  I grew some of the plants from cuttings, some from seed and a some from cheap posti-plugs (postage only from Thompson and Morgan)...and a few, very few I bought as a tray of 'whatevers' at the garden shop....when they were offered at reduced prices.

Science, or para-science, tells us that geraniums bloom better if they are spoken to. But a kind word every now and then is really quite enough. Too much attention, like too much feeding, and weeding and hoeing, inhibits and embarrasses them. ~Victoria Glendinning

Orange Nasturtium and mini sunflower not quite in bloom.
Both grown from seed planted by Leah, yes, that simple!

Let me encourage you to plant seed and to grow cuttings ...it really does work, it is nature and it's not difficult.

“The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labour.” ~ Jim Rohn

This one I didn't plant, it was an unexpected gift.
The deep indigos are lovely.  I want to move the hook
so the basket is more visible from the patio.

Containers can be tailored for sun, shade of dappled shade.

I have recently introduced some at my front door.   I was reluctant to do this because there is always a chance they may get stolen if they are visible from the road.   I took the chance that the area I live in, though humble, is decent.  This front-door spot is nearly always in the shade.

Green pot: Acer, Hart Tongue Fern and Impatiens
Middle pot: A special Hosta
Little pot: Can't remember the name of this shade loving fern.

These are all plants that prefer shadier conditions.  The only plant in this collection that won't survive winter is the Impatiens...commonly known and Bizzi-Lizzi.

Sandra, that Acer you gave me is thriving now I have it in a better drained pot.   This is worth really understanding.   The terracotta and ceramic pots are lovely but the drainage isn't brilliant so you need to make a plan for ensuring decent drainage if you use them.   I have put in a false bottom with plenty of drainage holes and that has solved the poor draining problem.

Talking of drainage and water, then a related thing is how to water plants in containers.   Most will not get enough water even in rainy weather if you water from the top and not under the leaves to the roots.  Some plants do better if you can water from the bottom of the root.   Apparently tomatoes taste better if you do not water them from above but from the bottom, but there are other reasons for watering from the bottom too.  This can be tricky when they are in a container or grow bag.   This is how I have solved the problem this year.

Cut off milk bottles as funnels pushed deep into the container .
Admittedly this is not a tomato, it is a cucumber.
The same principle for the tomato...
I couldn't find the picture.of the tomato plant!

Tomatoes suffer from mildew on the leaves very easily.   So avoid the leaves becoming overly wet and water from the bottom.   I use the improvised funnel to ensure the water reaches the roots without splashing on the leaves.  This website here is clear and easy on how to look after tomatoes.  Tomato Dirt.

Containers can come in various shapes and forms from a plastic shopping bag filled with dirt to ...well the limit is only governed by your imagination and purse.  Here was an idea I tried in 2012.  It really worked very well indeed.

Shopping Bag container.

Tarted up old box (they call it shabby-chic now)

Old coffee mugs.  
Be careful these need holes drilled in the bottom which is tricky.  
Roger did that bit for me.

A couple of discarded boots

Kristen left these discarded boots.
They also needed extra drainage added.

So you see, containers need not be bought, be a bit creative ...a lack of funds does wonders for your ingenuity and imagination!

As important as watering is feeding plants in containers.  They can't escape to get food from elsewhere so they do rely on you to understand their needs.  I use an ordinary Tomato fertilizer such as Tomorite

when the plants start to flower as it is cheap and contains just abut the same ingredients as the more expensive tailor made products on the marker.   I don't use it before the plants flower or fruit.   Also remember to change your potting soil every year for those perennial plants permanently in pots, they will need fresh compost and probably a bigger pot.  I feed my pots once every 7-10 days when they are in flower or fruit.

Well, you know what?   It's now lunch time and I am going to make a garden fresh salad to enjoy for lunch.  That is the glory of gardening, you can eat so much of your hard work.   It usually tastes better uncooked and straight from the dirt (wash it if you must) ...this way it won't even add unwanted calories to your diet!

Creating your own urban farm is as simple as planting your flowerbeds with edibles. ~Greg Peterson, My Ordinary Extraordinary Yard: The Story of the Urban Farm, 2009, www.urbanfarm.org

Chat to you again  in the garden soon