container gardening, stormer
TRANSCRIPT
Eric StormerVirginia Cooperative Extension, Norfolk Unit
You can garden almost anywhere!Control growing medium
Easier than gardening in beds; good for people who are physically impairedLow cost/low input
Easy to experience successPlant earlier in spring
PlacePlanPots
Potting “soil”Plants and/or seeds
WaterFertilizer
SOME SUITABLE PLANTS Hardy annuals Half-Hardy annuals Hardy biennials Tender perennials Tender sub-tropicals Hardy perennials or shrubs Bulbs Vegetables
Hardy Annuals
NasturtiumTropaeolum minor
Pot MarigoldCallendula officinalis
Annual PhloxPhlox drummondii
Half-Hardy Annuals
CockscombCelosia cristata
AgeratumA. houstonianum
French MarigoldTagetes patula
ZinniaZ. elegans
Ornamental PepperCapsicum annuum
Hardy Biennials (or short lived perennials grown as biennials)
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvatica
Ornamental KaleBrassica oleracea
HollyhockAlcea rosea
Tender Perennials
CaladiumC. bicolor
English DaisyBellis perennis
Tuberous BegoniaBegonia X tuberhybrida
Zonal GeraniumPelargonium x hortorum
New Guinea ImpatienImpatiens hawkeri
Tender Sub-Tropical Plants
Hardy Perennials and Shrubs
Hardy Perennials and Shrubs
Bulbs Chiondoxa
TulipaCrocus
Narcissus
Muscari
Vegetables and Herbs
Container Tips Choose the right size for the plants you are
growing Disinfect containers by scubbing in 10%
bleach solution prior to planting Season new clay pots by soaking in water for
at least 15 minutes Use styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom
of large containers to reduce weight and improve drainage
If using light containers, use pea gravel; diminish likelihood of toppling under high winds
Pre-moisten soil prior to use If possible, drainage holes on side of container
Selecting a growing medium – desirable traits
Water and nutrient retention
High porosity to ensure good aeration and root growth
Low bulk density; light and fluffy
Free from pathogens, weed seeds
The Right Soil Commercial mixes (such as “Container Mix”)
Organic Blend (5 gallons finished compost, 1 gallon builder’s sand, 1 gallon vermiculite or perlite, and 1 cup granular all purpose organic fertilizer)
Standard Blend (1 bushel vermiculite, 1 bushel ground sphagnum moss, 8 tbsp. 0-20-0, 8 tbsp. ground limestone, 2 cups bone meal.)
Garden Soil (50% pasteurized garden soil, 25% ground sphagnum peat moss, 25% builder’s sand)
Selecting a growing medium, continued, Avoid using soil from the garden
Avoid using peat moss
Use soilless growing medium containing a blend of sphagnum peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, to which compost 25% compost has been added
Builder’s Sand Peat Moss
Perlite Vermiculite
Water and Nutrients - Considerations
Self-watering containers Water retaining polymers Drip irrigation systems
Watering Tips
Container grown plants generally require more water and nutrients than plants in the ground
Water until all the medium is moist, and water runs out of the drainage holes
Water as necessary Consider using mulch in large containers to
reduce moisture evaporation Cluster containers to minimize moisture loss Avoid using softened water, as it contains
dissolved salts
Nutrients – Some Tips
Consider a slow-release fertilizer
Weekly, water with a diluted (1/2 strength) water soluble fertilizer
Consider the fertilizer as it relates to the plants being grown
Container Gardening
ACHROMATIC COLOR BLACK
ACHROMATIC COLOR WHITE
ACHROMATIC COLOR GRAY
Rich Colors
Muted Colors
Vivid Colors
Pale Colors
Pastel Colors
Some Inspiration!
The End
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