Container Gardeners

Re: The snow is receding.......

MarthaM — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Our snow has finally all melted, too. The weekend forecast calls for 1-2" of new snow with a high on Saturday of only 38, but that's okay. Anything that does fall will melt by Monday anyway, with the sun coming back out and temps going back up.

A lot of my container plants have already popped up and have started growing. All of my different varieties of sedum survived the winter in their containers, as did the soapwort. It's too early for the rest of them.

Re: The snow is receding.......

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Just about all of our snow is gone now, but we might get more this weekend. For sure colder weather.

I am starting so many seeds this year that I plan on putting most of my tomatoes in 5 gal. pails or whatever containers I can find. Then I'll have room in my small garden for more vegs I have never tried yet.

The snow is receding.......

Kietie — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT

After several days of warm spring temps and rain, the snow mass has receded significantly - hope that spring is here....springs eternal!!!! I know there are a few spring snow storms in the waiting, and the warm weather is just a teaser, but how great is the promise of spring!

After browsing through a friends catalog, I decided to try a few interesting plants featured there; a dwarf orange tree, hanging strawberry plant, indoor Juniper, and black pearl pepper. All were captioned "container plants". The weather has brought out the "want to be" gardener in me.

Kietie

Re: WHAT COUNTS AS CONTAINER GARDENING?

MarthaM — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT

[quote user="frogpad"]

Hi PerennialPaul. I am new to the group too. I see you plant impatens. Do you think they would do well in shade in pots in a small wooded area? Thanks frogpad

[/quote]

About half of my garden is in the shade, and impatiens do very well in my containers there. Coleus, too.

Re: Window Box

leehoo — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Thank you for your reply woodlandgal. Im anxious for Spring and very excited about filling my window box with flowers.

Window Box

leehoo — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

I would love some ideas as to what flowers and plants would grow well in my window box. I live in North Dakota and my zone is 4. The window box is on the south side of my house and its in full sun all day.

Re: WHAT COUNTS AS CONTAINER GARDENING?

PerennialPaul — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Hey Frogpad... if you get the regular impatiens, they will do well in the shade. Heat and indirect light is the secret for them. There are also sunshine impatiens that have waxy leaves and need direct sunshine so they may NOT be very good for your wooded area. Another option would be vinca, but it's not quite as prolific with blooms as the impatiens.

Good Luck

Re: Window Box

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Welcome leehoo. I have never had a window box, but I would think you could use annuals that would both hang over the edges and stand upright somewhat. What comes to mind is some of the many varieties of Petunias, Pansies, short Marigolds, etc.

Maybe someone else will have some ideas.

Re: WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS?

frogpad — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

I am new to container gardening. We have a small wooded area behind our RV at the campground. I would like to have some containers with flowers, but don't know what would grow in the shade. Any ideas? thanks Illinois

Re: WHAT COUNTS AS CONTAINER GARDENING?

frogpad — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Hi PerennialPaul. I am new to the group too. I see you plant impatens. Do you think they would do well in shade in pots in a small wooded area? Thanks frogpad

Re: A Container that worked well this Summer ...

frogpad — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Hi GiddeyUp, this container is beautiful! What size did you use? frogpad

Re: WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS?

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Welcome frogpad!

Some annuals I can think of right now are Impatiens, Nasturtium, Pansy, Lobelia, Begonias, Bacopa and if you like colorful leaves there are Caladium and Coleus.

I have used Purple Fountain Grass in a shade container for several years.

Good Luck! Oh, one more thing, some of these plants may not be deer resistant if that is a problem for you.

Re: WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS?

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

I use the lightweight ones that look like clay and also plastic ones.

My largest container on the patio is like a half whiskey barrel, but not quite that big. I think it is redwood with bands. I have a flat thing with wheels that it sits on. It moves very easily that way.

I keep my eyes open at garage sales and usually pick up good containers for $1 - $2.

WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS?

MissouriMadelen — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

What kind of containers do most of you use in your flower gardens or on your patios?

How large of a container to you buy?

Any special places with good prices on these containers?

~*~

I want to continue my flowers, but health issues make the regular flower beds difficult. I need something with less work.

Thanks...MissouriMadelen

Re: WHAT COUNTS AS CONTAINER GARDENING?

PerennialPaul — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

WG... turning the pot on the side just keeps the pot from splitting if there is freeze, thaw,freeze, thaw etc.. It sounds as if you' may be hosting a strawberry social!

Dwarf tree success in container

Kietie — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

It is cold here in northern WI, naturally I have been paging through seed and nursery magazines in anticipation of spring.

I came across an offering for a dwarf orange tree pictured growing in a container. Has anyone successfully grown a dwarf potted tree?

Thanks........kh

Re: WHAT COUNTS AS CONTAINER GARDENING?

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

LOL!! I hope so.

Re: Dwarf tree success in container

woodlandgal_WI_zn4 — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Hi Kietie and Welcome to Container Gardening!

I once had an orange tree that I started from seed from some grocery store variety of orange. It was the only one out of six that survived. I had it in a container in the house and pruned it back a few times, but it lived for at least 25 years. In all that time it only flowered once.

I know this doesn't answer your question about dwarf varieties. You would have to bring it indoors for the winter. but I would think that dwarf trees would do well.

Re: WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS?

williejean pope — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

I use as big a pot as i can move around without to much lifting. Barrels makes a nice container just put it where you dont have to move it.I buy some plastic and terra cotta pots and i put my pots where idont haveto move them (health reasons )Ihope this helps ,if anyone has some good imformation let us know. williejean pope North Caroline

Re: Dwarf tree success in container

Kietie — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Woodlandgal---

Encouraged by your success.....the nursery will send instructions with the tree on how to pollinate the blossoms.......it would be a small investment, and an interesting project.

Thanks,

Kietie