Consider Going Green & Gardening in Pots

My Mother's family name is Greene. Her Dad was a preacher and my Grandma was a gardener. Momma was one of 7 kids. My Dad also loved to garden and friends always enjoyed taking produce home and even some of his Hot Pepper Sauce. (Sonny worked in our restaurant as a teen!) So I really grew up with gardens but did very little real gardening due to time constraints until recent years as I raised my family and worked.

In the Spring, many homeowner’s thoughts turn to the garden. Given the beauty and convenience of a container garden, it’ should be no surprise that an estimated 90% of America's 67 million gardeners grow plants in containers. Here are a few tips for creating a cheerful container garden of your own.

Plants: Expand your imagination beyond flowers: a wide variety of plants and evergreen shrubs do very well in containers. Some vegetables do quite well in containers. Be sure to buy your plants at a dependable nursery or specialty store, selecting only high quality plants that are free of disease and pests. For more visual interest in each pot, use 3 or 4 plant varieties that harmonize with one another.

Sun & Soil: When growing plants in containers, rotate them a quarter turn each day to help them grow straight and full. Potted plants usually require a bit more water and fertilizer than plants growing in the ground> Using the proper kind of soil is very important. I keep a compost container for fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, trimming materials, etc. I also add earthworms to my beds and pots. 

Containers: Your imagination is the limit when it comes to containers for your garden. Most plant containers are made out of wood, plastic, ceramics or clay. But you might try non-traditional containers, such as buckets, wooden crates, or an old watering can. An unusual container can make for a striking garden arrangement.

Get your kids or Grands involved! I noticed a label on a frozen food entree I cooked this week that indicates the paper based tray in recyclable and suggests using it for planting seeds! I am all for this. It cleaned up nicely. I will put it to the test this weekend!

Your container garden will make your home appear more welcoming and even more attractive to potential buyers. And whatever type of garden you create, remember to take time to enjoy it. They can also move with you if you are not going far!

I planted a late Fall Garden in a couple of raised beds I have last year. We enjoyed a wonderful harvest of assorted tomatoes for several months. Later I picked all the green ones ( 2 trays full!) right before the first big frost before Christmas. Then I removed another half dozen of ripe Grape Tomatoes last week as I was getting the beds ready for spring! The fresh green beans, parsley, basil and lettuce starts I got from Lowe's really made my Fall season and also some great meals! Please feel free to share some of your own tips!