| | | | Not only is container gardening perfect for small-space gardeners, it's also ideal if you run out of garden space! The Savvy Gardening team grows a mix of both food and flowers in containers. For this week's exclusive article, we share some tips on putting together your own hanging baskets and helping them flourish throughout the growing season.
As for what we've been up to, Jessica was a guest this past weekend with Niki on her radio show, The Weekend Gardener with Niki Jabbour, where she chatted about her new book, Plant Partners. Niki shares some spring composting tips in a brand new video. And Tara's been working her way through her Less Mess Enviro Bag full of garden soil to amend her garden beds (if you live in Canada, the code TARA5 gets you $5 off your order).
Happy gardening!
Niki, Jessica, and Tara | | | Plant and Maintain
Healthy Hanging Baskets | | One of our favorite sights at our local garden centers is the rows of hanging baskets dangling from the greenhouse rafters. They all look so lovely. But it's also a wonderful gardening task to build your own hanging baskets at home.
The secret to healthy hanging baskets
Whether you purchase your baskets or you plant your own, we're going to let you in on a little secret. It's the secret to growing beautiful, healthy hanging baskets, and the foundation is in the same place it is for all aspects of gardening: the soil. To be more accurate, in the case of hanging baskets and other pots, it's not actually soil—it's potting mix. But regardless of whether we're talking about a vegetable garden or a hanging basket, the secret to a gorgeous and productive garden is what's surrounding the roots.
If you plant your own baskets, start them off right by buying the best soilless growing mix you can afford (or make your own). It should be comprised of a mixture of sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber, vermiculite, perlite, and other ingredients. Many gardeners prefer to use potting soil with an organic fertilizer already mixed in. There are lots of different brands out there and some brands are better than others. Regardless of which potting mix you select, mix it 60/40 with finely screened compost (you can buy it by the bag at your local garden center if you don't make your own). The compost aids in moisture retention, adds nutrients, and introduces beneficial soil life.
Choosing plants for your hanging baskets
Select the plants for your hanging basket based on the concept of blending together "a thriller, a filler, and a spiller." Your "thriller" should be one or two more upright, bold plants that go in the center of the basket, three or four "filler" plants to surround your "thriller" in the middle layer of the basket, and then the "spillers," which are positioned around the edges where they can spill out over the basket and hang down off the sides.
Caring for your hanging containers
Once the basket is planted, keep it regularly and religiously watered. The same goes for any pre-made baskets you buy. Make sure there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the container and that the roots are never sitting in standing water. Poor drainage can lead to root rot. In the height of summer, you may need to water your baskets once or twice a day.
Once every week or two, fertilize your hanging baskets with a liquid, organic fertilizer mixed in with the irrigation water. A blend of a fish hydroslate product and liquid kelp diluted according to label instructions is a great option. Not only do these fertilizers contain the necessary macronutrients, they also contain scores of trace minerals, amino acids, plant growth hormones, and vitamins that you won't get in the blue chemical-based liquid fertilizers.
And one last trick: Keep the plants well-pinched and deadheaded throughout the growing season. Most of the annuals we typically use in hanging baskets require an occasional haircut to generate new growth and flower buds. Use a clean, sharp shear or your fingers to trim back a little of the growth once every three weeks and remove any spent flowers on a weekly basis. | | | | Fruits and Veggies
to Grow in Containers | | | How to grow cucumbers in a container garden
You don't need a big garden to grow cucumbers. Just give them sunshine and consistent moisture. Plus, cucumbers grown in pots typically have fewer issues with pests and diseases so planting in containers can actually reduce potential problems. Read more | | | |
Container vegetable plants: The best varieties for success
While you can grow just about anything in a container, it pays to select varieties that are tailor-made for growing in tight quarters. Read more
| | | | Growing strawberries in pots and hanging baskets
Strawberry plants are compact and perfect for tucking in small spaces like pots, planters, and baskets. Growing in pots is also a good way to foil pests like slugs that seem to know just when a strawberry is most sweet. Read more | | | | The ideal book for urban gardeners, indoor gardeners, and vegetable gardeners, Container Gardening Complete by Jessica Walliser is a thorough visual guide that will get you growing quickly! Whether you are growing vegetables, fruits, or flowers on an apartment balcony; creating a small vegetable garden for personal use; or decorating steps and walkways, this hard working book is your go-to resource. You will find everything you need to know to successfully garden in a small space. | | | | | | | |
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