Container Gardening

how to plant up your...

hanging baskets(based on a standard wire basket)■ Removethechainandbalancethebasketonaplantpot

orbucket.

■ Fityourchosenlinerandfillthebasketwithmoistsoil-lesscompostuptothepointwhereyouwanttoaddthefirstlayerofplants.Asolidwallbasketwillneedsomebrokencrocksaddedfordrainagebeforefilling.

■ Forceorcutaholeintheliner(somealreadyhavepre-cutslits,orpre-formedpockets)andfeedtherootsofthetrailingplantsthroughfromtheoutsidesothattherootballlaysfirmlyonthetopofthecompostandtheleavesoftheplantareontheoutsideofthebasket.

■ Builduptherestofthebasketwithcompost,firmingitdowntopreventwaterloss.Adduprightplantstothecentreofthebasket,leavingabouta2.5cm(1")spaceatthetoptoallowforwatering.Waterwellandkeepprotecteduntilthedangeroffrostshavepassed. tubs or pots

■ Coverthebaseinsidewithbrokenpotsoranyothersuitablematerialtoadddrainage.Ifyouarenotusingareadymadecontainerdrilllotsofdrainageholesinthebottom.

■ Ifyourplantsseemalittledry,standtheminabucketofwatertocompletelysoakthroughtherootball.

■ Buildupthecompostinthetub.Thecompostshouldbemoistbutnotwet,andshouldbefirmeddowngently.Makesureyoudothisnearthespotwhereyouintendtodisplaythecontainer,assomecanbeveryheavytomovewhenfull.

■ Keepfillingthecontainerlikethisuntilabout2.5cm(1")fromthetop.Ifyoudonotleaveagap

waterwilldrainoverthesideratherthandownthroughthecompost.

■ Plantupthecontainer,eitherwithasingletype,oramixtureofvarieties,andwaterwell.

■ Raiseflatbasedcontainersfromthegroundbyusingspeciallymadefeet,stones,bricksetc.Thishelpstoencouragedrainageandstopsthepotbecomingwaterlogged.

■ Alwayswaterusingawateringcanwitharose.

Attentiontofeedingandwateringisthekeytosuccessfulcontainergardening.Wateryourcontainersregularly,andfeedthroughoutthegrowingseason.Thekeyrulestofolloware:■ Watereitherearlyinthemorningorintheevening,so

thattheplantscantakeinthewaterbeforetheyareindirectsunlight.

■ Iftheplantsaredroopinginthemiddaysuncheckhowwetthecompostisabout½"beneaththecompostsurface,ifitfeelsdampthentheplantswillpickupwhenthesungoesdown,ifdrythenwaterdirectlytotheroots-nevergettheleaveswetinthedaytimeasthesunwillscorchthem.

■ Theamountofwateracontainerneedswilldependonitsposition,infullsunitwillneedmorewaterthaninashadyarea.

■ Hangingbasketsandsmallerpotswillneedwateringonceortwicedaily.Makesurethatthepotiswellsoaked.

■ Neverletthecompostdryoutcompletely.Feedingweeklyisnecessarythroughoutthegrowingseason.Incorporatingacontrolledreleasefertiliserinwithyourcompostatplantingtimewillensurethatthefeedinghappenswhenyouwaterthepot.Alternativelyusealiquidorwaterinfeedchoosingaformulatosuittheplantsyouaregrowing.

holiday wateringThisisoneoftheperennialproblemsofgardening,allthatworkandnurturing,andthenyouneedtogoawayandrisktheplantskeelingoverfromlackofwater.Hereareafewideastodealwiththesituation:

Remembershadeisyourfriend,ifyoucanmoveyourpotsintoaplaceoutofthesuntheywillnotdryoutsoquickly.Ifyouareawayforacoupleofdaysonlythis,andagoodwateringbeforeyougo,willusuallybesufficient.

Forlongerperiodsaway,avarietyofproductsareavailabletoassistsuchaswaterretentiveslicestoincorporateintothepot/basketatplantingtime.Absorbingastonishingamountsofwater,theyreducetheneedfordailywatering,andalsohelpatholidaytime.Addingwaterretaininggelinyourcompostatplantingtimeisalsouseful.Lookingforcleverdevicestowateryourplantsduringyourabsence?

Therearelotsonoffer,theyrangefromthesimpleandcheapdripbottlesorwaterspikes,toexpensiveautomatedwateringsystemsthatareelectronicallycontrolledwithvariableprogrammes.

Alternatively,perhapsyouhaveareliable,helpfulfriendorneighbourwhowouldvolunteertowaterthemforyou!

Contact details:Samuel Dobie & Son, Long Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7SX Tel: 01803 696411 www.dobies.co.uk

watering &feeding

containers - it's your choice

Container gardening offers us a unique opportunity for expressing our individuality in the garden. There’s a vast array of styles available these days, to suit all tastes; from traditional terracotta, to space-age metal - there really is something for everyone! Thereareendlesscoloursanddesigns,encompassinghistoricalandrusticreproductionsandultra-moderncleanlines,providinginfinitepossibilities.Youcanalsocreateyourownpotsandbasketsoutofdiscardedmaterialsliketincans,oroldbootsandshoes.Allyouneedisalittleimagination.

basketsThechoiceinhangingbasketshasgrownenormouslyinrecentyears.Atonetimethebasicoptionswerethetraditionalwirebasketortheplasticsolidsidedversionwithpre-formedholes.Bothareexcellentandstillwidelyavailable.However,thewovenwickerandgrassbasketsthatarenowavailable,comeinamultitudeofmaterialsanddesigns.Thistypeofbasketisidealforanevocative,rusticandromanticfeel.Alsoavailablearemetalandceramichangingcontainers-it’satoughchoice!

Some things to keep in mind for each type:■ Wireandmetalhangingbasketsneedtobelinedwithmoss,coiror

otherproprietarylinersonthemarket.Insideamosslinedbasketit’sagoodideatoplaceaplasticinnerlinertoaidwaterretentionasthisstyleofbasketcandryoutveryquickly.Regularwateringisessential.Placingasauceratthebottomwhileplanting,andaddingwaterretentivegelcrystalstothecompostwillhelpretainmoistureforlonger.

■ Wickerhangingbasketsneedasturdyplasticlining,andoneshouldbeaddedifnotalreadyincluded.Asforallbasketsthelighterthesoilthebetterandaspecialbasketsoil-lesscompostisbest,andaddingcontrolledreleasefertiliserandwaterretentivecrystalsishelpful.

■ Theplasticmodelsareveryconvenientandeasytousewiththeirpre-formedplantholes,theyarealsobetteratmoistureretention.Howevertheycanlookalotlessappealingthanothertypesuntiltheplantsarebushyenoughtodisguisethem.

■ Ceramicandterracottacandryoutquicklyand,likewire,needfrequentwatering.Thistyperequireaverystrongwallbracketastheweightofthecontainerisalreadyquiteconsiderable.However,aterracottabowlcanlookwonderfulfilledwithsempervivumsorothersucculents,andthesewouldobviouslyneedlesswateringandattention.

window boxesThesearejustlong,narrowcontainers,idealforaddingcolourtoyourhome.Theyareavailableinmanymaterialsandstyles,sofindingonetosuityourhomewillnotbeaproblem.Plantwithseasonalflowersandbulbsortryanedibledisplay;aboxonthekitchenwindowcanbeaconvenientsourceofherbsorsalads.Safetyisparamount,soifyouhavewindowboxeshighupmakesuretheyarewellsecuredtopreventnastyaccidents,andaddingadriptraywillprotectyoursillsandwallsfromwaterdamage.

■ Allbasketsneedastrongwallbracketorplacetohang,rememberthatawateredbasketisveryheavy.

■ Don'tforgetwallmountedcontainersofallshapesandsizesarealsoavailable,givingyouanotherdimensionfor‘high-rise’planting.

■ Oldchipbasketsorabandonedcolanderscanmakecheapandinterestinghangingbaskets.

tubs and troughsLargepots,tubsandtroughsareinvaluablewhatevertheamountofspaceyouhave.Theycangraceanygardenfromthelargestformalgroundstothesmallestyardorbalcony.Therearefewspeciesthatwillnotgrowinasuitablecontainer,evensomeofthesmallerfruitandornamentaltrees.Therearewiderangesineveryconceivablematerial,colourandstyle;it’sentirelyuptoyouwhatyouchoose.Rememberthatrecyclingcancomeintoitsownhereforindividuality,andgardeningonashoestring.

Whatisimportantisthatthereisadequatedrainage.Ifyourpotdoesnothaveholesalreadythenmakethem(becarefulwithceramics).Raisingthepotslightlyoffthegroundhelpstoo.Eithersitthepotsonstonesorbuypotfeet-thesecomeinrangesasdiverseaspots.Whateveryouuse,makesureyoudon’tcoverthedrainageholes.Againcontrolledreleasefertiliserandwaterretentivegelcanbeaddedtothecomposttoaidinfeedingandwatering.Bearinmindthatterracottaisgoingto

dryoutquickerthanplastic,sokeepwellwatered,

twiceadayisbest.

unusual containersWhatdowellingtonbootsandoldbathshaveincommon?Theycanbeenusedinthegardenforplanting.Chamberpots,tincans,sinksandoldwatertanks;justafewpotentialandunusualplanters.

Growbagsareanoldfavouritethathavebeenastapleoftomatogrowingforyears,butothervegetablescanbegrowninthemtoo.Theyaresimple,cheap,portableandidealforsmallspacegrowing.Therearemanynewdesignsofpatiogrowingcontainers,includingflexibleoneswhichpackflatforeasywinterstorage.They'reidealforgrowingmanytypesofvegetable,includingpotatoes.Comingcompletewithdrainageholesandcarryhandles,theyareperfectforconvenienceandportability.Relativelycheap,theycanbeusedforsalads,tomatoes,herbsandstrawberriestonamejustafewpossibilities.Bothmakegrowingyourownvegetablesconvenientandeconomicalwiththeaddedadvantageofbeingeasytocareforandwillprovideinstructionsonwhat'ssuitabletogrowinthem.

grow bags and flexible planters

what to grow?

spring bulbsThesebulbs(plantedintheautumn)areafavouriteforcontainergrowing,oftenmixedwithlaterfloweringplantssuchaswallflowers,pansiesorprimroses.Complimentedbyevergreens,theymakeadelightfulmovablefeastintheearlymonthsoftheyear.Thesepotscanthenberemoved,andreplacedbyothersfilledwithlaterfloweringvarieties.

Alsoplantingina‘double-decker’fashioncangivealonglastingdisplay.Adeeplayerofdaffodilswithalayeroftulipsabove,mixedwithcrocus,snowdrop,eranthisorotherearlyvarieties.Thismixtureshouldprovidecolourforaroundthreemonths.Thedwarfvarietiesofdaffodilsandtulipsarealsoidealforcontainers,andbeinglowgrowingwillnotbesusceptibletowinddamage.Basketswithbulbs,ivyandpansiesarealsoacheerfultreatinearlyspring.

summer bulbsThesebulbs(plantedinthespring)aregreatcontainerplantstoo.Liliesareextremelywellbehavedinpots,andiflookedafter,canremaininthesameoneforafewyears.Theyareperfectstoodbydoorwaysandwindowsfortheirscenttowaftinside,ortheycanbemovedinandoutofthebordersasgapfillersduringthefloweringseason.Exoticsaregreatinpotstoo,asyoucanusethemashighlightsonthepatio,specieslikeagapanthus,callasandcannaslookspectacularinasuitablyevocativecontainer,andcanbemovedoutofthewayoncetheyhavepassedtheirbest.

Begoniasmakegreatcontainerplantsandtrailingbegoniasareaperfectbasketflower,theirspectacularbloomsandstrikingleavescanlookgoodwithotherplantsorasasinglespeciesdisplay.

herbsHerbshavebeengrowninpotsforcenturies.Availablespacehaslittlebearingonwhetherornotyoucangrowherbs;theywillgrowanywhereandinanytypeofcontainer.Whileitispossibletomixvarietiesinapot,itiswisetoplantseparately.Themintfamilyinparticulararethugswhoneedtobecontained;theywillquicklyrunrampantandchokeoutanycompetitors.So,whileitislovelytohavealush,verdantpotofseveralherbsitcanalsobeextremelyattractivetohaveseveralcontainerseachcontainingasinglevarietygroupedtogether.Ifyouaremixingherbsinatub,ensurethatyoutaketheirpreferenceforsunorshade,feedingetc.intoconsideration,for

examplerosemaryandthymeappreciatefullsunandawelldrainedsoil;parsleyandbasillikealittleshadeandmoistersoil.Havingyourpotsnearthekitchendoormakessenseforeasysnippingsforcooking,andhavingthemwheretheycanbebrushedpastortouchedtoreleasetheirscentisagoodwayofliftingthespirits.

N.B.Mostherbswillgrowhappilyincontainersexceptlongrootedvarietieslikehorseradish,ortheverytall,suchasangelica.

vegetablesCreateediblebasketswithtomatoesandstrawberrieswhicharebothidealforthiskindofculture.Thesmallcherrytypetomato,andthe‘everbearer’strawberriesprovideanattractivedisplay,andacropoftastytreatstoo!

Therearefewtypesofvegetablethatcannotbegrowninapotofsomekind.Evenpotatoesandleekscanbegrowninadeepcontainer.Andanykindofcontainerwilldo-shallowonescanbeusedforsaladcrops;turnoldwoodenpackingcasesintoaraisedbedanditcouldn'tbeeasiertogrowthelatestsaladleaves.Thereisawholerangeofmixesavailable,runnerbeans,frenchbeans,peas,allgrowinpots;allreadyforpickingfreshforthekitchen-andtastingfantastic.Checkoutthespeciallydesignedcontainersandbagssuitableforgrowingthem,andyouwillalwayshavefreshfruitandvegetablesatyourfingertips!

summer colourThereareendlesspossibilitiesforsummerdisplays,apartfromtheusualgeraniums(ivy-leavedandstandard),begonias,marigoldsandlobelia.Usesweetpeas,mimulus,nasturtiums,petunias,pansiesandfuchsiasetc.Createcoolorhotcontainers;classicorexoticmixtures.

Therehasbeenanincreaseintheamountofstrikingandunusualplantsfromhotterclimates,thatarehardyenoughforBritishgardensbecomingavailableinrecentyears.Thelofosmakesabeautifulclimbingortrailingplant.Plusthestrikingcurcuma(FloweringGinger),nerinesorhymenocallis(PeruvianDaffodil)bulbsarejust‘drop-deadgorgeous’-placeoutdoorsafterdangeroffrosthaspassedandoverwinterinafrost-freeplace.

Usingplants,bulbsorseed,youcanachievesomeamazingdisplays.Justcheckonheight,andbearinmindtheeffectyouwanttoachieve.Mixcoloursorhavesinglevarietiessuchasbegonia,nasturtium,geraniumsorrudbeckia.

Abasketofnasturtiumscanbeabrilliantandcosteffectivedisplay,eithergrowyourownfromseed,orbuyplantsofthelatestbrilliantnewvarieties.Keepdeadheadedandthesewonderfullittleplantswillflowerallsummerlong.

SweetPeascanbegrowninbasketsandpatioplanters,thetrailingandshortergrowingpatiovarietiesareideal.Thedelicateflowerswiththeirdeliciousscentareasummer‘must-have’.Keepdeadheadingtokeeptheflowerscoming.

handy hints and money saving tips

www.dobies.co.uk

Try to plant too many rather than too little. A packed container will present a lush, full effect. Just make sure you fertilise and water thoroughly to compensate for the extra plants.

Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, this will also keep containers looking tidy and prevent fungal diseases. Because plants are close together, the opportunity for disease is greater than in a normal garden plot.

Check that terracotta planters are frost proof, otherwise they must be protected in the winter.

Try to use the biggest size container that you can. This will prevent the pot drying out and give the plants plenty of room to put down roots.

Remember that clay pots are porous and will lose more moisture than ones made of other material.

Pots in an exposed position will lose more water than those in a sheltered spot and will need more water.

A week after planting up a basket, pinch out growing tips to make bushy plants.

Leave the top of a hanging basket slightly concave to encourage water to pool in the centre where it can sink through.

However warm it is during the day, pots and hanging baskets containing annual plants must not be left outside until the danger of frost has passed (normally about mid-May).

Try growing fruit and vegetables in hanging baskets and raised pots. Tomatoes work well as do Strawberries - the fruit is kept well out of the way of slugs.

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