Container Gardening Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific County - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Container Gardening

Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific CountyExtension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. Slide2

Why Grow P

lants in a Container?Suitable garden space?Easier weeding? Concern over soil borne diseases?Protect

plants from pests?

Need your garden to be mobile?

More

interesting?

Less labor intensive?Slide3

What Plants

Grow Best in Containers?Woody plants

PerennialsAnnualsFerns

BulbsSlide4

And Vegetables…

Suited for containers:LettuceRadishesTomatoes

Parsley Peppers

EggplantGreen onions

Why

?

(think compact…)

OK, but need space for vines…

Pole beans

Cucumbers

Peas

Probably not:

Corn

Zucchini

Pumpkin

Rhubarb

Why

? (think about space for growth; up, down, and out)Slide5

What to Plant?

Most plants that grow well in our yard gardens will do well in containers.Are very few plants that can’t grow in suitable size container.Remember: Coastal gardening is:

Lots of wet months, with dry summer months

Not so much on Heat Units

Note:

Days

don't determine maturity;

Degrees do…Slide6

Starts or Seeds?

Buy seeds:For unique varieties that may not be availableTo save money!

Buy

transplants

:

If

growing

season

not long-enough for seed starts Slide7

Native plants - plants that occur naturally in your region

. Examples: yarrow, lupine, deer fern, salal, ocean sprayNon-native plants - called "exotic plants".Example: English holly is not native to WA (it is native to England).

Occasionally they can become a problem, spreads aggressively & damages habitat. Called “invasive.”

Examples: Yellow Flag Iris, Japanese Knotweed, European Dune Grass, English Ivy

Flower/ Plant ChoicesSlide8

Why Use Native Plants / Flowers

Attract native animals that benefit them (i.e., pollinating and seed-dispersing insects and birds).Repel or survive native organisms that harm them (i.e., plant viruses and munching insects).Attract wider variety of native animals than exotic plants. Adapted to growing in your region's soils and climate.

Generally require less maintenance (such as watering) than do non-natives.Slide9

Good Native PlantsSlide10

Invasive PlantsSlide11

Almost anything!Size: as long as it is deep enough to accommodate root system.

Vary according to plants and available space. 6 to 10 inch pots = lettuce, radish, green onion, parsley & herbs. 1 to 2 gallon = chard and dwarf tomatoes. 5 gallon = most vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.Construction:Needs drainage hole(s). If the container is bigger than your head it needs more than one drainage hole.

No material that will leach toxic chemicals.

ContainersSlide12

Container Planting Suggestions

Container plants.Plant all the same plants. If plants are different, ensure they have same cultural needs.Choose plants of different heights for contrast. Freestanding containers, place tallest in center.Window boxes, place tallest in back.Put plants close together for a full, lush look. Stagger plants vs. rows for more natural look.Leave soil level about 1” below container rim for watering.

After planting, fertilize and water thoroughly. Slide13

Containers…Slide14

Containers…Slide15

Containers…Slide16

Container Materials

AdvantagesDisadvantagesUnglazed clayInexpensive,

abundant.Porous, dries quickly and heavy. Can’t withstand freezing temps.

Glazed clayAttractive, nonporous.

Cost and

heavy. Can’t withstand freezing temps.

Plastic

Inexpensive, nonporous and lightweight.

Damaged by UV and temperature.WoodProtect plants from extreme temperatures.Porous, dries quickly.Avoid wood treated with toxic chemicals. ConcreteDurable. Good for trees and shrubs.Porous, dries quickly and heavy.MetalNonporous.Heavy. Heats rapidly and can burn roots.Slide17

Planting containers must have drainage holes.Containers placed on flat surfaces may need to be elevated.

WSU does not recommend placing material at the bottom of containers for drainage.Container DrainageWord to the Wise: “If the container is bigger than your head it needs more than one drainage

hole!” Slide18

Must:P

rovide water, nutrients, and physical support. Drain well. Soil from the garden? Not recommended!May have poor drainage or moisture retention.

May contain disease-

causing organisms.

Growing MediumSlide19

DIY: equal parts of

1x sphagnum peat moss or compost+ 1x pasteurized soil*+ 1x Vermiculite or Perlite

= 3x mix + <1x composted (cow) manure

Or just buy… Potting soil Pros: tends to hold water better

than soil-less mixes

.

Soil mixes: Buy or DIY?

* Pasteurized soil = soil sterilized (usually through heat) to destroy harmful organisms. Slide20

May be composed of sawdust, wood chips, peat moss, perlite, or vermiculite.

Pros: Free of disease and weed seeds Hold moisture and nutrients Drain well

LightweightCommercial synthetic soil mixes:Jiffy Mix®

Pro-mix®Bacto®

Soil-less MixesSlide21

1 bushel of Perlite or Vermiculite

1 bushel of peat moss, plus10 tablespoons of garden lime (calcium carbonate)5 tablespoons of 0-20-0 (superphosphate)1 cup of garden fertilizer (such as 6-12-12 or 5-10-10)

DIY: Soil-less Mixes

+

+

10

5Slide22

What about Fertilizer?

Container plantsDisconnected from natural cycles that provide nutrients.

Need more fertilizer because frequent watering leaches away fertilizer minerals. Three key nutrients:

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Secondary nutrientsCalcium, Sulfur, Magnesium MicronutrientsBoron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Zinc, MolybdenumSlide23

Fertilizers

Fertilizer = solid or liquid

formsSpecialty blends (e.g., tomato food) more expensive,

not necessarily better!

Common blend

for vegetables:

12-12-12

OSU recommends

sulfur for western (wetter) region(10-10-10-10)Slide24

Organic or Processed?Processed

Refined from natural ingredients for more concentration and/or to be more “available” to plants.OrganicLittle or no processing; release nutrients through natural processes (decomposition and mineral breakdown).Tradeoffs: Cost, Convenience, Impact Organic: typically, lower concentration of nutrients, with longer-lasting effects.Processed: convenient, but acknowledge higher environmental/energy costs to manufacture.Slide25

DIY: Homemade Nutrient Solution

You can make a nutrient solution by dissolving 2 cups of a complete fertilizer such as 10-20-10, 12-24-12, or 8-16-8 in 1 gallon of warm tap water.

This mixture = highly concentrated and must be diluted before it can be used to fertilize the plants.

To make the final water/fertilizing solution, mix 2 tablespoons of the concentrated solution in 1 gallon water.

2

+

=

2

+Slide26

When and How to Apply Water/Nutrients…

Once the plants emerge, begin using nutrient solution.Use the nutrient solution for each (daily) watering.Recommend: Once a week, leach unused fertilizer out of the soil mix by over-watering with tap water. Add enough water to the container to cause free drainage from the bottom. Occasionally water with a nutrient solution containing minor elements such as iron, zinc, boron and manganeseFollow the label directions carefully.Slide27

Watering

Proper watering is essential for successful container garden Check daily to judge need for water

Don’t wait until you see wilt!If the vegetable produces a lot of foliage, check twice a day!

Avoid wetting the foliage of plants (Wet leaves = opportunity for diseases)Slide28

Water Retention

Water-holding gels incorporated in the soil mix before plantingSlowly release water into the soil as it driesMulches can also be placed on top of the soil mix to reduce water loss Examples: compost, straw, pine needles, grass clippings, shredded bark, and mossSlide29

Many commercial varieties available.Can be made.

Garden containers are self-wateringSelf Watering ContainersSlide30

Sunlight

Amount varies depending of varieties grown.For veggies, need 5 – 6 hours of direct sunlight.Plants for sunny locations:NasturtiumsMarigolds

Plants for shady locations:ImpatiensBegonias

Geraniums

Alyssum

Vinca

FuchsiaSlide31

Sunlight

Southern exposureMostWestern exposure (afternoon sun)Eastern exposure (morning sun)Northern exposure

LeastSlide32

WindTop-heavy pots can blow over.

Can (quickly) dry out pots.Slide33

Common Problems in Container GardeningSlide34

Common Problems in Container GardeningSlide35

WSU Resources…Home Gardener’s Guide to Soils and Fertilizers

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb1971e/eb1971e.pdf Container Gardening – WSU Spokane County Ext. http://www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/eastside/Fact%20Sheets/C020%20Container%20Gardening%2005.pdf Container Gardening – WSU King County Ext. http://county.wsu.edu/king/gardening/mg/factsheets/Fact%20Sheets/Container%20Gardening.pdf

Plants for Containers – Snohomish County Ext. - http://

ext100.wsu.edu/snohomish/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/78FlowersforContainersRockeries.pdf Container Vegetable Garden – WSU King County

Ext.

http

://

county.wsu.edu/king/gardening/mg/factsheets/Fact%20Sheets/Container%20Vegetable%20Gardens.pdf Slide36

More Resources …Slide37

Container Garden in Discovery GardenSlide38

ChallengesMinimal expense

Anti-theft containersFull sunWindMinimal wateringMinimal maintenancePlants that work togetherSlide39



“Wicks” water from reservoirSelf-Watering Containers

Plant Material

“Wick”

Reservoir

Watering tube

DrainageSlide40

Reservoir & Wicks

Reservoir = Utility tub

“Wick” =

6” PVCSlide41

Assembled

Finished = Landscape fabric

Frame = PVCSlide42

Container Planting ChecklistDecide on size and make-up of container

Decide on potting mixtureDecide which plants to place in containersFertilize the plantsWater the plantsSlide43

Let’s Get Outside!Arrange woody plants, perennials, and annuals in two self-watering containers.

Plants are in pots.You get to decide what plants to place in each of the containers.Let’s go garden! Slide44

Questions?Thanks to Rachel, Hugh, Elena, Rita, and me for donating plants for the containers!

Don’t forget to fill out evaluation survey!