I am about to move into a new apartment that has a gravel driveway (and a few feet of gravel "yard") on the west side. I would like to start growing some plants, preferably some edible plants, as I enjoy cooking, but I need to grow them in pots. So the question is... does anybody have any suggestions on what grows well in pots in the Houston area?
Thanks!
Hi all, I have a question about potted plants.
welcome. go to the forum "container gardening" here at daves and you will see threads on all kinds of things that people grow in pots. I personally have grown tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and bush beans in large pots. but not this year, no particular reason. I will likely do some veggie planting in pots in the fall. happy gardening.
Welcome, epierce to Dave's Garden. It's a great place. You need to talk to tomatoholic about her earth pots. She's had very good success. It probably would work for other things too. You can find her on lots of Texas Gardening threads.
Epierce, I think you can grow anything in containers. Learning how to maintain them is the key ... Its a trial and error thing really. The main key "Water"plants tend to dry out faster in pots, if you water too often, the plants lose nutrients. Osmocote works well in pots for me because it release nutrient with every watering. Another key element is "use huge pots", they dont tend to dry out as fast and you get a better root system. My gardening situation is about the same as yours... I have a court yard thats about seven to eight hundred sq feet. I have about 200 pots of Hostas. lol and another 150 with other plants. I have two peach trees in pots and I am growing Poplars in pots to shade my Hosta. I had a Clemitis in a pot, all my herbs are in pot. Pots are a good thing because you can move them around and change the scenery... I should be called the Pot Gardner ... but that might present a problem. LOL
Zone 8b, southeast, TX Angelina National Forest
Sylvia, I applaud every comment about "potted" plants.
Some of my potted plants over winter in greenhouse (20X40) With potted plants we can have instant Spring.
Sylvia, how do you keep those damnable fireants out of your flower pots? Also, will fireants in my pots damage roots? They do aireate the soil some.
Do you burry your pots inground during summer? My soil is sandyloam and easy to dig. This might eliminate extra watering time. I drape a drip hose over my pots to water.
Keep those hands dirty
Oh Sudie, how i wish I had a greenhouse, then I could plant more annuals, and my place already is looking like a potting shed. lol I dont remember having fireants in my pots. I did have them in my flower beds, but I bought that stuff you pour in the hiil. Ants are strange, beleive it or not, but I have more ant inside than out, they even in the bath tub! .One year I had Fireant galore... Ihavent seen any lately .... I wonder where they are coming from...just go down to Lowe's or Home Depot and ask. and let me know what works.:)
Sudie, we have fireants in certain pots. We use Anti-fuego from Gardenville to pour on them. It kills the ants and fertilizes the dirt at the same time because it has compost tea and molasses in it.
Sylvia--I'm amazed...all those beautiful pics you post are all in pots. We could call you the terra-cotta woman, if you prefer that.
Its so dry here I think the fireants have almost left for "moist ground"...I hope they have good luck.
Debbie
Debbie I do have a raised bed (its really inside the retaining wall)that house some of my shade plants and is where I am planting my natives natives. with all the new develpements around my garden is evolving into a shade area. What will I do with my peach trees? .....they are in pots ... and I got peaches too!
epierce, I'm not much of a cook, but I've been very successful growing basils and pepper plants in pots. Oh, and mints, too. Glazed pots don't dry out as quickly (but they're more expensive, so I dn't have many, lol), and it also helps to use mulch even on containers.
I keep ants out of my pots the same way I promote good drainage in containers: I cut a square of regular window screening to put over the hole/s in the the bottom of the pot. It allows excellent drainage, keeps soil in, and keeps ants out.
Maggie I just loved glazed pots I got my Hostas in a lot of glazed pots. I bought six huge ones at the HD for about 20 bucks a piece. I think I got them all because I would not see that price again. interesting thing about the glazed pot keeping the moisture in, never thought of it. I did learn something interesting about using pots too small here lately. I never lost a Hosta until I started collecting a lot of mini Hostas. out of about thirty, I lost six and I think its due to those small pots (6inchs?) in most cases the root system is too large for the pot (Ithink) So i need to do something different, I hate to put a Cracker Crumbs in a large pot, maybe multiples in a larger pot?
Nice collection there Sylvia--anyone who can grow hostas is my hero..lol
That does it Sylvia, I'm coming up to see your courtyard! You have a great container garden!
Wow, thanks for all the great replies. I think I am going to try some tomatoes and peppers, so I can have a go at homemade salsa. My confidence has been boosted by all of your great "pot gardens"! Thanks again.
When Maggie? One sunday you and Debbie should drive down and I will prepare brunch ... food with herbs from my garden ... Oh .. So Martha Stewart! lol You should see how my garden has evolved, for the first time I think I have too many plants. I got my yard helper coming in the morning to help me rearrange things ... again! lol I can hardly move around in the back anymore.
Sylvia, when are you coming down to see me?
Lets say maggie when I finish paying my hospital bill?...you ever go to sign in and forget you got a duductible and 20%... it aint pretty! lol
Maggie I would love to come there. I have always wanted to vist that area and the Woodlands. its so picturesque and there are loads of plant places up that way. I love the Pine trees. My ex-honey and I use to go to Galveston every three months to vist his son. But he would only stop once, I hated him for that. There are a lot of sales going in the fall ...right? Let me see what I can do then.
Sounds like a date, Sylvia. And in the fall, I'll show off my little grandgirl, too!
:-)
Maggie you are a Granny? How Cool, I would love to see her.
Mary WILL be a granny! When is the little one due to make her appearance? I wish my DS's and DDIL's would decide to give us a DGC or two. By the time I have any, I will be too old to even know it!!
Speaking of container gardening ... look at my display of mini Hostas I have started. :)
She's due to arrive on or about August 27th. Still a ways away, but not too terribly long now. :-)
Sylvia, your collection is huge! How do you keep up with all of them? They must bring you much joy.
They do Maggie ... i just started the Mini thing, I got about 78 of them so far i love catching them sales and the Hosta coops. :)