Hey guys.
I am moving to my first apartment in 2 weeks, and am planning on having a container garden of sort. I have a patio/backyard area, so I have a little bit of room to work with.
My question is what are some plants that typically do well in containers on a patio? ... I think I have a variety of light from full shade to full sun. I'm open to all sizes of containers and all kinds of plants (I'd like a couple veggies and fruits if I can manage it). I just want a pretty, relaxing area to sit out in.
Also, I live in GA (in one of the worst parts of the drought) but for now we can water 3 days a week, so I don't want to overstep my watering capacity.
I have NO idea what I am doing, so any help, links, references to other posts, would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks!
Deanna
Container Garden at Apartment?
Ooooh! Get an Earth box!
http://www.earthbox.com/
Those look really cool!
AND they work!
Given the watering restrictions, I think the self watering planters may be the way to go. There are other types too besides the Earthbox...for growing veggies the EB has a great system going, but for other plants you may be able to get away with something that's cheaper or more decorative looking. Gardeners' Supply has a good selection of self-watering planters (theirs aren't super cheap either but they look really nice). http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Search-ShowCategory?cgid=PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters&PageSize=2000
Deanna...I think it all depends on what kind of look you're trying to achieve. If you want a lot of flowers/plants, maybe you should try a stacked planter. You can grow so much in one of these. It's also self-watering. Ecrane has given you some good advice as you have to consider that you need to constantly water.
Here's my stacked planter that is way overgrown. I originally planted it with herbs and mixed in some flowers. I sitll have a ton of hebs -and it's so great being able to go out and cut some when I'm cooking. It's a wonderful invention though as it doesn't take up much room, but holds a lot. It's also on wheels, so it's movable.
Here's when I first planted it. Like I said. the previous photo show's the growth out of control. You have 12 opportunities to plant in these pockets. I just love this planter and I think it is great when you have limited space.
This message was edited Apr 14, 2008 2:39 AM
You're lucky to have room for your garden! You can grow most anything in containers -- trees, perennials, annuals, veggies, vines, shrubs. Read the posts on container soils. Don't get caught up in exact ingredients though. Just make sure the potting medium you use is porous and well-draining.
Here's a photo of my garden from last summer. My balcony's too narrow, though, and I don't get enough sun for veggies.
Hey congratulations on your new apartment. These are various herbs grown in a strawberry pot which cost me $14.99 at Home Depot and about 4 bucks for the seed at Walmart.
Thanks everyone! I love all the ideas... It's so hard to decide what I want to do because I want to do it all. Ha ha. I really like the stackable planter idea... and the strawberry planter too.
I work near a big farmer's market in Atlanta, and almost bought a TON of plants last week... but I'm glad I went with my instinct and waited, cause we had frost last night and are supposed to have it tonight too!
Where did my spring go?!
Anyway, I move in on the 27th, so when I get everything set up and planted I'll make sure to post pictures!
You can grow anything in a pot--I have everything from an oak tree to strawberries to coneflowers--At last count, I had over 100 containers! We have a watering ban in the counties near us, but I think you only have to worry about that if you are running sprinklers..You can hand water away...I save water in a bucket when the shower is warming up to water some of my containers...water saving resins also help in pots...have fun!
Deanna, there are some good DG articles about containers, both written and coming up. There's a tab at the top of every page marked "guides and information" then pick "articles" off the list on the right hand side; a search window should open above it. Put in "container gardening" or "containers" or "pots" or anything along those lines. See what you find! I know I have one due to be online I think April 29th, although it's not unntil April 29th.
xx, Carrie
I'm in a townhome type apt. with a small bed in the front and a small patio in the back with 2 brick wall dividers. I've got hosta, daylilies, TB iris, glads, daffodils, lilies, brugs, dahlias, heuchera, tall garden phlox and annuals and herbs in pots right now. Wow, that really sounds like alot when I type it all out:LOL: I'm going to hang some of those planters with the cocofiber liners from the brick walls and am trying to figure out how to drill a screw in so I can maybe hang a flower pouch or two.
I have the front bed loaded but also have containers around the front door and at the end of the bed since I'm at the corner unit (OK, I did dig up along the side of the building for more planting room). Some of the same stuff in containers and in a really large one I have a clematis and a trellis for it. I like hyacinths since they smell good and pansies all winter for color. Another good annual filler for scent is sweet alyssum. To me it smells like honey and warm hay. Nasturtiums did well for me, cosmos also.
Congratulations on your first place!
KatG
Where did you find that container? It looks like a good space saver.
I live in a townhouse with a 19'x22' patio.
Last year I had over 160 containers.
Here's how it looked.
Nancy
Here's this years garden in a pic I took last week.
I have a lot of perennials.
That's all that's going on there right now.
Nancy
Gabagoo:
WOW is all I can say about your container garden.... Never under estimate a serious container gardener....LOL
My mom love her plastic milk containers for her patio veg/flower garden....
thanks to all who share their wonderful before and after photos
Wow Nancy! That's SO Beautiful!
Thanks Carrie... I did that and there are lots of ideas!
and Thanks dmac!
Nancy,
Super before and after, or spring and summer photos! Just great! I try to explain about a garden OF containers, because there's also a garden IN a container, like a dish garden - many people call that a container garden too! Thanks for the peek. . . truly gorgeous. Is it a lot of work?
Carrie
WORK??!?!
That's a 4 letter word! LOL!
The part that I consider "work" is when it's time to clean up & shut everything down in the late fall.
This will be my 1st full season as a retired person. (I retired last Aug). I'm really looking forward to it.
It takes me about an hour to give everything a thorough watering. I'm looking forward to being able to do that in the mornings rather than in the evenings after work.
As for a garden IN/OF containers... I have both. Many of my annuals are planted in mixed pots.
That 1st pic - taken last summer - is part of my "Weekly Update" series.
I take a picture every Saturday morning from my bedroom window overlooking my yard.
You can see the 2007 series here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlf/sets/72157600179272124/
It's cool to view it as a slideshow.
Nancy
Extremely impressive, Nancy. (Have I mentioned that my DD is named Nancy as well?) What kind of soil do you use? Looks like you use fresh soil every year because here are empty pots. I don't see enough space for a wheelchair, or I would drive down and watch/help. Do you grow your own annuals from seed? I am amazed - I might want to use some of your pictures for an article I'm working on. Just - wow. And the slideshow . . . beautiful, stunning, amazing. Carrie (at a loss for words)
Nancy, that is amazing. Great slideshow. I watched it twice.
Jennifer
I don't replace all the soil every year. I couldn't afford that!
When I toss the annuals, I shake off whtever soil I can but a lot gets discarded. That's why the soil line on the pots along the fence on the right is low. When I start planting, I usuall take out part of the soil, add peat moss, perlite & some more potting soil and put it back into the pots.
This year I'm trying some of Al's mixture on some new perennials I picked up at our annual Native Plant sale.
Other than that, I just use regular Miracle-Grow - with some peat moss & perlite tossed in.
I also add Osmocote.
Most of my annuals I buy at the local garden centers. The only ones I usually plant from seed are marigolds, zinnias & sunflowers. I'm going to be late this year. I'll be out of town the last week in May (when I usually have everything done) until June 5th.
I have to count on Ma Nature to provide the water for the perennials while I'm gone.
They will survive better without regular watering than the annuals would.
No room for a wheelchair. There's not a whole lot of walking room, either!
Do you see the path between the group of pots just beyond the table & the next batch of pots? Easy to see in this year's shot - but the one from last August, it cannot be seen from my window.
By the time everything fills out, I have to walk sideways. LOL!
It became difficult to navigate with the hose.
That's why I now run a 2nd hose up the right side to the back next to the bench. (it wasn't in place when that pic was taken). You can just barely see it in last year's shot (look thru the bench mesh for the blue/green hose) it's coiled up in a pot to the left of the bench.
Tomorrow I'll take my 1st Weekly Update pic for 2008 & a new series will begin.
Nancy
Fabulous! That's all I have to say - FABULOUS! Carrie
Nancy's a genius with her garden! I've been watching it change over the last five years. Nancy, now that you're finally retired you can really enjoy the "fruits" of your efforts. I don't know how you do it: it's all I can do to manage my little (by comparison) balcony.
Your admiring friend, Judith
Thanks, Judith!
I don't know about the "genius" part, though. I just plant what I like. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I have so many perennials now - I counted over 50 or so pots already!
And that's not counting the three I picked up from the Native Plant sale pre-order.
Van brought me about 20 pots in Sept 2006 before his move to CA, so last year was the first time with a lot of them.
Nancy
Just came across this thread --- Nancy, 'fess up now! Exactly how many "over" 160 did you have? LOL! I remember when you got to 100 and were freaking out!!
Deanna, like rah127 says, you can grow anything in a pot - it just has to be big enough! I've got a 20'x6' terrace 11 floors up in NYC; I grow lilacs, mock orange, weigela (love shrubs!), hostas, clematis, yucca, lilies, sedum, butterfly bushes, daylilies, many more perennials and a ton of assorted annuals. And not to forget the tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, scallions and various herbs. I even had a fig tree out there, but it succumbed to last year's late freeze (my fault, and I'm still mad at myself). This year, I've lost my mind and added a honeysuckle vine to my collection. I don't get a great amount of sun, but enough to keep sun-lovers going (which is why things are piled up near the railing on my terrace). Now, my crazy, mish-mosh collection of plants might not be to everyone's liking, but the point is that they all grow in POTS.
Like Nancy, I use mostly Miracle-Gro potting mix (only thing readily available in my area);
you might take a look at Al's soil mix - it's in the sticky at the top of this forum - and give it a try. I've saved his recipe, but have not yet tried it because I just don't have the room to work it out.
Also, try to steer clear of clay pots; they dry out way too quickly, especially in that hot Georgia sun. Plus they don't always "winter" over very well outside. Use plastic, or better yet, those foam pots. Atlanta's kind of like my second home, and one thing I like is that they keep gardening stuff out all year there, unlike NY. Here they put the stuff away by September-October. I've gotten some really nice, relatively inexpensive pots from Garden Ridge.
With the drought and watering restrictions, invest in some polymer watering crystals - lots of brands, but Soil-Moist comes immediately to mind. They will definitely help with cutting down on your watering needs. And mulch your pots; I do, even though I've seen where some folks don't recommend it. That also helps with retaining moisture in the soil.
You can grow whatever your heart desires. Do a google search on "annuals for Georgia" and "perennials for Georgia" and you'll find lists of plants that will do well there. There's a Georgia Gardening forum here at Dave's - you'll surely find good info there.
Whatever you decide to do, have fun! If something doesn't work out, either because you don't like it or it doesn't like you, don't stress! Try something else.
Congrats on your new apartment!
PV
LOL! OK, PV!
In the beginning of June '07, I counted 167 pots.
I'm not going to get around to planting my annuals until after June 5th, when I get back from my trip. There are 3 pots with cleome volunteers that reseeded from last year.
I counted my perennial pots a few days ago.... including the 2 trees, there are 69.
Here's how things looked last Saturday (5/17).
Nancy
Nancy...I'm speachless! It is absolutely fantastic!!! 19' X 22'? WOW!
I loved your slideshow also and the transformation...I'm also a container nut, but I get to do it all year round. I can't imagine how you must feel at the end of the season. I do love your attitude though - "I plant what I want, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't!). I feel exactly the same way.
I'm glad you filled us all in on the watering - an hour is not bad. I probably have about 100 pots spread out on my lanai right now and it takes me about the same time. Sometimes I'm like...OMG, I've got to get out there and water, but when I get out there it's probably one of the most therapeutic things I do for myself! I LOVE it!
You are really an amazing Lady and you've created something so incredibly beautiful which I'm sure rewards you 10-fold. Good luck with your 2008 plantings...they're already looking great!
Kat
Nancy...Can you please start a thread and keeps us updated with your weekly photo's? I still can't get over it - I seen this in the morning and actually got on the computer to show my office staff your photo's. They were amazed also!
Nancy...Amazing...I'm at a loss for words at what you accomplish in your NY apartment environment. I was trying to scale down my containers this year, but after seeing your slide show, I think I will attempt to fill every pot I have with something! Why have them sit idly in the greenhouse? Every ONE of them needs to come out and play. I sense another bale of Pro-Mix jumping into my vehicle tomorrow.
BTW, what is the plant you have climbing the wrought iron pole in the center of the garden?
Barbara
Gee.... thanks for all the kind remarks.
Kat - by the time late Oct rolls around, I get sad to see it all go.
That's when I have to actually "work".
Most of my plants are hardy for my area so I can leave them out. I try to only get plants that will survive in a pot during the winter. I have a few I have to dig up... the callas & dahlias. The canna, tuberose and some purple callas are in smaller pots that I bring next door to my mother's house. She has a basement. Those pots, the callas & dahlias spend the winter there.
There are a few plants I take indoors and try to keep alive. I don't have a lot of room and VERY poor lighting in the winter.
Barbara - Since I'm not the type of person who "entertains", It's easy for me to turm my yard into a jungle. When I first move here 10 years ago, I had a larger table, with 4 chairs, 4 additional chairs and the bench (in the back corner). My cousin now has the table & chairs. I kept the bench and got a smaller table with 2 chairs. I have a good excuse for not having BBQ parties. I don't have the room! LOL!
As for the pole - in the winter, it's holds an assortment of bird feeders - as shown in this pic. In spring, I have a wire fencing section around it and grow vines. Usually it's Red Runner Beans and Hyacinth bean vines. Right now there's nothing planted.
All my annuals (plants & seeds) are on hold for now.
I'm leaving for Greece on Sunday so I won't be doing any planting until after I return in the beginning of June.
I usually have everything done by the middle of the last week of May. So right now - it's all perennials.
As time goes by, I'll probably have fewer & fewer annuals. Whenever I have to divide a perennial - that's another pot! I'm going to have to start using the pots along the fence for perennials. On the up side... it will be cheaper. Now that I'm retired, I won't be able to afford to load up the car with annuals like I used to.
Nancy
Have a great trip, Nancy!
Nancy, I have so enjoyed taking a journey through the years of your backyard container growing. WOW, is all I can say. What a wonderful adventure and what a great picture album of the events from one year to the next.
I really love the snow picture with the birds there.
I too wish you a wonderful time on vacation.
I look forward to the next update of your containers.
Janet
Thanks, Janet.
I'll take my usual Saturday pic this week. I'll miss 1 Saturday (5/31) but I'll be back on track after June 5th.
Then I'll start addressing the annuals.
Right now... PACKING!
Nancy