Applegater Spring 2018
9
DIRTY FINGERNAILS AND ALL
Let’s get trendy
BY SIOUX ROGERS
Gardens, like most aspects of life, rotate
through trends and changes. Consider
trends to be just that: trends. If the “trendy”
stuff does not work for you, no problem.
There is no right or wrong and all is
good. Of all the new trends, gardening in
containers is the focus here.
While container gardening certainly is
not new, it is now being revisited as the
latest and greatest. Personally, I have always
loved container gardening, especially
when I have had limited space to appease
my passion. Here are some of the many
valid reasons container gardening is a very
popular and viable garden option:
Check out the photos for examples
of what you may want to plant. If you
are just starting this project and plan
to go full speed ahead with numerous
containers, think about first placing the
empty containers where you think you
want them. Rearrange as much as you want
while they are empty, because large, full
containers are hellacious to move.
Certain plants, such as mint, comfrey,
and ivy, should usually be in containers
because they are horrific spreaders—via
roots, not clumps. If you want a hillside
of mint, toss the container and go for the
hillside. It will smell marvelous.
Easy and practical suggestions
How about starting with some
perennials, which come back every year?
Again, there is no right or wrong with
whatever you plant, with a few exceptions.
If you are placing more
than one type of plant in
Photo, top left: Ready-made salad in a basket a container, ideally they
(deborahsilver.com). should require the same
Photo, lower left: A variety of herbs thrive in containers amount of water, fertilizer,
(edencondensed.com). and sun exposure. This will
Photo, lower right: Black krim tomatoes make them all very happy.
planted in old tires (i.ytimg.com). Read the nursery label
describing the plant’s needs
or ask the nursery expert.
That’s easy, right?
Vines, such as clematis,
roses, honeysuckles, and
even cucumbers, placed so
they can climb are extremely
happy in containers. They
do not have big roots, but
rather love the vertical space.
Herbs like parsley, cilantro,
dill, thyme, sage, oregano,
and cilantro, are fabulous
• Some of us are getting older and
ap p re c i ati n g the “l e s s - i s - m o re”
philosophy. We don’t need giant gardens
unless we are feeding the entire tribe.
• If you are a small family, you can actually
grow most of your edibles in containers.
• You can create a fabulous floral
arrangement with living plants in
containers.
• Plants in containers can have their water
and nutrient needs taken care of much
easier than long rows of plants.
• Plants in containers are much easier to
protect from critters—deer, gophers,
squirrels, slugs, or whatever else is
chowing down. Just cover the container
or move it to a protected area.
• There is almost nothing that will not
grow in a container, although I’m not
suggesting planting a giant redwood.
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and very practical
Sioux Rogers
in containers,
especially when sitting outside your
kitchen door or on a sunny window ledge.
Believe it or not, potatoes, sweet
potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips,
kohlrabi, and root vegetables in general
do exceptionally well in containers. And
zucchini, pumpkins, and other squashes
also thrive when contained.
While old tires, stacked two high, are
not exactly aesthetic, I planted squashes
in them that produced an abundance
of healthy and large vegetables. Lettuce
also looks great and grows very easily in
containers, although not necessarily in
old tires. Strawberries do excellent in most
containers. If you do see some bugs and
slugs feasting on your delectables, they will
not have a chance under your watchful eye.
Vegetables and flowers are so practical
and easy to grow in containers. Frankly,
flowers planted in containers are my
passion—I liken them to a masterful and
colorful work of art. Again, no rights or
wrongs—containers with mixed colors,
different shades of color, tall plants, and
short flowers all work. Containers can be
planted with a kaleidoscope of colors or
designed with a limited color pallet such
as blues, purples, pinks and whites.
All is good—it is your garden. If you
mix annuals and perennials together next
year, you will need only to replace the
annuals.
If I can help, clarify, or suggest anything
to get you started, email me. It will be my
joy and pleasure.
Dirty fingernails and all,
Sioux Rogers • 541-890-9876
dirtyfingernails@fastmail.fm
