It is possible in real world time and in real world space to enjoy the real fruits of gardening (the fun, the relaxation, the health) whether your goal is to enjoy your own tomatoes (or any other vegetable for that matter) and even bright color in a basket. As a matter of fact you don’t have to know everything about gardening. You don’t have to be an expert. It doesn’t have to take a lot of space. You can do it with a hectic, crazy-busy schedule. And you know what else? You can look good doing it! We call it a “Potted Garden” and by following some super simple suggestions you can reap big rewards.

Yes, Sam-I-am. I would like it in a pot!

Ever try a vegetable garden in a pot? If you lack space for a formal vegetable garden this may be the easiest remedy. If you have plenty of room, this may be a way to make vegetable garden easier. The trick here is to pick an area of your yard or patio that gets afternoon sun. Morning sun is great too and you may grow all kinds of herbs in those situations… the vegetables just tend to take longer to mature. Once you have the area scoped out, pick the largest container that your area can accommodate. GO BIG! The larger container holds the most soil which will hold more moisture and nutrients which in turn will help your plants thrive. Here’s another benefit: It will buy you some hours if you forget to water. A recommended size for the crazy busy family would be a 20 gallon container. (This ends up generally to be 2 ½ feet wide by 2 ½ feet tall. There are, of course, differences in types of pots and how long they last, and the look you would like to achieve. This introduces some value choices of course and may require in the worse case scenario, the opinion of your significant other. Remember, go big. Go Big! Size, in this case, really matters.

How much for your bagged soil?

Because of the overwhelming choices in such a simple category it seems that price is the only way to compare. It’s no wonder then, that if there were no other differences, price would be a great way to compare. Here is the inside scoop. Bagged soil is generally made up of a mixture of peat, perlite, and bark with a couple of added extras like surfactants (to spread water evenly), some have a bit of cheap fertilizers (good marketing) and others add water- holding capabilities like coconut coir (good) or polymers (ok). By altering any of these ingredients it is possible to create a soil to meet any price point in the market. Throw in the confusing size of bags of soil and even the reputable nurseries are tempted to introduce a bagged soil with a really good price point despite it being second best for plant health. We recommend a soil that really began with the ratio of ingredients that will give gardeners (and non-gardeners) the best chance for success. It was developed here in the Northwest and so we’ve called it Northwest Best. Use it and fill your chosen container full. (Don’t add any fillers to the bottom of your container!)

Food for plants?

If there’s an ancient Chinese secret of gardeners then here is where you will find it. Adding fertilizer to the soil before planting is one of the best things you can do to increase your chances of success. It’s what separates the good from great gardens. Without going into great detail of the different types of fertilizers we use Plant tone. It’s a dry, all-organic fertilizer that contains all 15 essential nutrients for root growth (and thus plant growth) and contains beneficial microbes that convert nutrients into a form that the plants can actually use. It’s particularly great for edibles and contains the extra calcium needed to prevent end-rot in tomatoes. Now later there is a recommended fertilizer that you’ll add to your water. There’s a small detail about how much and how often. The answer depends upon what you are growing and it makes for extremely dry reading so see us. We can tell you all the details particular for you in a much more fun, entertaining way. (It’s what we do for a living.)

Add plants!

Choosing which plants to put in your pot is often one of the most exciting moments of gardening. There is a wonderful selection of vegetables (as well as color if that’s your gig) and the trick here is to enjoy. No matter which vegetable you pick whether it’s a small surprise tomato like ‘Sun Sugar’ (great taste) or a leafy lettuce mix (give ‘salad bowl’ a try!) or a pot of mixed peppers (ever try all the colors of ‘Bell’?) It’s possible by the way to plant a multitude of varieties of tomatoes in a single pot. We call it “Intensified Gardening” and you can achieve great results. Of course expect a smaller yield from each plant but it’s a kick for getting different tastes from different varieties. There are a number of ways to support your plants as they grow and again, see us for help in that department. (It’s what we do too.)

Water! Water! Water!

Here’s your answer to the question whether you are over-watering or under-watering… Most outdoor plants die in a container from LACK of water. If you are in doubt, water. Then water some more. Your container should have a hole on the bottom and it will drain away any excess. Here’s another trick: Water every day at the same time of day. It doesn’t really matter if you choose to get up with the birds in the morning to water or if you enjoy to water under the cover of darkness. The time for you could be at high noon, or after checking emails… just try to be consistent and your plants will love you for it.

One more question!

Wouldn’t it be great to have a professional ready and willing to help with garden questions at all hours of the day and night? We’d love to be the ones to help! No question is too silly. No time is as important as when your question comes to mind. It’s easy too! Go to www.thegardencorner.com and click on one of our photos to send an email directly to your garden craftsman.

Toby feeling like a gardener

If there’s a glitch, (like the roads freezing up) then it means the groceries won’t arrive and that means having to be creative in the kitchen again.  Usually that’s ok for awhile or at least until the roads unfreeze and traffic runs again.  But what happens if the roads thaw, allowing you to run for the store (to grab more diet coke and pork spring rolls) but the car runs out of gasoline?  That’s what I call a double whammy. (It has been known to turn entire families crabby).  That is, in a wierd convoluted way, what is happening to your plants when it is dry and cold.  The solution?  (And your solution to feel like a gardener even in Winter) is to hook up the hose and give your plants a good drink.  Here’s how to do it.  During the warmest part of the day (or any time above freezing) give your plant roots a good soaking.  No need to get the foliage wet just the soil.  This is especially important for all of your containers, including hanging containers, and any areas that tend to stay dry (like just under the eaves of your house).  If your plant has gone dormant (if the foliage has died back to the ground) no real need to water those.   I’m warning you ahead of time, it feels weird and can be a heck of a lot of fun.  (If you really want your neighbors to talk, wear a sun bonnet while you’re doing it.)  Your plants will thank you for it by coming through the winter better blooming and healthier looking.  Still have a nagging question?  Have you tried this Winter-Water experience?  Post it all here or email me direct:  jonn@thegardencorner.com

John demonstrating watering in winter

Aphids are the among the most destructive insect pests in the Pacific Northwest. Plants exhibiting aphid damage can have a variety of symptoms, such as decreased growth rates, mottled leaves, yellowing, stunted growth, curled leaves, wilting and death of the plant.

Not to be outdone, the budworm is a caterpillar that loves to eat petunias, geraniums and other flowers that you likely grow. Budworms eat small holes in the buds of these plants, often leading to plants with lots of foliage, but few blooms. If not controlled, the voracious appetite of the budworm can cause tremendous damage to your garden in a short time.

In this video podcast, I’ll show you how to spot aphids and budworms and how to control them. As always, we hope you enjoy these video podcasts and your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Happy Gardening!
Jonn Karsseboom

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With the less-than-desirable weather we’ve had this year, a lot of good gardening intentions were delayed. But summer is now here in all its glory and the growing season is now at its peak making it the perfect time to use your Garden Dollars.

Now that summer in the Pacific Northwest has (finally) arrived, it is important to understand how best to care for your hanging basket by watering properly.

We hope you enjoy these video podcasts and your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Happy Gardening!
Jonn Karsseboom

Click To Watch Video