Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific County Container Gardening Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor and Pacific County Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Why Grow Plants 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? Template D Plain-crimson-dark

What Plants Grow Best in Containers? Woody plants Perennials Annuals Ferns Bulbs Container Gardening Workshop

And Vegetables… Suited for containers: OK, but need space for vines… Lettuce Radishes Tomatoes Parsley Peppers Eggplant Green 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) Template D Plain-crimson-dark

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… Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Starts or Seeds? Buy seeds: Buy transplants: For unique varieties that may not be available To save money! Buy transplants: If growing season not long-enough for seed starts Container Gardening Workshop

Flower/ Plant Choices Native plants - plants that occur naturally in your region. Examples: yarrow, lupine, deer fern, salal, ocean spray Non-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 Container Gardening Workshop

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. Container Gardening Workshop

Good Native Plants Container Gardening Workshop

Invasive Plants Container Gardening Workshop

Containers 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. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

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. Container Gardening Workshop

Containers… Container Gardening Workshop

Containers… Container Gardening Workshop

Containers… Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Container Materials Advantages Disadvantages Unglazed clay Inexpensive, abundant. Porous, dries quickly and heavy. Can’t withstand freezing temps. Glazed clay Attractive, nonporous. Cost and heavy. Can’t withstand freezing temps. Plastic Inexpensive, nonporous and lightweight. Damaged by UV and temperature. Wood Protect plants from extreme temperatures. Porous, dries quickly. Avoid wood treated with toxic chemicals. Concrete Durable. Good for trees and shrubs. Porous, dries quickly and heavy. Metal Nonporous. Heavy. Heats rapidly and can burn roots. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Container Drainage 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. Nearly every book or web site on container gardening recommends placing coarse material at the bottom of containers for drainage. Water does not move easily from layers of finer textured materials to layers of more coarse textured. WSU does not recommend placing coarse material at the bottom of containers Word to the Wise: “If the container is bigger than your head it needs more than one drainage hole!” Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Growing Medium Must: Soil from the garden? Not recommended! Provide 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. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Soil mixes: Buy or DIY? DIY: equal parts of Or just buy… Potting soil 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. * Pasteurized soil = soil sterilized (usually through heat) to destroy harmful organisms. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Soil-less Mixes 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 Lightweight Commercial synthetic soil mixes: Jiffy Mix® Pro-mix® Bacto® Template D Plain-crimson-dark

+ + DIY: Soil-less Mixes 1 bushel of Perlite or Vermiculite 1 bushel of peat moss, plus 10 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) 10 + + 5 Template D Plain-crimson-dark

What about Fertilizer? Container plants Three key nutrients: Disconnected from natural cycles that provide nutrients. Need more fertilizer because frequent watering leaches away fertilizer minerals. Three key nutrients: Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Secondary nutrients Calcium, Sulfur, Magnesium Micronutrients Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Molybdenum Solid fertilizer is pelletized and added at time of planting and time-released Liquid fertilizer is prepared by adding water-soluble fertilizers are added to water and used when plants begin to grow actively There are many good commercial liquid fertilizers Miracle Gro etc. Always follow the application directions on the label. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Fertilizers Fertilizer = solid or liquid forms Specialty 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) Solid fertilizer is pelletized and added at time of planting and time-released Liquid fertilizer is prepared by adding water-soluble fertilizers are added to water and used when plants begin to grow actively There are many good commercial liquid fertilizers Miracle Gro etc. Always follow the application directions on the label. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Organic or Processed? Processed Organic Refined from natural ingredients for more concentration and/or to be more “available” to plants. Organic Little 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. Container Gardening Workshop

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 Template D Plain-crimson-dark

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 manganese Follow the label directions carefully. Template D Plain-crimson-dark

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) Container Gardening Workshop

Water Retention Water-holding gels incorporated in the soil mix before planting Slowly release water into the soil as it dries Mulches can also be placed on top of the soil mix to reduce water loss Examples: compost, straw, pine needles, grass clippings, shredded bark, and moss Container Gardening Workshop

Self Watering Containers Many commercial varieties available. Can be made. Garden containers are self-watering Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Sunlight Amount varies depending of varieties grown. For veggies, need 5 – 6 hours of direct sunlight. Plants for sunny locations: Nasturtiums Marigolds Plants for shady locations: Impatiens Begonias Geraniums Alyssum Vinca Fuchsia Container Gardening Workshop

Sunlight Southern exposure Western exposure (afternoon sun) Most Western exposure (afternoon sun) Eastern exposure (morning sun) Northern exposure Least Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Wind Top-heavy pots can blow over. Can (quickly) dry out pots. Container Gardening Workshop

Common Problems in Container Gardening Container Gardening Workshop

Common Problems in Container Gardening Container Gardening Workshop

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%2 0Gardening%2005.pdf Container Gardening – WSU King County Ext. http://county.wsu.edu/king/gardening/mg/factsheets/Fact%20Sheets/Conta iner%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/Conta iner%20Vegetable%20Gardens.pdf Template D Plain-crimson-dark

More Resources … Container Gardening Workshop

Container Garden in Discovery Garden Container Gardening Workshop

Challenges Minimal expense Anti-theft containers Full sun Wind Minimal watering Minimal maintenance Plants that work together Container Gardening Workshop

Self-Watering Containers  “Wicks” water from reservoir Plant Material Watering tube Drainage “Wick” Reservoir Template D Plain-crimson-dark

Reservoir & Wicks “Wick” = 6” PVC Reservoir = Utility tub Container Gardening Workshop

Assembled Frame = PVC Finished = Landscape fabric Container Gardening Workshop

Container Planting Checklist Decide on size and make-up of container Decide on potting mixture Decide which plants to place in containers Fertilize the plants Water the plants Container Gardening Workshop

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!  Container Gardening Workshop

Questions? Thanks to Rachel, Hugh, Elena, Rita, and me for donating plants for the containers! Don’t forget to fill out evaluation survey! Container Gardening Workshop