Container Gardening

Stephany HoffeltJohnson County Master Gardener

Getting Started Where to plant, what?

Partial Shade ( 3-5 hours of sun)

•Root crops•Leaf crops•Herbs Ex: mints

Full Sun ( 6-10 hours of sun) •Vegetables grown for fruits•Herbs Ex: basil or oregano•Ornamental flowers

Getting StartedWhat kind of Container?

The size of container determines what you can plant.

Small containers hold plants that don’t become top heavy.

Large containers such as this self contained gardening system hold larger plants or more than one plant.

Getting Started What kind of Container?

Getting Started What type of soil?

Make your own mix:

•1 part garden loam •1 part coco peat or peat moss•1 part coarse sand

Potting Soil works but after four – six weeks you will need to add fertilizer.

Plant Care Watering

Watering keeps roots cool.

Plants may need to be watered twice a day on hot, dry days.

Best to Use •Self-watering containers•Mulch •Plant spikes

Plant Care Feeding

Try natural fertilizers such as:

•Bone Meal - Phosphate•Blood Meal - Nitrogen•Wood Ash – Potassium

•Compost Tea

•Fish Emulsion•Kelp Meal•Worm Castings

Apply according to directions on package.

Cultural Controls•Mulching

•Remove diseased leaves and plants

•Hand pick pests

•Attract beneficial insects

Botanical Insecticides

Plant Care Pest Management

Project:Build your own self-contained gardening system.

Step One: Gather materials and equipment.

Materials2 tote boxes with lids1 pond basket2-foot length of 1-1/2" plastic pipe or tubing NO PVCgardening cloth

Equipment:a pencil or pena drill 1/4" or larger bit 1-1/2" bita jig saw

Step Two: Cut one tote to the height of the pond basket.

Step Three

Drill holes according to the first picture. Using a jigsaw, cut a circle the size of the pond basket and tubing, as

pictured.

Step FourAssemble inner box by placing first the pond basket, then the halved tote and finally the tubing.

Project:Build your own self-contained gardening system.

Step FiveCut center of lid out with a jigsaw.

Step Six Snap lid over gardening cloth as is illustrated in the final picture.

Project:Build your own self-contained gardening system.