Gardening branches out to the internet!

By Jos Van Hage

-Jos VanHage

This is the first of what is to be a weekly column on gardening via the Internet. Gardening is a hobby that grows on you in different ways. Whether you have a vegetable garden to eat from or a flower garden for cut flowers or maybe just a lawn with a few shrubs, gardening is a relaxing way to unwind and enjoy the benefits of your labors. A big trend right now is container gardening, which is great as it allows people who live in apartments, condos, or places with limited space to also grow things. It is also popular among homeowners as it allows a person to grow plants where they would otherwise not grow such as a deck, patio, or anywhere that instant color is wanted.

Container gardens are very easy to keep up, as they require no weeding or soil preparation. They need to be watered on a daily basis, fertilized weekly with 15-30-15 and have finished blooms and damaged leaves and branches removed when seen. You can either buy a container already planted or be creative and plant up your own container. Almost anything will grow in a container providing it is large enough. The larger the container the less chance of it drying out. Many vegetables grow well in containers and some such as the 'Tumbler' tomato are specifically designed to grow in containers. You can easily grow a salad in a container as herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers etc. do very well.

Most container gardens however, contain flowers and there are many varieties of flowers such as the 'Proven Winners' that make perfect container plants. There is also what is called a 'Six Pack' which is a pack of 6 plants that compliment each other so when planted together in one pot, they make a beautiful display. These are perfect for the beginner gardener who is not quite sure which plants go together or for any gardener as they are an economical way to buy plants.

When choosing plants to go in a container you must know where the container will be placed as some plants such as impatients, fuschias, and begonias do best in shade. The list of sun loving plants is much larger and a few of the favorites are geraniums, supertunias, verbena, calibracoa, diascia, bacopa etc. that are excellent for a sunny spot that receives at least 6 or more hours of strong sunlight. These are just a few examples of container plants as basically any annual or perennial can be grown in a pot. When planting perennials or shrubs that are expected to come back next year in a container, the container must be brought indoors over the winter and placed in a cool room where it is above freezing. If perennials or shrubs are zone 3 or lower, the entire container can be planted into the garden over the winter. Another option is to take the plants out of the container and plant them directly into the ground with some extra mulch cover to protect it over the winter.

Whether you plant in containers or have a garden, go out this spring and grow a few plants and enjoy the hobby that grows on you!

-Jos VanHage owns Art Knapp’s in Prince George

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