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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:This week our lead article is quite long, thus we'll try to keep the balance of the issue short. We'll be focusing on container gardening and will give you some great tips to help you, even if you've been container gardening for years. We also replace our regular Reader Mailbag question with a Reader Tip we recently received. Of course, we have other things for you to enjoy As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Intro to Container Gardening:
Did you know that you can convert even the smallest space into an area to meet your passion for gardening? It is really simple to plant a container garden on patios, balconies or terraces. The range of plants available for containers has been vastly increased recently and you can now obtain ornamental plants or herbaceous perennials which were only grown previously in your back yard. Container gardening opens your horticultural horizon because it takes less space. You don't need a large country garden to grow the tastiest herbs, wild strawberries, or even dwarf fruits. Hard to believe, but 90% of the approximately 60 million gardeners in the United States grow at least some type of container plant during the year. It may just be a pot of geraniums, or a few window boxes, or it also could be a deck filled with containers of tomatoes, peppers, herbs or maybe a bougainvillea or two. Generally container growing is a necessity for people without yard space, but it is also a smart alternative if you are restricted by poor soil or live in a difficult climate. Almost all plants can be container grown. What can be used for containers? You can recycle whiskey barrels, five gallon food buckets, bushel baskets, wooden planter boxes, or even old tires. Another great choice are the new self- watering planters with their built in water reservoirs. I (Rex) use the Rain Bird watering system http://www.rainbird.com As a general rule it is best to use the largest container suited for the plant you wish to grow. Why? Because the more soil available to the plant, the longer the plants can go without needing water. Whatever size container you choose, make sure they have drainage holes so excess water can drain away, and the roots do not get waterlogged. We suggest you elevate the pots on scraps of wood or decorative bricks so water can escape from the bottom. If you are planting a very large container and you know you may have to move it during the year, you may want to place the container on rolling casters before you fill it with soil -- it can become very heavy and rolling casters will certainly save your back. SOIL MIXES Container grown plants do best in light, well drained moisture retentive soil. Regular garden soil is often too dense, plus disease pathogens and insect eggs may be present to cause problems. Most container grown plants are happiest in a soil- less medium of compressed peat moss, vermiculite or perlite. You can purchase pre-mixed blends or you can mix your own. Over time, all soil will become compacted. Thus, if your container seems water-logged and heavy, you may want to replace the soil mix at the start of each growing season. WATERING If you forget to water your container grown plants you may come home to droopy, if not dead plants. This is why you may want to investigate the Rainbird automatic water system. When container plants get too dry, their delicate feeder roots die and the plant must concentrate its energy in re-growing the damaged roots rather then producing the fruit or flowers. It is really easy to grow container plants but they must get regular and frequent watering. USE OF POLYMERS Polymers are a boon for container gardeners. This a non-toxic "crystal" that will absorb and retain up to 400 times their weight in water. When blended into the soil, polymers can reduce your watering chores by up to 50 to 70%. GROWING TIPS NEVER water your container plants with home softened water because this water contains salts which are toxic to plants. Scrub old pots with a 10% bleach water solution before re-use. This will kill disease and pest eggs, and will help remove accumulated fertilizer salts. Peat moss is naturally acidic, so if you use it you should add a few teaspoons of lime in each pot to keep the soil pH close to normal. Some plants can survive on only four hours of sun per day. However, most plants, especially annuals, require at least six to eight hours per day. Put saucers under your pots to protect your deck or patio from water marks. Submerge "new" clay pots in water for at least 15 minutes before you fill them with soil. This will force the air out of pore spaces and will help keep the soil moist. Always pre-moisten the soil mix before putting it in containers. If your soil mix contains peat moss you will find warm water works best to allow the water to soak into the mix. Feel free to visit Rex's Seedco to find some great container garden seeds. http://rexseedco.com *** 10% Savings Through April 8, 2004 *** The discount will not show up in your shopping cart -- we will take care of it for you before finalization of your order. (No other discounts apply.) 3) Humor for Today:Morris goes to a job interview. The boss says, "I'll give you $8 an hour starting today, and in three months, I'll raise it to $12 an hour. So when would you like to start?" Morris replies, "How 'bout three months from now?" 4) Planting Ground Cover:Did you know it is better to plant ground cover in the fall? Why? Because it will be better established in the spring and help choke out more weeds. It will also provide some winter interest. 5) Amazon River (Trivia from Rex’s Seedco):The Amazon River, approximately 4,150 miles long, beats the Nile River in length by a hundred miles. The river was originally named for fierce female warriors who allegedly were spotted along the river's banks by Spanish explorers. Although, some historians doubt these warriors existed. It may have been a tale told by the explorers to get additional funds to continue their search for the "River Dorado," the city of gold. The Amazon boasts saltwater creatures that ordinary do not show up in rivers, such as sharks, stringrays or long-snouted dolphins. Scientists believe that the Amazon Basin was once an island sea that opened to the Pacific. Then millions of years ago, the Andes mountains heaved upwards and this sea was severed from the Pacific forever. Click Image for Our Palm Tree
Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"I wish there was a knob on the TV so you could turn up
the intelligence. They got one marked 'brightness' but it doesn't
work." 7) Container Color:
8) Reader Tip: Plant MarkersThis is a "tip" submitted by a reader. (Chris and Pam Hatcher) The cut-offs from plastic and metal miniblinds make great plant markers. Most home centers custom cut these to length and have remnant pieces as discards. They have a slightly curved shape which gives them rigidty, and makes them easy to insert in the soil. They will hold up over time. Use a grease pencil or permanet (Sharpie type) marker on them as you would on any other plant marker. 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times Click Here or send email to subscribegtt@goalsmint.com To unsubscribe Click Here or send email to unsubscribegtt@goalsmint.com Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
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In warm climates, paint your conatiners white on the outside; in cool
climates, paint them black. White pots will absorb less heat and are
best for plants that prefer cool roots such as clematis, delphiniums,
primroses and ferns.