Container Gardens

by Derek Fell

At my home, Cedaridge Farm, we have enjoyed experimenting with growing plants in containers because the interest in container gardening continues to increase and it has been fun to try combinations that one rarely sees, like using vegetables as ornamentals and grouping a selection of useful herbs close to the kitchen. What we like most about growing plants in containers is that the concentrated color makes a bigger impact than plants grown in beds and borders, and maintenance such as watering, fertilizing and weeding is easier. 

The most important rule is to use as large a container as possible because small containers have a tendency to dry out too quickly, especially hanging baskets. Another rule is to choose a container that has good insulation like wood and terracotta since we have found that metal and plastic containers tend to overheat and lose moisture quickly. Of all the container choices we prefer the wooden whisky half-barrel because it has good looks and it is roomy enough to grow a generous grouping of plants, such as three tomato plants staked upright or six strawberry plants planted shoulder to shoulder. Our second favorite choice of container is a terracotta urn or a metal hayrack planter with a nesting of coco fiber to retain soil.

When you want to make a grouping of containers, vary the heights for the most pleasing effect and be sure that each has good drainage. Not all containers sold for growing plants have drainage holes, and you may need to drill a series of holes. Also, to improve drainage I like to place all my containers on bricks or decorative clay potholders that will raise the bottom up off the ground for improved drainage. When using wood, line the inside with a plastic trash bag and punch holes through the plastic for drainage, otherwise the soil you use can quickly rot the wood. For watering I like to use a watering wand attached to a garden hose so I can poke the end through foliage to water the root zone. As a fertilizer I like to use a slow-release general-purpose formula such as Osmocote which should be raked into the soil surface to last the season. 

My favorite plants to grow in containers are those that will remain attractive the entire season, at least until the fall frost. This generally means choosing among annuals. For sunny locations, I like to create three tiers of color, using a tall plant, such as a dahlia in the middle of a whisky half barrel, an intermediate height plant, such as a coleus around the centerpiece, and a low, spreading or cascading plant, such as alyssum or a petunia, around the rim. With flowers, I like to create color harmonies of not more than three colors, and preferably two. My favorite two-color combinations are blue and yellow, orange and violet, and pink and blue. For a tri-color harmony consider all hot colors, such as red, orange and yellow; or a cool color harmony, such as blue, purple and mauve. Do not clump white because it can be too garish and will punch a hole in your arrangement. Instead, use white flowering plants with airy blooms like alyssum and baby’s breath to create a sparkling effect. 

When growing edibles in containers choose among vegetables that will keep cropping all season, such as erect multi-colored chard, bushy tomatoes and compact peppers; or culinary herbs like parsley, chives and basil. These have interesting foliage and the more you pick mature stems to flavor meals, the more new growth the plant will produce. Many kinds of herbs are compact and can be used as an edging around a container rim. When growing strawberries in containers choose among the new ‘day-neutral’ varieties like ‘Albion’ and ‘Tri-Star,’ which are repeat-flowering all season and will ripen fruits in several flushes starting in June. Older varieties are sensitive to day-length and will quit bearing when days lengthen. 

Derek Fell (1939-2019) is remembered as one of the world’s best most well-known and respected writers. During a career of more than 50 years as a garden writer, Derek Fell has authored more than a hundred garden books and calendars. He has written the Avant Garden department for Bucks County Magazine for the last seven years.