Gardening, in addition to being a means to feed yourself or beautify your yard, has an important spiritual facet often overlooked: It reminds us of our connection to the earth and it fosters mindfulness, happiness, positive self-esteem and hope. You don’t need a full-scale garden to reap these benefits; a few containers on the patio will do. But beware, once you get started, you’ll want to keep adding. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
For eye-catching beauty, try a few flowers. First, consider what you want to use the flowers for and then pick the plants based on those considerations. Will the flowers be used as a cutting garden or more as an outdoor focal point? Think seasonal and update as the year progresses. In spring, sweet peas, pansies and violas will do you proud. When fall comes around, plant bulbs like tulips, hyacinths and daffodils for radiance the following spring. Summer blooms suited for containers include coneflowers, zinnias and dahlias.
[stock the potting shed]
For container gardening, it’s not necessary to possess much. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Slow-release fertilizer, unless the potting soil already includes fertilizer
- Hand trowel
- Watering can
- Good-quality commercial potting soil
[edibles]
If you want to venture into growing food in a container, start with plants you eat. If you love a tomato on your summer salad, plant tomatoes. Look for dwarf varieties, which work better as container plants. Once you’ve planted a vegetable, consider adding a companion herb or two to the container. For example, I like to plant squash, lemon thyme and cilantro in one pot. Make sure to use a larger pot (22-inch to 24-inch), especially when combining plants. A raised planter box, which just means it has legs, is also a solid option.Herbs are another possibility for containers: they are easy, vigorous growers. If you plant one herb, you might as well plant an array in one container because you won’t be able to get enough.
[good flowers for containers]
Asiatic Lilies These lilies are among the easiest to grow: they require no staking, are hardy and need only well-draining soil. Dahlias Select a dwarf-version of these perky flowers and plant in a pot at least 12 inches in diameter. Dwarf Sunflowers While their counterparts can grow up to 15 feet tall, the dwarf variety tends to top off at 12 or 15 inches. Tulips Plant a container in the fall for early spring blooms. Zinnias These bright, cheerful annuals grow quickly in summer and bloom heavily.
[P. Allen Smith, host of two public television programs, is an award-winning designer and gardening expert. He is the author of several books, including his Seasonal Recipes from the Garden.]