Place your bets - how many containers?

15 years ago

I do this every year and I'm mostly wrong. This year I am predicting that I will do 30 containers. It tends to be more, but I am cutting down as my beds are packed and I'm being thoughtful about gifts, etc.

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Comments (35)

tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Well, I said the other day I would be cutting back too but I have a Phlox Paniculata issue and will be moving a lot of them out next year. Since this has been one of my all time favourites, there's going to be major holes in some gardens. One garden will virtually be emptied.

I will also be changing things by not doing 'cup' containers so that's going to change the numbers a bit too.

About 100. Yeah, let's say 100. Sounds like a good number.
jmc7104
15 years ago
130 and I am so positivily sure of this that I wrote it in the dust on my computer table, with my finger so I wouldn't forget it. jim
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There is a nurseryman who sells at our local farmers market . Below I have copied his writing explaining his view on potting soils in a newsletter he sends out. I am having better results with the peat/pumice mix when I add some sand and some of my soil than with the usual store bought mixes. As Gary says, the bagged mixes at the stores usually have a more limited life. Using longer lasting mixes allows you to save some work by repotting less often. If I were not growing roses in the ground, I would be using raised beds. We have an elderly neighbor who does all of her gardening in tall brick sided raised beds and it allows her to continue gardening. She can sit on the bricks and work with the plants. A concrete path allows her to use her walker to easily reach the beds. I find that the polyanthas and smaller roses do very well in pots and that young hybrid teas like 1/2 barrels or 15 gallon cans. I don't mind hand watering them but the summer can dry a pot with a large rose in it out in half a day. Dry roses quit flowering in my experience. The other caution is about sunlight baking the sides of the pot and killing roots. Some growers will place a mark on the sun side of the pot so that they don't turn it and cook another area of roots. I prefer just to shade my pots or place them in larger pots so that I can keep all the roots cool and in good health. I'm not trying to sell Gary's soils, but I wanted to share his views on potting soils and the recent use of growers to use a soil with a very short life in order to raise plants for market fast but which cause trouble for the plants/ buyers later whe the plants are installed. We both think bareroot is best for planting in pots and in the ground. From Gary's Newsletter- LHN Potting Soil ACID MIX 1 cubic foot $10 Although this soil was specially created for Azaleas, Blueberries, Camellias, and Ferns it is not too acidic for most plants. I use it in containers for growing all annuals (flowers and vegetables) and plants that require lots of moisture (Hydrangeas and Roses). It is especially valuable for outdoor use in smaller containers (6" or less in diameter) where moisture retention is critical. It can lose about 10-15% of its volume within 18 months as the peat moss breaks down, but retains excellent permeability due to the pumice. It is actually a good soil substitute or replacement when used in the ground. I have beautiful Azalea in Ferns in the ground growing in 100% ACID MIX for well over a decade. Ingredients: Peat moss & Pumice (about 1:1) LHN Tropical POTTING SOIL 1 cubic foot $10 This soil was created for those plants that require well-drained (highly permeable) soil especially in permanent (at least several years) applications. It is also ideal for all indoor potting applications. We haven't observed any significant shrinkage of its volume over many years of use. It's water retention is about 25% lower than the ACID MIX, so use with caution in small containers outdoors. It is acidic enough to grow most acid-loving plants. Ingredients: Pumice, peat moss, sand (about 6:3:1) Our potting soils do not have time release nutrients added. The brands that include it can be toxic if moistened and not used immediately. I like to add a time release, like Osmocote, at the time of planting and follow it with organic fertilizers at monthly intervals (we sell these also). Plants potted in our soils can sit in a deep saucer of water for extended periods to provide moisture when you are on vacation. The majority of other brands will rot and stink when left submerged. Also water draining from pots filled with our soil is clear. Many other brands leach out a brownish red color that discolors pavement. When I grow our trees and shrubs in containers, I mix our ACID MIX with construction sand at a ratio of 1:1. Many of our customers like this mixture for the added weight. I like using sand because it is the main component of the finest natural soils and allows plants grown in it to perform better when installed into the landscape. WARNING: OTHER POTTING SOILS ARE ONLY SUITABLE FOR TEMPORARY APPLICATIONS! A University of California researcher confirms that just about all commercial brands of potting soil are meant for 5 months of use. This short period is due to the temporary nature of the materials chosen. Most potting soils contain composted bark and/or sawdust which lose permeability and gradually become less habitable as the chunks of organic matter decompose and shrink. Apparently the 5 month period is acceptable as most potted plants in the US (other than mild Orange County) freeze or are allowed to die during winter and replaced every spring along with fresh soil. These same researcher also found that most commercial soils, even when fresh, are suitable for growing only a small percentage of extra hardy (tolerant of poor soil) plants. They were able to grow vigorous Impatiens but found that ferns and Cyclamen did poorly. I have also found that most potting soils are not permeable enough to allow vigorous root development, especially when used in large containers. Most potting soils are actually compost. The more you use, the less oxygen is available for root health. This is why some "experts" tell you to increase container size in small increments. Too much fresh compost at one time will suffocate and kill the roots! (see below) In contrast, our potting soils behave more like real soil. The more you use, the better the results. You can use them over and over. Just follow the rules of crop rotation and don't plant the same (or closely related) plant twice in a row. Even more important, you can irrigate freely. Our soils are nearly immune from too much watering. Many of our customers have used our potting soils in the ground, either as an amendment, and often as a replacement with excellent results. Don't give up trying to grow a particular kind of plant until you've tried growing it in our potting soils. The Science Behind Potting Soil Plant roots require water retention, air exchange, support, insulation, and nutrient storage. Unfortunately, the first two of these are usually in opposition. Any soil that has high water retention has less air exchange, just because water is taking the place of air. Our Laguna Hills Nursery soils combine peat moss, the best natural material for water storage (Clay holds more water, but won't release it) and pumice, the most permeable natural material (70% space, 30% rock). In our atmosphere the oxygen content is roughly 21% and the carbon dioxide is 0.03%. Research from the University of North Carolina shows that the air in the soil of container plants can be anywhere from 0%-21% oxygen and 0.03%-21% carbon dioxide. High levels of carbon dioxide can inhibit root growth. More importantly the oxygen must remain above 12% for active root growth and above 3% to stay alive. The problem with most potting soils is that they depend upon the structure of organic matter to create free air flow. Peat moss, bark and sawdust all have great air exchange initially, but because they are not permanent materials, problems eventually occur. Generally (different materials and even parts of organic materials decompose at different rates) within 6-18 months the airflow through the organic materials decreases considerably. Moist organic matter gradually turns to "muck". On top of that the decomposition continues and compounds more toxic than carbon dioxide are produced when the supply of oxygen is compromised. I've noticed that plants under such poor conditions produce small, off-colored foliage usually showing tip burn (resembling salt burn). AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
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mnwsgal
15 years ago
tiffy, sorry to read that you will be without your phlox. These are favorites of mine also.

I am thinking of doing cup containers this winter so am curious why you have decided not to continue with them.

After years of doing 300-500 containers I plan to limit myself to 100 but like you, bakemom, it may be more as have already planted 12 warm cold warm containers. Will do mostly annuals.
flwrs4ever
15 years ago
bakemom...Knowing how much you enjoy WS...I cant see you stopping at 30 containers...will you be going to any plant swaps next season ? You can always plant and share..

I am going to guess 90 containers..even tho I think you will do more..LOL

I said I wasnt going to do many last season, and didnt think I did...till I counted...and was at 200. It is so easy to get carried away..esp when you do annuals.

Sorry I have doubts...think your too addicted to do only 30...LOL

Tiffy...do you mind sharing the trouble you are having with the phlox ? You have me curious as to whether I should keep it off my WS list.

Kym
bakemom_gw
Original Author
15 years ago
Kym, I always go to our spring swap hosted by Storygardener and Princess Mimi. And, I always take winter sown babies. I try to make is more about quality and print out information on the plant. I also take along any remaining seeds from the Newbie Seed Project and talk to fols one-on-one about winter sowing. They are receptive and are a creative bunch. This year I had a football conflict with our fall swap and a kind buckeye gardener picked up a bunch of my plants for another swap.

You are probably right about the 30. It's just too darn fun to sow seeds with snow coming down.
kqcrna
15 years ago
I'm also going to say 20 to 30.

OK, shut up and stop laughing!

Karen
drippy
15 years ago
Big unknown for me - if I can't move before next March, it will be zero. If I am able to move to the 5+ acres I am dreaming about, soon enough, it will be somewhere upwards of 1000. So something between those two...:)
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Drippy,
Crossing my fingers that you get to do those 1000. :)

Karen, I can't risk any busted ribs from laughing so stop your foolishness! LOL!! I guarantee you that this one will come back to haunt you.

Kym,
It all boils down to a four letter word - deer. I won't be taking out all of them but at least 15 mature plants will either be sold or given to family members.

Mnwsgal,
Nothing wrong with cup containers. Go ahead. I've just come to the conclusion that it's easier for me to fill a bigger container with soil and just take it from there instead of filling cups with soil then placing them in those bigger containers.

Jim,
Have you dusted that computer table yet?? :O)
terrene
15 years ago
Tiffy, what is your issue with Phlox paniculata? I had a terrible time this year with some of my cultivars - including "David", which is supposed to be such a nice grower. They got a fungus early which spread like wildfire through the foliage and they nearly expired! We'll see how they do next year, if they return.

Drippy - somewhere between 0 and 1000? Well, that about covers all the bases! :)

I am predicting 100 for me this coming year (last year was 158). Honestly, it will probably be closer to 150, but we'll see. I am planning to do more containers with 1-2 seeds, to plant out singly, so it will probably be lots of containers, but with fewer seeds.
sheltieche
15 years ago
hmm, let me think. After discovering how to order seeds from Plant World Seeds, UK and have them delivered with no problems I have ordered about 40 varieties, which I am starting now. hey, who could blame me- variegated foxglove? purple leaved silene? variegated angelica? foxglove that looks like butterflies sitting on it??Anne Radetsky/, rarest primrose/ jack in green/ that was almost lost to horticulture? perfumed columbine?
so that is 40 containers right now.
Of course, my favorite Gardens North -about 20 there too. Then add few from Hardyplants, JL Hudson, trades, swaps, and finally NARGS exchange seedlist- usually adds me to 125 alone,....
yeah, going to be over 200 as usual, now I run out of my own space but there are still neigbors and relatives....
diggerdee zone 6 CT
15 years ago
1. Maybe 225.
I've been holding steady at around that number for the last two or three years. I will be sowing fewer varieties (I think I'm going to pass on lots of bedding-type annuals - just too long to get up to speed and blooming) but I will be sowing more of the cutting varieties I always sow.

So instead of maybe one or two... okay, instead of 6 or 8 jugs of asters (hey, there are lots of nice varieties out there, okay?) I will sow maybe a dozen, so I can have more to cut.

I still have some bedding annuals in their milk jugs, out in the driveway, never planted, now just waiting to go to the compost pile. So those will be crossed off the list next year.

I may try some more veggies too... But I think 200 - 225 containers sounds about right.

:)
Dee
seedmama
15 years ago
1. But the containers will be smaller than last year's 105 gallon milk jugs. This year I have secured 30 crates which will each hold 8 2 liters or 9 half gallon milk jugs. Add to that a couple dozen lasagna flats and I'm well past 250.
A little thumbnail math says 11,175 seeds. Even with 2,000 seedlings going to my mother (purchased, sown and planted out as a birthday gift) I still won't fill up my beds. I'll have more perennials and fewer annuals than last year. Being in my mid forties and pregnant during last year's WS season slowed me down quite a bit, and I had to scramble to get warm weather annuals sown at the last minute just to fill up the beds.

Would anyone like a Bed & Breakfast vacation in Oklahoma next spring? I provide clean sheets in private quarters, 3 tasty hot meals and a nonstop supply of the beverage of your choice. You plant out.
lillyjane
15 years ago
So far it is about 50 x's 3 for family & friends, I'm really not that nice but if they have their own, they will leave mine alone LOL :) then there is all the odds & ends that I didn't get done last year, & I haven't even mentioned veggies yet. Tee-Hee-Hee I have already been saving jugs & still looking for the potting soil bargains, if I don't see some soon I'll just start buying a bag every couple of weeks or so. I just can not ever imagine NOT winter sowing. I am hopelessly addicted & loving every second it.
seed junkie jan ")
laura_in_cinti
15 years ago
Is this some kind of intervention? Hi, my name is Laura and I'm a WSaholic.

Last year I had around 120 but then added another 10-15 in the spring.

This year, we're adding a veggie garden and I have another huge and brand new bed that is literally bare. I need to fill that and the wholes left by annuals in the other beds.

I'm thinking at least 150 to 200. I know, I know - I'm going to need help planting all of that out!
token28001
15 years ago
No no no. We do not intervene here. We enable. Need more seeds? Just ask. LOL

I got all my trees and shrubs sown today. A rolling sweaterbox contains 9 different shrubs. A plastic shoebox contains my white crape myrtles. A small plastic fudge container has some dogwoods. And a 12" x 24" planter box with wire mesh over the top contains about 200 Japanese maple seeds. I really hope they don't all germinate. I can't dig that many holes in between the rocks in my yard. :)
not_a_contessa
15 years ago
I'm aiming for 25, but who knows how many I will actually wind up with. You all know how it is; once you start you can always seem to find more seeds that you forgot you had and you just can't live without. I'm hoping this is the year I finally get to sow my Yvonne's Salvia, seeds from recent trades, purchased seeds, seeds from gifts...see what I mean, that can't be only 25.

I think I'll start by organizing my stash and then I'll get back to you with a more realistic number :)

Mary
token28001
15 years ago
not_a_contessa I'm hoping this is the year I finally get to sow my Yvonne's Salvia, seeds from recent trades, purchased seeds, seeds from gifts...see what I mean, that can't be only 25.

Yes. I know what you mean. I have 5 types of Shastas. I have 6 kinds of coneflowers. I'm sowing seeds for my sister and a friend as well so each of them get their own containers. Then there are the butterfly bushes, the rudbeckia, the daylilies, and I can't forget the annuals; 6 colors of petunias, three kinds of marigolds. Oh, I almost forgot the other 300 packs of seed I've either traded for or purchased. Nevermind the seeds that need to be sown in the spring. Ugh. I wish I didn't like to watch things grow.

It's also my first time doing this on a large scale so I'm a little nervous about having enough plants from one container. I've got enough containers to do a couple of each seed. I think I'm going to need to hire some help to plant it all out by fall.
rosepedal
15 years ago
LOL You are all so fun. this will be fun to see how close we are. I will predict 60 containers (cups). Drippy putting in a prayer you get that 5 acres. You deserve it! Happy weekend everybody. Went to milwaukee got a new digital lookout here I come lol!
loisthegardener_nc7b
15 years ago
My efforst are not even worth mentioning compared to you folks! So far I have wintersowed 7 milkjugs, and I currently have seeds enough for a total of about 30. I am sowing a few every couple days. I am dabbling in direct sowing a bit this winter, too.

Lois in PA
token28001
15 years ago
I entered all the seeds I plan to w/s into a spreadsheet so I can have all the information on hand this spring. I'll have about 175 containers with over 100 types of seed. I'm doing a couple of some containers because I want to increase my chances of getting some mass plantings going.
mmqchdygg
15 years ago
I'm shooting for ~374.
It sounds like a good number. I'm working on my class reunion, and that was the number in our graduating class.

I've got a good amount of perennials in already, and a couple of reseeders...61 containers so far.

I have a ton of space available that I'm converting from a 'daylily exclusive' bed to a butterfly haven. No holds barred; if I'm good, I may even surpass it.
token28001
15 years ago
Well, I can already tell that I have missed my target. I haven't even sown all the annuals yet. I have 174 2-liter bottles already.
nancy_drew
15 years ago
LOL I was so far off from what I expected at the begining of the season! I was figuring on about 75 or so. Now I'm thinking closer to 250 or 300... I haven't counted them in total yet and I have another order from T's Seeds coming.

It's kind of funny, when hubby made me my cold frame I remember thinking "Oh my gosh, that's huge!" and now it's full and I'm back to using milk jugs. I have to kind of hide them and I'm running out of places!

Hmm... I wonder if I can stack those jugs in a way that I can disguise them to look like just a gas grill?
token28001
15 years ago
Hmm... I wonder if I can stack those jugs in a way that I can disguise them to look like just a gas grill?

I smell a hot glue gun warming up.
mmqchdygg
15 years ago
No, but I bet no one would question one of these in your yard...
just1morehosta
15 years ago
I am guessing i may do 170,i have done 78,so far,i have seeds coming from our swap,and i am adding veggies tis year,hummmm,no,make that 180,yea,180,for me.
I better write this down,just to see how close i really come---or--- go over,tee hee
Carol
diggerdee zone 6 CT
15 years ago
That igloo is great!!

:)
Dee
sassybutterfly_2008
15 years ago
I'm going to guess... 250-300. If I stop there it'll only be because I've run out of containers! Last season I started late (March) and did around 50 'just to see' if it worked! lol It does.. it really does ! We're in a new house this year... the yard is mostly bare so I have high expectations of my WS'ing abilities!

I tried to start yesterday, had even gone to walmart to get a glue gun (last season I used a nail.. not fun) Got ready to start melting the holes and guess what.. it's a low-heat glue gun. Didn't even begin to melt the plastic of a milk jug. hmppff! Will have to go buy a bigger, better, badder glue gun I guess! :P

~Wendy
nancy_drew
15 years ago
The igloo is great! The only problem I would have with doing that, is that my jugs would be a nice, soil mix brown color, and it would look like crap!

(oh so sorry... couldn't help myself.)

I better go get some more glue sticks for my glue gun!
mmqchdygg
15 years ago
yeah, plus the fact that when the snow starts melting, and you still got an igloo in your yard, it might be kinda suspicious.
floodthelast
15 years ago
Wow, the brown igloo has me smiling. I am a newbie but already over my head in containers. I'm mostly doing 44oz plastic pop cups. Also around seventy-five of the small cups in other containers. I made an excel sheet and so far have 352 varieties. I don't intend to WS all of them, just the fancies. However I know I'm already over one hundred and have new seeds to add to the list, a birthday present of seeds coming and I joined a RR. Hmmmmm and I thought regular math was tricky.
Um 375. Some containers will be five gallon buckets for veg to stay in later and container plantings so yeah something like that.
Also Seedmama I'm guessing you are not still pregnant? How old is your little one? I would love to come to your place, eat, plant and sleep. Cleaning up my place takes too much time from the garden. I might have to bring my husband and toddler though.
shoregrowin
15 years ago
Oh man, I'm going whole hog this year as long as I can score more containers. We have 3 recycle centers that I check for containers and they are emptying them the day before I get there. ARGHHH!!!! Have to get their schedule figured out. I was counting up seeds to be sown last night when I couldn't sleep (counting seeds in stead of sheep is NOT conducive to sleep btw!) and figure I need to clone myself to sow all of them, sigh.... Well over 300, maybe 400 if I get 'em done. I'm having a sowing "party" with some friends in a few weeks. It will involve copious amounts of wine and hopefully I can get some help with my own. I supply the seeds and soil, they have to bring their own containers- it's the least they can do! :)
mmqchdygg that igloo is awesome!! I'm forwarding that to my sisinlaw who teaches and loves cool ideas like that- thanks for sharing it!

Shore
floodthelast
15 years ago
They did one of those igloos at my local library last winter. The kids all loved it. It was quite large and I fit inside with my toddler. It lasted several weeks despite having hundreds of children mauling it.
lamalu
15 years ago
This is my first year and I am figuring to do 155 containers. I have 43 so far and I'm managing to collect about 8 jugs a week from the recycle bin at work. There's 14 weeks to May 1, makes 155 jugs. I am now having an "Oh crap" moment....really! getting kind of sweaty, what am I going to do with all these plants! bwahhahahahahaha!
karen_b
15 years ago
I went to the local recycling center and came home with 4 large garbage bags full of 2 liter soda bottles plus an assortment of other types of containers to ws in. Most of these containers will be used for the class I'm giving next week but the remainder are all mine. If needed I will return to the recycling center for more. I usually stop wsing when I run out of space to put the containers. I have to sandwich the containers between my raised beds otherwise the dogs run amok through them...I think they see the containers as toys to throw around and chew up. Last year I think I ws'd 120+ containers.

Place your bets - how many containers?

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