My new perennial bed and strawberry pots...

User

17 years ago

Also an updated pic of one of the window boxes...they are loving the rain and cool temps.

plumbago ( white and blue) , ajuga, candytuft, lobelia ,nettles I hope they do well....time will tell...

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Comments (21)

DYH
17 years ago
Caroline -- Looking great! How do you like the 'hay rack' style window box? How often do you have to water it? I'm trying to decide what type to get.

Cameron
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memo3
17 years ago
Caroline, I love those strawberry pots. They look great! And the perennial bed as well. The brick edging looks really nice. I edge all my beds in brick too. I really like the look and the functionality of them. You go girl!

MeMo
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Is your planter on bare ground or directly on a hard surface (eg concrete or a rocky patch)? What's the drainage like? For example - I made a 'tabletop' planter which has a slatted bottom. I lined it with overlapping plastic bags then put in a mix of composts - one of which is very rich. Despite being three feet off the ground, with seeping drainage, and being only 8" deep - the bottom layer of the mix is very 'cluggy'. Further - despite being very well-rotted compost, the growth from the first year was disappointing. Using the same mix for a second year, after weathering, the results have been much better. The leaves. I may have misread. I gained the impression that you had used them as a further 'water-holder' layer. Sometimes buried material can be a bit toxic while it rots. I'd use leaves on the top, as a protective mulch over a serving of, say, blood and bone (but I don't have critters, as such :-)) ) Not buried. (That's not a lot of depth for bigger bulbs to get their roots down. At least four inches above and below the actual bulb, if they have to dodge the frost.) The sand. Nononono. Grit, yes. Sand and compost is for serious water-lovers. Gunnera and pondside plants. 3-5mm sharp grit well stirred through. A good gritty mix encourages root development. If you have mountain streams in your area with shingle beaches - look at the root development of plants growing in that medium. The tops might be stunted but the roots spread far and wide as they forage. If your planter has settled over winter - I'd add some genuine soil. Dirt out the garden. Not subsoil clay. Reasonable topsoil, if you have it. In an outdoor planter of the size you have the soil seems to add 'sturdiness' to the mix and the plants. One bucket of dirt, one of compost, half of grit. Later on, I'd add the ancient cowpats and good garden compost to suit the taste of whatever I was planting. And add an organic mulch if water-loss, or wind is an issue in the garden, once the soil has warmed up and growth is well under way. For now - I'd rescue the perennials and pot them up fairly tightly until they've developed a vigorous root system again. A gritty mix will help for most of them, so long as you water with care. You didn't list what you were growing. For a mix as juicy as you've offered, I'd be growing things such as polyanthus, or Dahlias, maybe Hostas and Dicentra. For something like tuberous Begonia - I'd wait for the second year. If you bought pot-grown perennials and they were slightly root-bound - remember to open the base of the rootball a little so they can start spreading. If they were slips and bare-rooted - don't expect wonders this year. Some can take up to two years to settle in and then shock you by becoming garden thugs :-(. Meantime, you could sneak in a few coloured lettuces and use the benefits tastily! Or try some bedding Impatiens and Lobelia while the soil ingredients settle down.
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Like Mary Max, I lose a fair number of tiny perennials as surrounding plants overtake them in the yard. I know I should pot some up, but I'm terrible about watering. I'd probably lose half of them in pots too. Sad but true. I think a nursery bed in the yard is the ideal solution. Planting only seedlings there, which will stay small for a long time, solves the problem. If something gets too big, it can be moved sooner, but otherwise should be able to stay put until transplanting in fall. I used to have a dedicated nursery area in my yard- small, but enough- and it worked so well. Eventually I planted big plants there, then the area was covered with a new deck, and my nursery bed was history. I'm planning to dedicate another area as a nursery bed this year, I hope. I have a part shade area that would work well for things like penstemon and sempervivum that will stay small all summer. Karen
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Love it, JoJo! Especially the Ledebouria, which I also have. I grow mine in a bright east window, and it seems to enjoy the sun. Many years ago, I had a shorter strawberry jar... Mexican in origin, judging by the colorful paint... and it never seemed to moisten evenly when I watered it. I saw an article in a magazine about that... it said to solve the issue, use a piece of pvc pipe, drilled all over with holes, and plant that in the center of the pot before filling with medium and plants. Then, you would pour water down the pipe, and it should distribute fairly evenly through the little holes drilled all over the length of the pipe. I never tried it, myself... but it sounded like a good idea! I would think, though, that succulents would do pretty good in a strawberry jar... and apparently, the ones you've got seem to like it! Great growing, JoJo!
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Yep - each pot becomes a sort of mini garden...although I generally grow mine in individual 4 inch pots (after pricking out) and keep them in larger trays for ease of watering, moving and keeping the pots upright (rampaging collie).. Plants are infinitely adaptable, really want to live and are amenable to being lifted and moved, sometimes numerous times. With gypsophila, for example, I will keep half a dozen in a pot and transplant them in chunks rather than single small plants. If you can grow tomatoes, you can certainly grow other perennials....germination can be tricky and as you accomplished that, the loss was down to misfortune (pesty creatures) rather than incompetence or lack of knowledge. Keep trying - maybe just some cheap and easy annuals. Growing from seed is as easy as any other aspect of gardening - maybe easier in some respects and most perennials need no special treatment apart from an autumn sowing and a chance to germinate and grow with very little input needed from us. - I certainly do not faff about with heat or light although that can be required for some vegetables which need to mature over a longer season than a cold climate will allow. Perennials are actually easier in that many will simply grow in their own time, just as they would in a natural, non gardening setting.
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
Cameron : they are doing well. I was so surprised since they were SO cheap. The liner was included too all for $9 at Big Lots. Thet are staying moist and they have held the dirt and don't leak excessively.

Memo : I needed ways to use those bricks ..LOL. I am getting ready to order the screenings..I need 6 tons. I was surprised that it is not a very big pile. I hope the afternoon sun will be enough for those flowers. I am going to get more strawberry pots...I have really good luck with them. Thanks to you both for your cont. support and cheering ! Caroline
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allison0704
17 years ago
The brick edging does look great. Smart idea.
Love the strawberry pots too. I planted mine with sedum varities.
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Steveningen
17 years ago
Looking good there Caroline. Plumbago is a beautiful shrub. They get pretty big here in California. I've been toying with the notion of planting them under our huge picture window in the living room.

My, did you ever score a deal with those window boxes. Is that a coconut mat liner? I've had to change my coconut liner from one of my planters because the Bluejays wouldn't let it be. They pulled out half of it to build nests. I keep having to remind myself that I love all God's creatures.

It's clear that you have been bitten by the gardening bug. Like any fever, it has its ups and downs, but you are going to have so much fun watching it all unfold!

Steven
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memo3
17 years ago
LOL, Steven. My goats ate a big chunk out of the side of one of mine. The frustrating thing about it was that after they took the bite they didn't even eat it. Guess cocoa mats taste bad :0

MeMo
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
Allison : I am going to do the rest of the pool area in the samebrick edging. I hope the plants get enough sun on that wall...I noticed when I was done planting that the pillar casts a shadow . We are adding a gate next week. I will have to see what happens to the flowers after that .

Steven : I know the planters are too small for the windows but as you say they were so cheap. Yes it is cocoa mat. As far as being bitten...just let me say I have not had my shots yet ! we'll see how I do by summer's end. Thanks for your encouraging words. Caroline
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natal
17 years ago
Everything looks so good!

Not sure how many plumbagos you have in that narrow bed, but I've had the same experience as Steven. They get pretty big. I dug up one last year to transplant and couldn't believe the extensive root system.
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
Hmmm. i put "4" of them ! Yikes...I guess that I will wait and see as I don't have anywhere else that is ready for them. At least they are out of their little plastic pots that they came in. The pkg. just said 4 feet tall...not how wide. But then some things I try to grow never last all so maybe they will go that route LOL. Time will tell. Thanks for the tip. Caroline
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FlowerLady6
17 years ago
Caroline ~ Your strawberry pots look great! Is that asparagus ferns out the tops? Watch out, they spread by tubers, are very hard to get rid of and they have wicked thorns. I love the begonias.

You will love plumbago. They get rather big here too but are so easy to care for.

Love your window planter and the pot of pansies underneath. What do you have growing in the window planter?

Keep posting pictures.

FlowerLady
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angelcub
17 years ago
Well, I must say, you have made quite a nice transition from the kitchen to the garden. And you thought you didn't have a green thumb. ; ) It all looks so nice and really inviting. Wish you were closer - we could play in the dirt and Mark could make both our islands. : )

As for plumbago, it doesn't get humungous in all of CA. I have to treat it as an annual or grow it next to my west facing stone chimney where it barely reaches two feet by the end of summer. I WISH it would get bigger! LOL! I love the way it grows rampant in most of So.Ca, especially along some of the boring freeway fencing.

Looking forward to more progress pics!

Diana
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
flowerlady : I have never put the asparagus fern in the ground like I see it in Fl. It does come back in the pots each year. On occasion it has stayed green all winter. I have "Million Bells " a type of petunia and verbena.

Diana : yes I wish we were closer ! I have given up on the island. As for a green thumb...well time will tell LOL. The fence posts are going in right now. I will post when he gets it done. Caroline
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aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
17 years ago
Love the brick edging, can't wait to see how your borders develop. The pansies are gorgeous in that big pot, I've never done strawberry pots but would like to give it a try, yours look lovely and so does your hayrack windowbox, great job.

A......
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DYH
17 years ago
There is a short plumbago (10" height) that we grow down here in the South, so I'll bet that's what Caroline has. We treat it as a groundcover and plant it about 12" apart. It's CERATOSTIGMA Plumbaginoides .
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natal
17 years ago
I think Caroline said hers would get 4 feet tall, which more than likely means a similar spread. They transplant well, so if they outgrow their current location I'm sure she'll find another.
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
well I should have looked up the Plumbago auriculata sooner ! 3-4 ft by 30 " wide...looks like I will be transplanting it. Wish it didn't need so much sun I could put it on the new fence. Maybe less will keep it from getting so big where it is now. Anyway it is not the small kind .

Thanks A...the pansies have never done this well before. I used the new Miracle Grow potting mix and I think all the flowers like it really well. Caroline
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lynnencfan
17 years ago
Caroline - you have done a fantastic job - can't wait to see the garden bed later in the summer - that is going to be so beautiful. I love your strawberry jars also. I have two of them - one with succulents and the other with violas in the winter and then in the summer whatever strikes my fancy - it is different every year depending on what WS babies I have left over when the violas start to decline. Post more pictures later - I would love to see them.....

Lynne
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angelcub
17 years ago
I grow ceratostigma as a ground cover. It is hardy for me but dies back in Jan., then returns around Mar. It will spread with regular watering but is pretty easy to pull out. It also does well in dry conditions. I love the true blue flowers and the nice reddish-bronze foliage it gets in the fall. I am surprised it isn't used more since it does well in various conditions. Oh, and it transplants easily.

Diana

Here is a link that might be useful:
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DYH
17 years ago
Diana -- I got such a kick out of your slideshow. :-) Have you ever seen the antique (1840) botanical prints called "The Vegetable Empire" by Amedee Varin?

Cameron
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fammsimm
17 years ago
Hey Diana,

Good to see both you, and your gardening buddy, Katarina. She does make a lovely tour guide, doesn't she?

Marilyn
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User
Original Author
17 years ago
Lynne : you are so kind. I am so amateurish compared to everyone on this forum !! But I am learning a lot .

Diana : I asked to day when I was out and they said they had it 2 yrs ago but now they don't. I don't know where I would get it. Will have to ask around.
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My new perennial bed and strawberry pots...

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