OCR Text |
Show - J 5 is lightweight. Fill the container to Vhin2ir JWiwatcrint; f T V I mg over th l! J Jl nches of the nm to keep the xt rather than flow- the edge. imur rnnr a i rwrc Let Your Garden Go to Pot by G I: ORG I AN A MARSHEN If you long for a garden but don't have the right piece of land or time to work it. don't despair; j few good-sized pots will do. Container gar-ilcticrs. gar-ilcticrs. i an grow lolortnl (lowers and hearty vegetables wherever they have room and at least six hours ol sun Plant combinations are endless. Plate taller plants in the tenter and surround with shorter short-er varieties. I or example, plate a dracaena spike in the center of a 12-inch pot, three geraniums gerani-ums around the spike, and lour vinta vines around the geraniums. The larger the pot, the more plants vou tan .kid. Try not to overfill; leave enough room for root growth. Tomatoes suited to container growing ini hide Better Boy, Sweet 100, and Pixie tomatoes toma-toes One staked tomato plant to a deep pot is best to allow proper space for root development. devel-opment. Fepxrs, tut umbers, and eggplant do well, too (again, one per pot). Mix basil, parslev. t hives, ami thyme for a contained herb garden. For ALL Diabetic Patients on Medicare edicore Covers e g Supplies mmm lestin NO UP PROMT COSTS O PAPERWORK TO COMPLETE FREE HOME DELIVERY CO si - y i ti'w3i mitt - " " Choose the right container for your plant. PLACEMENT of containers is critical to good plant growth. The ideal spot will get six to eight hours of full sunlight and be protected pro-tected from drying winds. TYPE of containers is a matter of preference. Natural materials such as terra cotta and wood are popular, but plastic comes in many colors. Make sure containers liave adequate drainage holes; without proper drainage the plant's nxrs literally will drown and rot. Protect a wooden container from rotting by lining it with plastic that also has a few drainage holes. SOIL should be lightweight and quick draining. A "soil-less potting mix," sold at garden centers, cen-ters, is the best choice because it drains well, retains moisture, and 00 SATISFACTION GUARANTEE CALL TOLL FREE -271 vm h M II a a nnH.maxnellmedicaI.com No HMOs Piease. 1 j j. i j ucpciius on wcaiucr luuuiiious aim the number of plants in the pot. Wind dries pors quickly and excessive exces-sive heat causes roots to use all available water, which may require three waterings per day. Push your finger into the top layer of the soil; if it feels dry, the pot needs water. Water the container until it drains from the bottom. FEEDING your plants frequently is critical for proper growth. Frequent Fre-quent watering leaches out the nutrients in the soil, so fertilize more often with half the recommended recom-mended amount. Use a general water-soluble fertilizer such as a 20-20-20, half strength, at every watering. Compost also makes an excellent fertilizer. I- r Georgiana harshen is a horticulturist and a freelance garden uriter. Annuals: Alyssum; Begonia; Coleus; Dianthus; Impatiens; Lobelia; Marigold; Nicotians; Petunia; Salvia; Thumbergia;Vinca; Zinnia Perennials: Basket of Gold; Black-Eyed Black-Eyed Susan; Bell Flower; Dahlia; Gazanla; Hollyhock; Nierembergia; Ivy Geranium; Primrose; Sedum kb.8 C0Mtf by TOM MILNE R "Wh m td Crawy abort thU.fartfMhaaottDbkrr biagerl" |