Let’s grow a pumpkin in a flowerpot!

If you find yourself limited to a deck or patio and no yard in sight then we have the solution for how to grow your own pumpkin.  Put them in a flowerpot.  It is not that difficult and really a fun thing to do.

Of course, as with anything you are going to grow in a garden pot start by picking the container.  Pumpkins need and like room, so think big.  The larger the better.  If you want to grow mini pumpkins you can get away with a smaller container but honestly they need room to grow.

If you are a apartment dweller and only have a balcony you should use a long rectangle window box as big as you can manage.  Try to get one that is 36” long if possible and make sure whatever you use that there are drain holes in the bottom.  As with other plants the roots of these pumpkins do not like soggy soil.  Drill extra if necessary.

When selecting soil pick a potting mix that is good for containers.  Mix equal pots of mix and compost.  The compost improves the water’s retention which pumpkin vines like.  Add in a slow release fertilizer to the soil and fill the container up to 2” below the rim.

Time to add the seeds. We recommend following the seed packet directions.  Make sure to water frequently since pumpkins are thirsty. There are many varieties you can grow but we suggest you start with smaller varieties or mini pumpkins.  Get your feet wet with the little ones and then get bigger from there.

Now that Fall has arrived what do you garden planters look like?  If you are tired of cleaning out your summer containers and leave those same planters empty all fall and winter than there are a few suggestions of fall flowers that are easy, colorful and fun to pot up.

Visiting your local home and garden center will show you many of the fall flowers that are available and ready to take hope and plant in your patio pots.  During this time of the year they are so important for providing color and texture to a garden or yard that may be looking a bit worn out and tired.

Consider these flowers when redesigning your garden pottery for the yard, porch or patio.

Sunflowers – who doesn’t love these cheery yellow flowers that will last till the first frost.  They can attract songbirds and are prefect to cut and bring indoors for a decorative touch.

Daisy is another cheerful and bright addition to any plant container.  They attract butterflies, also make great cut flowers for indoor arrangements and come in many wonderful colors.

Aster is a fall flower that blooms in yellow, orange and red which means they will compliment any fall mixture of plant materials you group together in a flowerpot.  They love the sun.  Autumn crocus is similar to the spring blooming crocuses and grow up to 6” high.  Great when placed in the center of a garden container with smaller flowers surrounding it.  They require little maintenance and are perfect for all containers.

Pansies are always great for fall and perfect for garden pottery.  They have the sweetest little faces and come in all shades of colors.

Ornamental Kale & cabbage have become more and more popular and are seen planted in most fall containers.  Their colorful purple and deep green ruffled leaves add aesthetic qualities that other flowers do not.  The colors of potted cabbage and kale intensifies as it gets colder outdoors.

We hope we gave you some good suggestions on different types of flowers to pot up for fall and that you give one of them a try.  We think you will be pleased and your garden pottery will look stunning!

There are many things you need to consider when choosing garden containers for your home and garden needs.  Let’s start with the obvious and that is what is the planter going to be used for?  Are you looking for a garden pot to grow herbs and vegetables in?  Is this planter more for beauty and décor or is it to fill a blank area on the patio or porch. 

Terracotta garden pottery has been around longer than any other substance besides baskets.  It is made out of clay that breathes and is considered most healthy for a plants root system.  Terracotta is rustic and natural looking and comes in many styles and sizes.  As you must know a clay garden pot can only come so large. This is because they are fired inside a kiln and kilns are only so large. The larger the clay pot the more issues with cracks forming while being fired.

So, if you want a large garden planter you need to consider them made from mixes that can be poured into molds and cured over time instead of being fired in a kiln.  Concrete, Sandstone and Poly Resin can all be made in huge sizes since they are made with molds.  They are durable and long lasting which is what you want and need if you are using a large planter.

Glazed or ceramic colored pottery is great because it comes in shiny, colors and finishes.  Blue, Red, Green etc and so many more, where you can match your garden pottery to your home or landscape décor.  These pots are usually durable but only frost resistant which means they can’t handle the cold freezing temperatures.  Glazed garden pots are perfect for indoors where they add interest and beauty along with function to your homes design and décor.

Do you live in an apartment where you need a lightweight container where you can move it around, fill it up or take it with you when your needs change over time?  Then poly resin is the way to go. This is not an ordinary plastic pot but a commercial grade non-fade, will never crack, chip or warp or break.  With 32 color choices these are the super choice for indoors or outdoors.

We hope we gave you a few things to think about.  Call 800-420-1808 if you have further questions.

How to prep your garden containers for Fall

It’s much easier to turn a spent Summer garden container into a Fall planter than you think.  Just follow some easy tips provided below and create wonderful Fall planters.

Don’t leave your entryway garden containers empty this time of year.  Now is perfect for seasonal color and rust grasses.  Evergreen foliage will add life to any type or style of landscape container.  When you visit your local garden center you should see lots of Fall colored mums.  Bright yellow, orange and reds, deep burgundy, purple and gold.

Simply by adding a center mum and surrounding it with pumpkins, gourds and succulents you can create a wonderful Fall planter that will take you into winter and welcome your guest with warmth and beauty.  Plant rustic grass in the center of a terracotta planter then surround it with ornamental kale and cabbage with dark deep greens and purple leaves. 

Instead of just planting typical green houseplants in your entryway planters how about herbs like cilantro, thyme and oregano?  They can all handle the cooler weather.  Plant trailing ivy, gold mums and red flowers in your garden container of choice and then set pumpkins and gourds around the outside of the pot.  You don’t even have to plant anything.

Try mixing dark purple and deep green of kale and cabbage and fill around the outside of the pot with mini WHITE pumpkins and create a purple and white display of color. Stunning & elegant!

One tip that you can never fail at it to over stuff your pottery. Mix lots of plants, greens and ornamental items without space between them.  This creates a full and colorful display.  By using a neutral based color planter like terracotta or taupe you can mix tons of colors in the pot and they will all look grand.

Eggshells as pest control by GetBusyGardening.com

Saw this and thought it was a great tip for gardening.  Everyone knows how to use egg shells crushed up and mixed into potting mix as a natural fertilizer.  The nutrients in the shells act like a natural fertilizer for your garden pottery and planters.

Well if you have ever had issues with flea beetles eating your growth then here is a natural and simple way to stop them.  Diatomaceous earth is a known organic pesticide which is basically fossilized remains of creatures that are ground into a fine powder.  It gets under the shells of beetles and acts like bits of glass to cut them up and kill them.

Ground egg shells work the same way.  If you eat lots of eggs and most folks do, this should be an easy DIY garden project.  Prepare shells by cleaning them if they are dirty. If not dirty then don’t bother.  Make sure they are dry and don’t skip this step.  Just lay them out on a paper towel for a few days.

Once completely dry, ground them into a powder using a coffee grinder.  Once ground use the powder right away. Store the remaining eggshells or ground shells in a Tupperware container in the garage or a cool dark place.  Sprinkle the powder directly onto the leaves and pests.  The bugs may not die away but they will eventually so don’t worry if they fly away.

It is recommended that you don’t sprinkle all over your garden.  This avoids killing all the beetles even the good ones.  This is where potted plants come in.  You can also sprinkle on the tops of your garden planters surrounding the potted plants and keep the plant healthy without spreading the egg shells all over the garden.  Perfect!

If you don’t have a favorite basket that you no longer want indoors or if you need to purchase baskets to turn into garden planters, then look no further than a thrift store or garage sale.  Most folks have them already laying around because they make the most wonderful ways to organize all kinds of household items.

Like with any flowerpot start by thinking about what you want to pot.  Are you into houseplants or colorful flowers.  Do you need a small basket planter for a table-scape or will this stand alone holding a large tree or shrub?  Is the baskets pretty worn looking and could use a touch of color or is the beauty of the rattan lovely in it’s natural state?

Start by painting it or not. Then the most important step is to spray a couple of coats of a protectant clear sealer.  This will help the basket to last longer and is a very inexpensive step to follow.  If you don’t want to pot directly into the basket you will need to line it with a garbage bag that is cut to fit.  If the basket pot has a tight weave you can plant directly into it.  Make sure the bag doesn’t show at the top.  You want to poke a few drain holes in the bottom of the bag.

Next add some pea gravel, rocks or pot shards to the bottom.  This helps with the basket planter drainage and to hold the basket down if it gets windy outside.  Follow the rocks with potting mix but only fill about 2/3 full.  Because you will need room for the plants and don’t want them all the way to the top of the basket container. 

Lastly, once the plants are potted, you can add some more soil to cover the roots but don’t pack to hard and don’t fill the basket to full and you should be good to go.  Display this lovely basket planter on the porch next to the front door, on the patio on a table or anywhere you want some texture, color and beauty.