High Elevation Gardening Web Log "Blog"

The first consideration is container selection. As a general rule, select as large a container as possible. Small containers and clay pots dry out quickly and need frequent watering, sometimes more than once a day in Flagstaff. Other considerations may be cost, weight when full, water efficiency and what the pot looks like. Another important consideration is what is being planted. Different plants have different soil depth requirements for healthy root growth. Most herbs, lettuces, and radishes only need 4-5 inches of soil. Beets, broccoli, sweet corn and squash prefer soil that is 10-12 inches deep. Potatoes do best with 24 inches of soil

The deeper the pot the larger the reservoir of moist soil and the less often you have to water. The exception and my favorite pot choice is the Self-Watering Planter. These pots have a water reservoir below the planting area that is protected from sun and wind. These pots work especially well for plants that like their roots wet such as tomatoes. Until my tomatoes reach 4 feet tall, I only need to water every 4-5 days when using self-watering pots. I purchase them from Gardeners Supply (www.gardeners.com) but have seen them in some nurseries and other catalogs. Remember, consistent moisture is important for root development and to prevent blossom drop, root rot, leaf curl and insect problems.

Another consideration in container planting is the location of the container. Vegetables need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Salad greens and herbs can get by on less. Some vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and beans do better with even more sun. If your garden area is short on sun consider putting your pots on wheels and move them during the day to where the sun is. The angle of the sun also changes later in the year which can affect ripening. Pots on wheels make it easier to move the plants when sun patterns change. Wheels also allow you to move the pot if wind or drying out is a problem. Clustering pots together also provides the plants with increased humidity and wind protection.

The soil chosen should be light. High Country Gardens (www.highcountrygardens.com) recommends a “soil-less” blend that retains moisture and resists compaction. This soil-less mixture is generally a blend of peat, vermiculite and perlite. Because it is soil-less you need to add fertilizer. I use an organic time release fertilizer at planting time and a seaweed fertilizer during the season. Fertilizing will increase your crop production. You can also create your own potting soil by adding sand and perlite to bagged garden soil to give it more aeration.

Last but not least are plant combinations. You can choose to do a single vegetable in a pot, create a theme pot (Italian pot, pizza pot, Thai pot) or try some useful combinations (tomatoes and basil.) It is best to do a little reading because not all vegetables work well together. There are many books available on growing vegetables in containers. Two of my favorites are Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers by Edward C. Smith and Bountiful Container by Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey.

If you want to learn more about container gardening, come to my container gardening class this summer offered though Coconino Community College on June 2nd. The class will be held at Willow Bend Environmental Center. To register, call 928-526-7644. The Arboretum at Flagstaff is also offering a container gardening class (includes Bonsai gardening) on May 19th. To register, call 774-1442.

By Loni Shapiro
The author is a Master Gardener volunteer for Coconino County Cooperative Extension. If you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at 774-1868 ext. 19 or visit our Web site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.