Earlier this week, my friend, Linda Meyer, presented two workshops on container gardening. Today she sent me a synopsis explaining how she ended up with that responsibility, a review of topics she discussed, some additional information AND four of her favorite recipes. What follows is her original letter. I will post her recipes over the course of the following week (don't you just love the suspense?!).
From Linda:
I clicked the contacts tab from Dave’s Ace Hardware web site to request my snail mail newsletter to come to me via email. I wrote that I really do like getting the newsletter and I read the entire thing each month. I even mentioned that I liked the current subject of gardening and suggested some information that Dave could pass onto his customers. (Well, guess what, he reads and writes his own email. No delegation.) He thanked me for the info and I sent a reply mentioning the roto-tiller rentals and other gardening stuff that he should mention to his customers.
Then he asked me, since I seem to know a little about growing veggies, if I would give a gardening workshop. How could I say no to being the center of attention and talking for over an hour? (Ha, ha, ha.) After the Milton and Evansville Container Gardening Workshops, I must admit, I had a lot of fun sharing plant knowledge with some very enthusiastic gardeners.
There were a few common concerns that were had by both Milton Evansville
Foremost was the soil issue. What kind of soils? When and what to fertilize? Can the same soil be used year after year? Well, I like the Ace brand of potting soil because of its’ great consistency and it contains a slow-release fertilizer. I use the same soil every year in the following way: I dump out the soil from all the pots into a mixing tub, work the soil with a small cultivator or hoe to break up the old roots, perform a soil test (Dave has test kits, too), and add nutrients as needed. Ready to go!
Next in line was the critter issue. Lots of home remedies can be tried like planting onions around the perimeter. For reliable results, Liquid Fence works.
Then it was the upside-down tomato planter as seen on TV. Sure, it will grow tomatoes. It will save patio space because it is hanging up out of the way. You can make one out of a clean, used 5 gallon bucket, too. Ask Dave at the store how to do it. But you can grow tomatoes in a regular hanging pot, too. By the way, cucumbers do very well in hanging pots and you can mix in some nasturtiums with them.
One of the aspects of container gardening that is a personal favorite mine is the companion plantings. Yes, some plants like each other more than others. All can be read about in a couple of the book recommendations that I listed for the groups. If you would like to know about the book list, ask Dave for a copy. I suggest that you check them out at your local library to see which one(s) you may want to buy. I have a copy of the book Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte that I use all the time.
Have fun with gardening! Put together an Italian garden with tomatoes, basil, garlic, oregano, and marigolds. I like salad gardens with a mix of lettuce types and edible flowers like nasturtiums and violas (sow every two weeks for a continued supply).
And now I close with a final bit of information: four of my favorite recipes using the bounty of an herb container garden.
Pesto Sauce
Dill & Cheese Biscuits
Fresh Dilly Green Beans
Garlic & Dill New Potatoes
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