Note: The Coeur d’Alene Coop was recently named an expert in a Rent. article. Check out the featured article: Backyard Design Ideas to Create an Outdoor Oasis | Rent. Excepts from my article below were used in the Rent. blog post.
Are your flowering patio pots looking the same year after year? This year, punch them up a bit by adding a few veggie plants. It’s a fantastic way to add a variety of new shapes, colors, and textures to your flowering containers and maximize your vegetable garden’s yield. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Choose Complementary Pairings
Select vegetable plants that complement the aesthetic and growth habits of your flowering plants. Similar to flowers, you can find “thrillers, spillers, and fillers” when it comes to vegetable plants.
Tomatoes and marigolds are a natural combination and both come in various sizes, shapes and colors. Vining vegetables, like pole beans and cucumbers can server as thrillers when grown vertically; cucumbers can also be spillers, when allowed to grow over the container’s edge.
Consider your color palette as well, and choose vegetables or herbs with foliage that will harmonize with your flowers. Vegetables aren’t just green. Some pepper and tomato varieties feature variegated leaves of white and yellow.
You can also find many varieties of purple basil, purple orach (mountain spinach), and ruffled, purple-leafed varieties of kale, like ‘Ragged Jack’.
Size Matters
When adding vegetables to your patio containers, look for varieties that are specifically bred for container gardening. The words “dwarf,” “compact,” or “bush” designate vegetable varieties that are smaller or require less space.
Avoid plants that will overpower or overshadow your flowering plants. Many dwarf tomato varieties grow less than 18 inches tall. Try ‘Bush’ Zucchini or ‘Miniature White’ cucumber for a container “spiller” effect.
Provide Adequate Space for Growth
Make certain your container is deep enough to accommodate deep-rooted vegetables like tomatoes. A container that is at least 12-inches deep will be sufficient for most compact varieties of vegetables.
Allow space between plants to prevent overcrowding, which can lead to disease and poor growth. Consider adding a trellis for interest and to grow vertically for vining vegetables like pole beans or cucumbers.
Consider Growth Requirements
When pairing flowers and vegetables, take into account sunlight, water, and soil requirements. Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of full sun. Don’t mix shade-loving plants with sun-loving veggies. Make sure they are compatible and can thrive together.
Provide Regular Maintenance and Care
Just like any garden, your patio container of vegetables and flowers will require regular maintenance. Containers need to be watered and fertilized more frequently.
Some vegetables, like cucumbers, are heavy feeder and require more nutrients to produce fruit. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, deadhead flowering plants as necessary, and harvest your vegetables regularly to encourage continued production.
By following these tips, you can create beautiful and bountiful container gardens that blend the beauty of flowering plants with the productivity of vegetables.
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