Savvy Gardening

How to care for hostas in pots: Tips to help this popular shade plant thrive

It was a garden tour—actually, three tours—that inspired me to grow hostas in containers. Each yard was quite shady, so all those sun-loving annuals and perennials would have been off the table. I loved how each gardener embraced the conditions of their property, and put together some beautiful shade-loving plant displays, which were predominantly hostas in all shapes and sizes. Because you don’t want to treat your hostas like an annual plant (you’ll want to display it year after year), there is some TLC involved in helping them thrive. I thought I’d share some tips on how to care for hostas in pots.

How often do you water tomato plants: In gardens, pots and straw bales

by Niki JabbourComments (0)

One of the questions I’m asked most is ‘How often do you water tomato plants?’ Too much water can damage the roots and crack or split ripening fruits. Too little water can reduce yield or cause issues like blossom end rot. Smart watering is a skill anyone can learn and can mean the difference between a so-so harvest and a bumper crop of sweet summer tomatoes. Read on to learn more about how often to water your garden and container-grown tomato plants.

Understanding light for house plants: Types of light and how to measure it

by Niki JabbourComments (0)

In his best-selling book, The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family, Darryl Cheng encourages indoor gardeners to re-consider traditional house plant advice and instead think like a plant! He doesn’t rely on house plant lore or ‘tips and tricks’ but instead gives indoor plant parents the tools and science-based advice they need to grow a healthy and thriving indoor garden.

Darryl’s book is a comprehensive guide into all aspects of indoor plant care such as watering, fertilizing, soil, pests, propagation, and light. And it’s providing adequate light that is often the biggest challenge for indoor gardeners. The following excerpt from The New Plant Parent, used with permission from Abrams Image, explores the importance of understanding light and offers advice on how to better gauge light in your indoor living spaces.

Growing watermelon in containers from seed to harvest

by Jessica WalliserComments (2)

Unless you have a large vegetable garden, it’s tough to find room to grow everything you’d like to, especially when it comes to vine crops that take up a lot of room. Containers are a great way to grow whatever fruits and veggies you don’t have space for in an in-ground or raised bed garden. They’re also great if you have no garden at all. For me, one crop I love to grow but never seem to have enough room for, is watermelons. This article introduces the ins and outs of growing watermelon in containers. Yes, you can grow watermelon in pots. But there are some important guidelines you’ll want to follow to set yourself up for success.
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Growing dahlias in pots: Tips for stunning blooms in summer containers

by Tara NolanComments (0)

Even though I have a yard and gardens, I love to plant up ornamental pots each year. I enjoy choosing the color scheme, and figuring out the flowers and foliage combos. It’s nice to include single plants in a container to include in an arrangement of pots, like Spanish lavender or herbs, but there is one flower that can really stand out: the dahlia. I like growing dahlias in pots because they can shine on their own and the foliage generally holds up and presents nicely, too.

Growing shishito peppers: Learn how to grow this gourmet crop

by Niki JabbourComments (0)

Japanese shishito peppers are trendy in restaurants and farmers markets, but this is a vegetable you can also grow in your home garden. In fact, shishito pepper plants are easy to grow, early to mature, and yield a heavy crop of fruits. The slender, thin-skinned peppers are mildly spicy and we like to flash fry them for a delicious appetizer. One bite and you’ll want to grow this gourmet pepper in your backyard! Read on to learn everything you need to know about growing shishito peppers in garden beds and containers.