Container Edibles - Simple Beginnings

Do Not Attempt This At Home!

Well, I used to think that about growing edibles in pots. Especially here in Phoenix.

If you're new to this, I recommend starting simple, with plants that are sure to bring success and boost your confidence (something absolutely necessary in gardening).

(cilantro, red salvia, spearmint)

You can't go wrong with herbs and leafy greens. Many of these plants are not fickle about light, don't require much fertilizing, and can rebound from under or over watering.

(swiss chard, lemon thyme, spearmint, kale, dusty miller)

What I like most about growing herbs and greens in pots is the constant bounty. Many of these plants can grow year-round. They fill out the pots and look great just about anywhere in the garden (as long as they receive a bit of sunlight). Also, I can combine them with other flowering plants such as petunia, salvia, and oxalis.

(swiss chard with pine cone tephrocactus)

Don't feel limited by traditional container gardening. Our Phoenix weather allows us to do very interesting things. You'll always find some success in exploration.

Graduation Day...

Yes, I can hear the theme in the background as my little ones make their way out into the real world. No more spray misting, no more enclosed humidity, and no more baby talk (yes, I'm that kind of gardener).

(cucumber, cilantro, okra)

On month later, my little seedlings are now officially 'transplants'. They will live in 1gal cans for a couple of months chasing the sunny spots in the garden. Once Winter frost passes they'll find a permanent home just in time to set flowers and fruit for spring. Stay tuned...

Starting from Recycle

This year I was determined to grow more edibles, but wasn't too thrilled with the idea of spending money on seed starter trays and starter potting mix that I might discover on a dusty shelf next July.

So the 'ol gray-idea-maker kicked in one day while taking out the recycle. Sushi tray? Herb package? Tomato carton? Staring at them in the depths of the big blue can, I slipped into visions of the past where weird chia pet terrariums adorned my mother's kitchen window sill (bustling with tiny gnats and mushrooms).

I rescued the plastic trays from there circular demise; added a layer general potting mix, packed it in and reached for the seeds. I made gentle divots into the soil with the back end of a chop stick, dropped a couple seeds into each divot then covered with a thin layer of more potting mix.

Kale in old plastic sushi tray.
Wildflowers in old plastic herb package.
Okra in old plastic tomato carton.

Started on 30 September, within six days, most of the seeds had germinated (the wildflowers have taken 15 days). I give them a mist of water two times in the morning before work then again in the late afternoon.

Click here to see more pics of my recycled seed starters.

Happy gardening!

Dead and Green

Don't worry, it's dead.

This urban monster was killed 'naturally'. By that I mean, with a natural product and not some retched toxic chemical. I'm talking about Diatomaceous Earth. DE, as it is generally referred to, is available at most local nurseries, home centers, and even some hardware stores. Make sure you select 'Food Grade' (NOT pool grade) which is harmless to humans and pets if ingested. The packaging may vary so be sure to read the labels carefully.

DE will not 'repel' scorpions; it actually will kill them, just not instantly. It's a fossil shell flour, and these microscopic shards gets caught in the exoskeleton as scorpions crawl through the powder eventually damaging their innards. In about 12-24 hours they're dead. It can also be used on other critters such as ticks and spiders.

You may be thinking that with the cooler weather upon us, the scorpions will go away. Eventually. However, for the next few weeks, they may still be active seeking the last bit of warmth before they disappear underground for the season.

A black light, a long stick, and flat tread shoes are the best tools for investigate in the night time to identify concentrated areas of scorpions. You can apply DE in these area, as well as around the perimeter of your home.

You may also want to contact a pest control service to help deal with the issue. Although I spend many late nights in the garden 'manually' managing my scorpion population, I also use a great organic pest control service (Ladybug) for major treatments.

I don't yet know of any effective method for repelling scorpions. Most pest control services primarily manage the scorpion food source, thus, causing them to migrate elsewhere or 'lay low' and not breed as much. So, for fun, I'll keep to my therapeutic ritual of black light hunting with my long stick and squash'em boots. Mwaaa-Haa-Haa.

High-Tech Dirt

When it comes to garden chores, I can be quite efficient (some might call it 'lazy'). Compost is often the most tedious chore of all. I figured it was time to try something innovative and let technology work for me. So, I got myself the eComposter. This ain't your grampa's tumbler. No cranking, no shoveling, no turning or churning. I just take it out for a roll around the yard and let the high-tech design take care of the air flow and stirring.

For the eComposter, I filled it with all my material:

paper waste

(tissue, shredded documents, paper bags, etc.)

veggie kitchen scraps
(old lettuce, cut flowers, banana peals, etc. - no meats or oils)

lawn clippings
(grass blooms, weeds - no worries)

yard waste prunings
(no diseased plants, no bougainvillea, no ruellea, no cactus)

Add water and mix. It's just that simple! Now we'll see how long (or not) this baby takes to make me some good 'ol garden gold.

Stay tuned....

Friday Feature - Mulch

If you've ever attended my workshops, you know I'm a big on mulch. But does mulch have to be so bland and barky?

I found this great blog featuring some great ideas for mulch:

apartmenttherapy.com

Why is mulch so important?

It keeps the soil from drying out too fast, reducing the need to water so often. Frequent watering leaches away nutrients from the potting soil.

Mulch helps preserves moisture (not water) in the soil. This allows the container to dry out evenly, so that the soil at the top isn't dry (where you check it), while the soil in the bottom of the pot isn't soggy wet.

It also functions as erosion control to keep soil from washing away when you water.

The great thing about using unconventional materials like marbles, pebbles, or seashells is that they don't degrade like the traditional bark mulch.


Most important to me? It has to look good. So try something different and add a little permanent flair to your containers.

Wednesday What To Do

Like most, I enjoy container gardening. But often, we think of use containers to fill bare spaces like patios and entry ways. You know, hardscapes. Here in Phoenix (and other parts of the southwest) where it's over 100* degrees or more (much much more), these hardscape areas can be 10-20 degrees hotter. Certainly, not a place for plants we love, right?

(chard, oregano, and thyme enjoying summer amongst friends)

So, try container gardening . . . in the garden. This beautiful large red pot functions as a raised bed for some sun loving edibles. It also adds a nice pop of color amidst a mass of green. The soil is a well draining mix of rich organic compost, topped with a deep layer of bark mulch to reduce dry out. I also hooked it all up on drip emitters (1/2gal per hour) so it gets watered with my other landscape edibles 3days per week.
Even if you use a smaller container, a good layer of mulch will keep the soil moist enough to avoid daily watering.

Friday Feature

It's Friday and thought I'd feature an awesome plant for you:

justicia spicigera

Come again, you say? Yes, I do love my botanical names, and for good reason. From Florida, to Tennessee, to Texas, this lovely garden superstar goes by many different names; orange justicia, orange plume flower, mexican firecracker bush, and most recently, mexican honeysuckle. (eeee gads)

So, using the good ol' botanical name I know I can talk to any nursery specialist and find the exact plant I'm looking for. Here in Phoenix, I shop at Baker Nursery, a local haven for the most proven native adapted plants.

Our daytime high temperatures have been over 110* degrees (as high as 116*) for the past three weeks, and my orange justicia hasn't stopped blooming. In fact, I'm seeing a resergence of new bloom heads all over the plant. So if you don't have this beauty in your garden yet, maybe you should should give it a try. Your hummingbirds will thank you.

Wednesday - What To Do?

Welcome to my new segment I'm calling "What to do Wednesday", which will focus on a project you can plan for your weekend gardening. Why Wednesday, you ask? Well, if I gave out great garden project assignment on Friday, you would like have to spend your Saturday morning racing around to the nurseries, preparing soil, and digging holes. Then, your Sunday up to your dirty knees working on the project. I believe Saturdays are for gardening and Sundays are garden viewing. So, Wednesday gives you two days to get ready for the weekend fun.

This Wednesday to start, I thought of a simple project we all can do. Here in Phoenix, where it's been over 110* degrees for the past two weeks, it's about all we can do in the garden right now. I want you to spend some time thinking back.

("The Yard" - 1998 Spring)

I know it will do me some good to take a moment think back - back to the incredible spring we had this year. To think back to this time last year. I'm even thinking back to the early days when we had a 'yard'.

("The Garden" - 2008 Summer)

Thinking back will help you plan your next move for this fall. Perhaps, reminding you of what not to do (that you've maybe tried season after season still to no avail). Thinking back will give you some pride in what you truly have accomplished from year to year. So browse the old garden journals, flip through the Post-it riddled pages of your garden magazines, print of some old and new photos. Take note of how your garden has grown.

(2009 Summer - "Xericopia")

Where are the monsoon rains?!?!?!?

I have been anxiously desperately waiting for the summer rain to come.
But that doesn't mean I can stop watering. Rain is very important to gardens in the southwest mainly because it is the primary source for good tree watering. Most homeowners rely on inappropriate watering methods such as sprinklers, or just don't water enough.
Regardless of whether or not there appears to be rain in the forecast, it's still a good practice to water your trees.

For me, I've found that using a water hose works best. I once had my trees on a drip system, but the growth rate required me to make adjustments every 3-4 years, which was (surprisingly) more than I wanted to keep up with.
So I disconnected the drip line and set out the hose.
With the hose on a very low flow rate (about 1/2gal per minute on ground and 1gal per minute in lawn), I just let it run all weekend moving about every 6-12 hours around each tree (north,south,east,west). This allows for good deep watering, and then when the rains do come, the soil is primed to soak it up.

Check out more on watering at the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association.

If you're in the Phoenix area, you can sign-up for my Permaculture Guild workshop this coming Wednesday 08/05/2009 on watering in the garden.

I'll share great tips not only on what, how, and when to water, but also some fun demos on building and using watering systems.

It's An Invasion!

Oh no - they're here!

And they're taking over my garden!
(Yeaaaa!!!)

It's the attack of the Compost Makers!
After years of managing my rickety compost bins made from recycled pallets, I decided to try these new-fangled eComposter (from CostCo). I started them in May 2009 and I figure they should be done cooking by mid-August.
Stay tuned to see what hatches...

Surviving Summer

It's hot here in Phoenix. Really hot. Yesterday was 115* degrees. Today it was 115*. And the forecast consensus shows over 110* degrees for all of next week. YIKES!! If you think it's tough on us humans, be assured it's tougher on our plants. Remember, outside it's not only hot, but the sun is intense. If it's not a cactus, it's stressing.


One of the easiest ways to beat the heat (well, tolerate the heat) is simply installing shade cover. Just by reducing the amount of direct intense sun, life gets a little bit nicer for plants.

The set-up in my garden is quite rudimentary. It's not pretty, but it is effective, and it only took ten minutes to put in place. My new seedlings are much happier now.


This is all a temporary solution for current season. Since my back garden receives west exposure, I have a greater plan for future protection. In summer 2008 I planted some new trees (palo verde, bauhinia, crape myrtle, pomegranate) to create natural shade cover. By next summer 2010, too much sun will not be an issue for me.
(keep cool!)

Summertime Spirit

Summertime is often a very disheartening for many of us Phoenix desert gardeners. As we slowly slip from the 'comfortable' springtime 80* and 90* degree temperatures, the dreaded heat can but the breaks on our gardener spirit. But don't dispair; If you think there isn't much to plant during the dog days of summer, think again. Here are a few of my favorites for warm season survival:

(Palo Verde - Parkinsonia florida/cercidium floridum from 24"box)

Nothing better to plant during summer than trees. The warm season is the growing season for most native-adapted trees, and there is no better time thatn the present to start working on shade. Palo verde is the perfect solution.

(butterfly on zinnia)

From simple beginnings come great things. You can't go wrong with zinnia seeds. It's never too late to get your seeds in the ground - especially before the monsoon rains arrive.


Go native and go big. This leucophyllum sage is on its third bloom cycle of 2009.

But a couple of my summertime favorites are red salvia and orange justicia. These two sun lovers will not only bloom through summer, but with occasional dead-heading, can bloom year-round. Bring on the color!

For more planting options, visit the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association or the Maricopa Master Gardeners plant guide.

Something Simple...

One fun thing I love about summertime gardening (even though summer is still technically 3 weeks away), is how you have to challenge yourself to be inventive. With the impending heat, it's always questionable what to plant next that will survive.
Instead of wrestling with flowers, and keeping them watered, and fertilizing them, and deadheading to keep them blooming, and wondering when they will finally fade away, etcetera, etcetera....
I thought I'd try something interesting with succulents.

This is an old antique wheelbarrow with the bottom rusted out. It used to be filled with geraniums (a few times throughout the year because they would die from lack of watering, too much drainage, and harsh sun exposure).
First I converted it to a stone garden with a couple cactus. Not quite impressive, I then added another plant or two. Finally, I put together a plan using some small scale succulents, a few cuttings, and a couple feature specimens (in the end, about $15 on plants). It took less than six months to entire planter to fill in, and this photo was taken just after pruning. The planter is located under a large elm tree and receives midday filtered sun and then about 3hrs of full afternoon exposure. It is quite a conversation piece in this downtown Phoenix garden.

Goofin' in the Garden

Meet my new helpers (I think I'll name them Quinn & Trini). They are Pot Heads and quite the neat treat. I received them as a gift from two of my youngster garden fans - Jacob and Edward Jr. Out with their mother shopping one day, they asked "Could we use our allowance money to buy a something for Mr. Vynnie?". Now, that's quite an honor in my book. So be sure to check back and see what Quinn & Trini are up to in the garden.

Duranta - Super Plant!

If the heat has you in a rut with gardening, nothing will boost your spirits better than a little success. Or, how about a big success. One of mine has been duranta. I discovered the plant in 2001 at Tera's Garden in downtown Phoenix, which is no longer around ;-( . The lure of it's summertime durability was irresistible. At the north end of the backyard garden I had a hot wall that was frying the lawn with reflective heat. Bored with bougainvillea, I decided to add a purple duranta.

This picture was taken in 2002 October, about 1year after being planted from a 5gallon pot.


Now, only eight years later (April 2009), that once hot wall is just a cool memory. I prune the duranta about once a year, but I cut blooms from it regularly to add to flower arrangements.
The best thing about this plant, it's one of the biggest features here at Xericopia. Everyone who visits instantly remarks "What is that plant with the blue flowers?!" As they stumble past a field of lavender, swarming hummingbirds, 8ft tall hollyhocks, and purple hibiscus, they fixate on the duranta way out at the far end of the garden.

If you're looking for it in the Phoenix area, check out one of the great local spots like Baker Nursery. You'll likely not this beauty at a general home center.

Home Grown Good Stuff...

Make your own compost!
It's fun! It's Easy! It's free!

Make a pile out of lawn clippings, tree litter, leaves, old dead plants. No need to be too scientific about the mix of brown (carbon) and green (nitrogen) materials. The best thing for compost is kitchen scraps. Make a hole, dump them in and cover them up (helps keep the flies and gnats away).


Turn the pile with a shovel or pitch fork and water it to keep the micro-bugs active. Do this weekly or so.
(I turned this pile every other day when I took out kitchen scraps.)


About eight weeks later I had brown gold - nature's alchemy! Use it as a planting soil, fertilizer amendment, or top mulch. Anywhere in the garden, it's good stuff!
Check out my compost workshop coming up at the Phoenix Downtown Farmer's Market.

In The Gardener's Garden - 2009-04-04

Life is good...

My wife and I spent some peaceful time in the garden today (trying very hard to ignore the wind). So to help focus, I ran off to the frontyard and cut a few things for little vase (Don Juan roses, raspberry snapdragon, nasturtium).



As the wind settled, all the birds came out to eat, and the whole verdin bird family came to visit


But a gardener's work is never done. I have to go prune some edibles and cook them up for dinner!

Must See at the DBG!

If you haven't been to the Desert Botanical Garden lately, now is the perfect time to go. The Chuhuli glass works are spectacular and there is still time to see it. This exhibition is sure to inspire and amaze. Be sure to check it out during the night time and the daytime.

Lights Out! Don't forget this weekend is "Earth Hour".

Everyone is encouraged to turn out their lights from 8:30 - 9:30pm on Saturday, March 28.
(Check out the "Earth Hour" video)

According to Mayor Phil Gordon, here are some other things we can also do to participate in this global event:

* Change at least one light bulb to a CFL
* Park your car for the day
* Turn your air or heat down or off
* Use public transportation (including light rail)
* Fill your recycling container
* Reduce your water consumption

Read more at: http://phoenix.gov/news/032509earth.html

I plan to spend my Saturday morning celebrating by planting some trees - a lot of trees! Valley Forward Association and the Mayor's Office will host a tree planting event downtown on Roosevelt Row Saturday 03/28 ( 8am-12noon).

In honor of VFA's 40 years in Phoenix as the Valley's premier environmental public interest organization, 40 trees will be planted along 5th Street and 6th Street from Roosevelt to Garfield. It's sure to be quite a day.

Later, during Earth Hour, I will be on my patio enjoying my garden in the candle light.