Container Gardening 101: Austin

Container Gardening 101: Austin

Container gardening is a fantastic way to bring the joy of gardening to any space, regardless of size. Whether you have a sprawling backyard, a small balcony, or just a sunny windowsill, you can cultivate a thriving garden in containers. This guide focuses on container gardening in Austin, Texas, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the local climate and providing tips for success.

Why Container Gardening in Austin?

• Limited Space: Perfect for apartments, condos, patios, and balconies where traditional gardening isn't an option.
• Control Over Soil: Austin's native soils can be challenging. Container gardening allows you to use a custom soil mix that suits your plants' needs.
• Mobility: Move your plants to follow the sun, protect them from extreme weather, or simply rearrange your space.
• Pest and Disease Control: Easier to manage pests and diseases in a contained environment.
• Accessibility: Great for gardeners with limited mobility, as containers can be raised to a comfortable height.

Choosing the Right Containers

The right container is crucial for plant health and aesthetics. Here's what to consider:

Material

• Terra Cotta: Porous, allowing for good air circulation and drainage. However, they dry out quickly and can crack in freezing temperatures. Considered a great choice for herbs indoors since they absorb extra water preventing overwatering which is a common mistake when growing herbs indoors.
• Plastic: Lightweight, inexpensive, and retains moisture well. Choose dark colors carefully as they can heat up in the Austin sun.
• Ceramic/Glazed: Less porous than terra cotta, offering a balance between moisture retention and drainage. Can be more expensive.
• Wood: Offers a natural look and good insulation. Ensure the wood is untreated to avoid leaching chemicals into the soil.
• Metal: Can heat up quickly in the sun, potentially damaging roots. Avoid treated wood and tires as they can leach chemicals into the soil.

Size

The size of your container depends on the plant you intend to grow. Consider the mature size of the plant's root system.

• Small (1-5 gallons): Suitable for herbs, lettuce, radishes, and small flowers.
• Medium (5-10 gallons): Good for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and larger herbs.
• Large (10+ gallons): Ideal for dwarf fruit trees, shrubs, and multiple plants in one container.

A 5-gallon container is generally the smallest recommended size for edible plants. Vegetable plants do not grow well if their roots are restricted, so it is important to make sure your containers are large enough for the plants you want to cultivate. Most herbs grow well in four-gallon (or eight to 12-inch diameter) pots. Basil, chives and cilantro can be grown in smaller, three-gallon pots.

Drainage

Adequate drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Ensure your container has drainage holes. If not, you can drill some yourself, especially for non-porous materials. Pots without drainage are not recommended. To improve drainage, it is advisable to add about 1 inch of coarse gravel in the bottom of the container; landscape cloth or screen in the bottom of the pot will improve drainage and invigorate plant growth.

Tips for Container Selection

• Consider the weight of the container, especially if it will be on a balcony.
• Dark-colored containers can heat up quickly in the Austin sun. Lighter colors reflect heat.
• Recycle materials like buckets, baskets, and dresser drawers, but avoid tires and treated wood.
• Move containers into position *before* filling them with soil, as soil is heavy.

Choosing the Right Soil

The right soil is crucial for container gardening success. Never use garden soil in containers, as it compacts and doesn't drain well. Instead, invest in a high-quality potting soil suitable for edible plants and add a couple of handfuls of worm castings.

Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil

• Potting Mix: A soilless blend of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and/or composted bark. It's lightweight, sterile, and provides excellent drainage.
• Potting Soil: While the name implies soil, most potting soils are also soilless mixes, but they may contain some compost or other organic matter.

DIY Potting Mix

You can create your own potting mix by combining:

• 1 part compost-amended garden soil
• 1 part shredded coconut husks (coir)
• 1 part perlite, vermiculite, coarse builders sand, or shredded leaves. Avoid fine beach sand or play sand.

Specific Soil Needs

• Acid-loving plants: Use a blend of half acidified cotton burr compost mix with half of your preferred potting soil.
• Xeric and Native Plants: Use a very well-draining, high mineral/low organic matter soil.

Ocean Forest Potting Soil is a blend of earthworm castings, bat guano, and sea-going fish and crab meal, making it rich in organic matter and essential nutrients that promote healthy plant growth. Additionally, its well-aerated texture ensures optimal drainage, preventing waterlogginga common issue in the humid Austin climate.

Best Plants for Austin Container Gardens

Austin's hot summers and mild winters require selecting heat-tolerant and drought-resistant plants. Here are some excellent choices for vegetables, herbs, and flowers:

Vegetables

• Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, and other compact varieties thrive in containers. Provide support with cages or stakes.
• Peppers: Bell peppers, jalapeños, and other peppers do well in pots.
• Eggplant: Choose smaller varieties like 'Patio Baby'.
• Lettuce and Greens: Easy to grow in containers, providing fresh salad ingredients.
• Radishes: Quick-growing and perfect for small spaces.
• Green Onions: Can be grown in small pots.
• Beans: Bush beans are better suited for containers than pole beans.

Herbs

• Basil: A must-have for any herb garden. Pinch off flowers to encourage leaf production.
• Rosemary: Drought-tolerant and fragrant.
• Thyme: Another drought-tolerant herb that thrives in well-drained soil.
• Mint: Best grown in containers to prevent it from spreading aggressively.
• Chives: Easy to grow and adds a mild onion flavor to dishes.
• Oregano: Easy to grow, doesn't even need good soil.
• Sage: Slow growing plant that requires full sun.

Flowers

• Lantana: Heat-tolerant and blooms prolifically.
• Salvia: Attracts hummingbirds and comes in various colors.
• Zinnias: Easy to grow from seed and provides bright colors.
• Cosmos: Another easy-to-grow annual that attracts pollinators.
• Geraniums: Can survive periodic dryness but will bloom best if watered when dry. Set somewhere with afternoon shade during extreme heat.
• Succulents: Such as Senecio 'Blue Chalksticks', Ghost Plant, Sedum, and Donkey Tail Plant are carefree beauties that can take the Texas heat and sun, need little water, and will wow you with their unique colors and textures.
• Plumbago: Requires very little care and fulfills a variety of needs in the landscape. It is fast-growing and has light-green oblong leaves which are evergreen and stay the same color in winter, providing an attractive, year-round frame for its fragrant, phlox-like sky-blue flowers.
• Esperanza (Yellow Bells): Easily recognized by its large masses of lightly scented, golden-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers amid the dark green foliage. Esperanza is extremely heat and drought tolerant.

Fruit

• Raspberries: 'Heritage' or 'Autumn Bliss' varieties.
• Blueberries: 'Sunshine Blue' or 'Misty' varieties.
• Strawberries 'Seascape' or 'Quinault' varieties.
• Citrus Trees: 'Meyer Lemon' or 'Calamondin Orange' varieties.
• Pomegranate Trees: 'Wonderful' or 'Dwarf Pomegranate' varieties.

Caring for Your Container Garden

Consistent care is essential for a thriving container garden. Here's what to keep in mind:

Watering

Container plants dry out faster than in-ground plants, especially in Austin's heat. Water deeply and regularly, especially annuals and vegetables. Check the soil moisture frequently, and water when the top inch is dry. During the summer, daily watering may be necessary. Xeric plants should dry out almost completely between waterings. Terra cotta and black plastic containers tend to dry out faster than ceramic containers. Watering with a hand-held hose or a refillable container or watering vegetable gardens with a soaker hose is allowed at anytime on any day of the week, even with watering restrictions.

Fertilizing

Nutrients leach out of container soil over time, so regular fertilization is crucial. Slow-release fertilizers can be mixed into the soil at planting time. For annuals and vegetables, fertilize about once a month with a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer appropriate for the type of plant. Avoid overfertilizing. Non-native plants such as vegetables, annual flowers, gardenias, etc. will need fertilizer mixed into the medium before planting. Native plants will not need fertilizer, but will benefit from applications of compost tea or liquid seaweed.

Organic options include:

• Seaweed: 1 teaspoon per gallon of water
• Apple Cider Vinegar: 2 tablespoons per gallon of water (helps neutralize alkaline water in Central Texas)
• Molasses: 1-3 teaspoons per gallon
• Compost: As a top dressing
• Earthworm Castings: Apply as a top dressing
• Coffee Grounds and Tea Leaves: Provide nitrogen and reduce pH slightly.

Sunlight

Most vegetables and flowers need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Place your containers where they receive six to ten hours of full sun each day. Some lettuces thrive in partial shade. Monitor your plants and adjust their location as needed.

Pest and Disease Control

Regularly inspect your plants for pests and diseases. Handpick pests when possible. Use organic pest control methods like insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs. Good air circulation can help prevent fungal diseases.

Eco-friendly pest control methods include:

• Attracting beneficial wildlife such as ladybugs, lacewings, and hummingbirds.
• Consider building a bat house in your yard.
• Buying predatory bugs, pathogens, or parasites and releasing them into your garden.
• Using insect vacuums to suck bugs directly off plants.

Seasonal Considerations

Spring and Fall

These are the ideal planting seasons in Austin. Take advantage of the mild temperatures to establish your plants.

Summer

Austin summers are hot and dry. Provide extra water, afternoon shade, and mulch to help your plants survive. Choose heat-tolerant varieties.

Winter

Austin winters are generally mild, but occasional freezes can occur. Protect sensitive plants by moving them indoors or covering them with frost cloth.

Conclusion

Container gardening in Austin is a rewarding way to enjoy fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers, regardless of your space constraints. By choosing the right containers, soil, and plants, and by providing consistent care, you can create a thriving garden that enhances your living space and brings joy to your life. Get started today, and experience the satisfaction of growing your own food and beauty in containers!

Next Steps:

• Plan your container garden layout and choose your plants.
• Gather your containers, soil, and tools.
• Start planting and enjoy the process!