Veggie Container Gardening

When I was a little girl my parents had a vegetable garden.  I think almost everybody did back then.  I loved picking cherry tomatoes and popping them straight in my mouth – it was an explosion of flavour! As I grew up, it seemed that many people stopped planting vegetable gardens as flowerbeds claimed the yard. But as with everything else, planting vegetable gardens is back in style, in a big way! “Locally grown” is the new buzzword and what could be more local than your own backyard!

But what if you don’t have the space for a vegetable garden? Vegetables are easily grown in containers and with many advantages as well. Containers are easily moved, so you can follow the sun for veggies that love the heat, or you can move them to a shady spot in the scorching afternoon sun. You can also lift them up out of the way of hungry rabbits. I grew lettuce in containers last summer and although there was evidence of rabbits, they could not reach my lettuce! Having the ability to move the pots into the shade and away from the hot sun also meant I was cutting lettuce almost every day well into August!

I know some people who don't want to pot up veggies as they don't think they will look as nice as flowers, and may even spoil "the look" of their yard.  But it doesn't have to be that way.

With the use of colours and textures you can create a beautiful vegetable container!  Try pairing the fine, needle-like leaves of rosemary with the big leaves and bright flowers of a scrambling cucumber. Or how about red-stemmed swiss chard with marigolds and red hot peppers? Garlic chives have a grassy texture, wonderful taste and edible white flowers, so would be a great addition to any container. And don’t forget strawberries or cherry tomatoes for your hanging planters!

The familiar adage “Thriller, filler, spiller” works for veggie containers too.  A wrought iron obelisk in the centre of the container to support vines such as cucumber, beans or peas would make an interesting thriller, with kale as the filler, and nasturtium spilling over the container.  I found this pic and I am going to try this in my yard this year!   

Flowers, especially in the daisy family, not only look pretty but attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects kill pests such as tomato hornworm or aphids and also pollinate fruit-bearing vegetables.  I have always used marigold in the past, but Gaillardia would be a great addition to containers of tomatoes or peppers. Edible flowers not only add colour, but are great in salads or as a garnish.

There are so many colours and varieties of vegetables available now.  I am definitely going to experiment with different combinations this year.  Let me know some of the combinations you have tried!

Bees

I watched the “Bee Movie” the other day with my grandkids. If you haven't seen it, it’s an animated comedy of a bee’s life through the eyes of a bee, starring Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweiger. The grandkids loved it. I enjoyed it too, but surprisingly, I also found it inspiring!

I love bees. The sound they make when flitting from flower to flower makes me think they are humming while they work - and that they truly love what they do.

We really take bees for granted. When we think of bees, most think honey. Honey bees make honey. But did you know there are over 1000 species of bees in Canada?

Pollination is the most vital function bees perform. Pollinators provide up to 90% of the world’s flowering plants, including 2/3 of the world’s crop species and they sustain plant communities that provide food and shelter for other animals. Bees are the most common pollinator…….what a bleak world we would live in without the bee.

And bee populations are declining rapidly throughout the world, especially the honey bee and bumblebee. Insecticides, loss of habitat, viruses, parasites and stress caused when moving honey bees long distances for crop pollination, are some reasons. Colony Collapse Disorder is a phenomenon affecting honey bees and bumblebees that presently has no cause, although research is underway. Until scientists find an answer, we can help by creating habitat for bees in our gardens.

Create a garden with plants blooming from spring to fall, in colours of white, yellow, blue or violet and rich with nectar and pollen. Native plants and old-fashioned varieties offer the best nectar. Modern hybrids often have the scent and nectar bred out of them to attain other attributes. Plant a wide variety, but in clumps of six or more, not only for the bees, but for visual impact in your garden. Most importantly, don't use pesticides/insecticides.

Plants that will attract bees will also attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Some of my favourites are: cardinal flower, chives, honeysuckle, bee balm, zinnia, mint, fuchsia, cosmos, lavender, nasturtium, lupine, coneflower, geranium, black-eyed susan, aster, butterfly weed, butterfly bush and roses. Some bees have short tongues so prefer flowers such as marigold, daisy and phlox.

Fresh, clean water is also important. I have three birdbaths – a small, very shallow one for bees and butterflies and two larger ones for birds. You could also put a small saucer from the reuse centre in your garden and keep it filled with fresh water.

So when choosing some flowers for your garden this spring, choose a few for the bees. And don't worry if you are allergic to bees. I am, and I work beside them in my garden all the time, confident they will not sting me – they are far too busy to bother with me!

One of my favourite quotes is about bees - and we could all learn something from it.:

"Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."
(Mary Kay Ash)