Flower, Herb & Vegetable Container Gardening:

A great alternative for the spatially challenged

If you have a green thumb but you're short on space to exercise it, container gardening might be the answer.

You can grow just about anything in containers, indoors or out. Vegetables, flowering plants, herbs, small shrubs or houseplants can be grown separately or combined for a unique visual effect.

The same rules apply as for "regular" gardening:

Start with a good soil mixture.

Allow for drainage, and be sure not to overwater.

Choose plants suited to the light available.

Feed regularly.

Vigoro makes an excellent controlled-release fertilizer called Vigoro Flowering Container and Hanging basket food 14-12-14. Just sprinkle the required amount on the soil... it feeds for the entire season.

A fresh herb garden to tempt the palate

Fresh-picked herbs can make a delicious difference in the salads you make and the foods you cook ... and they make a great addition to the garden, too. They offer a treat to the senses - sight, taste, smell, touch - that is unrivaled by other plant types. There's nothing like the fresh fragrance that greets you when you step outside near a collection of herb plants.

Growing herbs successfully is not difficult ... in fact, they'll fit in just about anywhere as long as they get adequate sunshine - most require at least 6 hours a day.

You can plan a special garden just for herbs, or blend them in with other plants in a vegetable, perennial or rose garden. Or plant them in containers kept handy to the kitchen where you can snip a sprig or two just as you need it ... herbs thrive on frequent pruning. (In fact, they prefer it.)

Soil for herbs should be well-prepared and well-drained, and slightly acidic for best results. Blend in Vigoro Naturalizing Wildflower and Herb Food when planting, and use as a topdress when additional feeding is required.

Your enjoyment of the herb garden doesn't have to end with the growing season. Many gardeners dry and store herbs for future use - it's easy enough to be worth the effort - especially when you taste the results. It's best to harvest the plants on cool cloudy days. Cut them cleanly and place them in cool water to avoid wilting.

The secret to maintaining all the delicious taste and fragrance of your herbs is in the drying process. Whether you hang bunches by their stems, or lay them out on screens, it's important to keep the foliage loose, allowing good air circulation. The ideal drying location will be warm (not hot), dark and well ventilated to avoid the risk of mildew.

When the herbs are dry but before they become brittle, move them into glass or crockery containers, label them to avoid confusion, and date them. Depending on the plant, they'll last from 6 months to 3 years or more.

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