In Calgary, no one plants gardens until at least May 24th, or after the Victoria Day weekend.
The daytime weather is fine and it might seem like the little plants could survive. Yesterday, it was 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) but last night that dropped to 3 degrees (37 Fahrenheit) and there’s a high probability that we’ll get frost again before summer arrives. Of course, you can plant a container garden anytime you want.
This time I used a shallow plastic pot because, until the risk of frost has passed, I’ll be moving my container garden back and forth from the balcony to the kitchen. The smaller pot means I’ll have to water it more often, but that’s okay.
I know a lot of gardeners wear gloves while planting but I like to get my fingers in the dirt. If you do too, it’s a good idea to scratch your fingernails over a bar of soap before you do your planting. It makes it easier to clean up afterwards.
My first container of the season consists of pansies, trailing lobelia, and Osteospermum—sometimes called Blue-eyed Daisy or African Daisy.
Do you get a jump on spring planting with container gardening? What are your favourite flowers to start off the season?
Cheerful looking pot with a promise of summer ahead. Pansies are my favorite. My father always planted pots of them and borders in the gardens. I did not inherit his green thumb so I admire yours. I have trouble even keeping the lawn alive. Thanks for sharing
I wouldn’t exactly say I have a green thumb, but I try. I remember my mom loved gardening and she did have a green thumb. Of course, she had Ontario soil and climate, where you could toss some morning glory seeds on a juniper and they would end up covering the tree.
Your photos are always so uplifting. Spring! Garden! I hope to see more after the final frost and you can plant in earnest. We are just starting to plant now as we had a very long winter in New England (not compared to yours but for us). I’ve never container gardened but am considering doing an herb container garden this year. Any tips?
Sara – Your climate probably does not Necessitate container gardening but a herb container would be great year round. I really don’t have any tips, other than: must have drainage, start with a clean pot (no leftover diseases from old plants), choose something you can easily move. It’s a learn by doing thing, you can’t go wrong, and there is something so soothing about working with plants.
Suzanne – love your early garden.
Herbs are invasive by nature, which means they spread out easily. Putting herbs in containers is a fabulous idea as it keeps them ‘tidy’. If the pots are near the back door, I’d consider the fragrant herbs such as lavender (about 14″ high), lemon thyme (4″ high), chives. Please note some of these attract bees or butterflies …. if that was an issue.
Excellent ideas! I’m going to plant a big pot of lavender.