Container Gardening

I’m based out of Massachusetts, and Memorial Day weekend is the standard I was always given for last frost: after Memorial Day, it’s safe to plant.

I tend to ignore this standard with impunity.

By mid-April, I am scratching at the walls, itching for gardening gloves and a spade, ready to get started on my garden.  I manage to push it off until early May most years, and I start with hardy plants.  Parsley first, basil later.  Lettuce first, tomatoes later.  But I never actually make it through Memorial Day without planting something.

Memorial Day weekend still resonates for me as a Time To Garden, however.  So this weekend, I’m going to grab my gloves and go on a Quest for Containers.  My big project for this year is going to be a container-garden patio seating area, with two chairs, a little table, and a whole lot of plants, providing an area to sit and relax while the kids play outdoors.

I’m going to get some herbs and a few baskets for cherry tomatoes, and plant long windowboxes of lettuces.  I have some giant urn-like containers in our toolshed, left over from the previous owners of the house, and I suspect I can use those for small squashes.

All I need is a lot of dirt, a little creativity, and a good trip to the nearby nursery, and I’ll be well underway!

I will update with photos and some words on how I’m doing as time goes by.  Wish me luck!