MAINE, USA — Not everybody has access to land or a yard to garden so container gardening can satisfy that gardening itch.
Gardening with Gutner went to Young's Greenhouse in South Paris and talked with Katherine Young about some container gardening ideas.
"You can just take a little planter put it in your window sill or you could do something like this on your deck," the greenhouse owner said as she pointed to a raised wooden planter with herbs growing in it.
Containers allow you to be creative and make a statement.
"So we have parsley, we have basil, thyme, lavender, sage, rosemary, and lots of different mints," Young exhibited. "My favorite is definitely the mojito mint." Young revealed she puts the mint in water to give it flavor.
Young gave two pointers on mint. One good and one bad: bugs don't like the smell and you have to be careful to contain the plant because mint will spread quickly. Rosemary, lemon balm, and citronella plants also have anti-bug properties because of their smell.
While rosemary is not a perennial in Maine, many bring the herb into their homes for the winter.
"They like light but they don't like a lot of water," Young warned. "So just don't overwater them."
Tomatoes and lettuce are a staple for any veggie gardener and are easily grown in a container but you will need to provide support, but there are tomato plants that don't need to be propped up.
"But then you have your Bush Champion. So like a bush tomato. This actually, the plant stays compact and it stays like a bush and you don't have to support it." Young explained.
The greenhouse owner showed a bowl full of lettuce leaves that were ready to be harvested.
"They do really well in containers," Young noted. "You'll get about three or four good harvests from something like this."
Even cucumbers can be grown in a container.
"You put them in a container. You put a trellis behind it or a cage around it. It will just climb right up it," Young explained. "And your peppers, they really like to be close together so they do very well in a container."
So don't let not having a backyard stop you from growing herbs and vegetables. Container gardening is easy and it will make your green thumb happy.