Your Boston Home – Container Gardening

Mother's Day is general rule for when it is safe to plant outside for your Summer garden. We are about a month out from Mother’s Day so it’s the perfect time to start planning your garden for your Boston home. Many of you likely don't have much yard or any at all to plant in but it’s not necessary! Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets, and flowerpots are a sampling of containers that are perfect for your patio or porch garden at your Boston home. To get the most from your container gardening consider these guidelines for choosing a container.

• Cheap plastic pots may deteriorate in UV sunlight and terracotta pots dry out rapidly. Glazed ceramic pots are excellent choices but require several drainage holes.
• Wooden containers are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar are relatively rot resistant and can be used without staining or painting.
• The size and number of plants to be grown will determine the size of the container used. Deep rooted vegetables require deep pots so consider the size based on what you are planting.
• Make sure your pot has adequate drainage. Holes should be 1/2 inch across. Line the base of the pot with newspaper to prevent soil loss. If using quite large pots with short-rooted plants you may find that filling the bottom of the pot with shipping peanuts will be useful. It lightens the load of the pot and helps with drainage.
• Set containers on bricks or blocks to allow free drainage.

What should you grow in Boston home's garden? The options are endless from annual flowers to vegetables and herbs. Some vegetables that work especially well in containers are lettuces, carrots, radishes, spring onions, and tomatoes. You can have a bevy of vegetables right outside your apartment. No need to go to the store to get a salad, just pop onto your balcony and snip some homegrown veggies. Better Homes and Gardens has information on planting guides, based on region, and container planter guides and plans, if you'd like to do some planning.

I hope you are able to take advantage this spring and get a lovely container garden going outside your apartment or condo. Boston, MA is such a lovely city to enjoy in the summer, I cannot wait for the warmer weather to be here. If you are currently renting and are interested in buying your own Boston home, please contact a Boston real estate agent! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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