A lot of us love our container gardens… They allow you to grow things in a small space, or in a “no garden” space like a balcony, they cut down on maintenance chores, and they bring plants right up to the places you spend time so you can enjoy them! Oh, and they are pretty, too! But did you know you can go beyond the traditional annuals in a container? Almost anything can be grown in a container when the right requirements are met, don’t be afraid to think out of the box. (Or pot!) Try these best unexpected plants you can grow in containers, you won’t be disappointed. First, a quick refresh on the basics for container gardening.
- Always match the size of the container to the size of the plants, especially large plants. Nothing makes a container garden fail faster than outgrowing it’s space too quickly!
- That having been said, plants in container should be placed closer together than they would be in the ground. Everything is concentrated into a smaller space, including water and fertilizer, so they can tolerate, and look better, planted snugly. This especially applies to annuals that have shallow root systems and only last one season.
- Always choose a good potting mix for your container, never use garden soil. Garden soil placed into containers is not light enough and will compact, not allowing the roots to breathe.
- Containers need lots of water. In the heat of summer, especially smaller containers may need watering every day. You can set up a drip system if you group your containers together. Also, watch for pots that dry out extremely fast… Dark colored pots, metal pots or porous pots like terra cotta can be zapped of water in a few hours in the hot summer sun.
- Fertilizer also leaches out of the container faster. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer every two weeks for most container grown plants. Consider using a potting mix with fertilizer pre-mixed in, like Miracle Gro.
- One of the benefits of using containers is that they are mobile. Remember to outfit larger containers with wheeled platforms to make moving them easier, or use a hand truck.
Here are our picks for best unexpected plants you can grow in containers.
Our first picks are from ‘HGTV Gardens‘. The top photo is a great example of using unexpected plants you can grow in containers. The focal plant (the taller spiky one) in these mobile containers are artichokes! Filled in with perennials and annuals, these containers offer a great aesthetic, and veggies too. Another option in the second photo is an example of using containers to create a typical hedge. Instead of planting these boxwoods straight in the ground, they are higher up to block views, and can be moved if necessary. Yep, they look cool too.
Don’t think you can plant trees in containers? Think again. These birch trees are placed in large containers, and because the root ball is kept from growing outward, the whole tree remains smaller and more manageable. Oh, yes, did we mention you can move them? Photo by ‘My Landscapes‘.
Want trees that give a little bit more? ‘A Cultivated Nest’ shows us how to grow apple trees in containers. She uses them as screens, and the apples are a bonus! There are lots of other type of fruit trees that come in dwarf or columnar varieties as well. Check out her tip on self pollinating varieties.
Citrus trees can be tough to grow in some parts of the country. Did you know that if you grow citrus in containers, you can bring them into a sunroom or sunny window for the winter? Photo by ‘HGTV‘.
You already know there are many veggies you can grow in pots… Watermelon? You think I’m kidding, don’t ya’? Well jump on over to ‘Gardening Know How‘ and find out how to grow these veggies that are traditionally a space hog, in pots!
You may have seen small decorative bulbs in pots at the nursery, but what about larger bulbs and tubers, like Iris and Dahlias? These are plants you can grow in containers as well. Photo by ‘HGTV‘.
Vines can also grow in containers, you just need to make sure they have proper support. You can either set the pot in front of a wall or trellis, or provide a teepee within the container so that it can be moved when necessary. Photo by Taylors Clematis.
From ‘BHG’, learn how to grow berries in containers. These raspberries and blueberry plants do great when the right varieties are chosen, and they receive enough sun.
So don’t let the idea of using pots and containers limit you to marigolds and petunias! Use them to your full advantage and try these unexpected plants you can grow in containers! We think you will also love our posts, Privacy with Plants and More Unique Garden Containers You Never Thought Of! You might also want to pop on over to our sister site, OhMeOhMy, and check out our post on Stunning Planter Box Ideas & Projects!
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I love the vine in the container idea! Can anyone tell me how to create something like this? I don’t have a yard, only a balcony, but this would be perfect there! Hope someone can help.
Thank you :)
Thank You. We moved into a new to us house and there are NO plantings anywhere. My back isn’t the greatest, so I thought we would “decorate” with potted plants and this is a good stepping stone to some ideas. Anything for full shade (north side of our house in zone 4 gets little to no sun). Thanks again!
I was told a Clematis would not grow in a container over the winter and survive. Is this true of zone 6 where we only had a couple of days below freezing.
Containers don’t have the insulation a plant in the ground would. However, if you only had a couple days below freezing, you have a chance! They happen to be late emergers in the spring, so you may have to wait awhile to be sure if it survived… You an scratch some bark (gently) low down on the main stem and see if it reveals any green, that would be a good indicator ’till then.
I live in a Zone 4 area. I worry about the survival of plants in pots (particularly bushes or trees) and also in raised beds. I have a back patio that I would love to use raised beds and/or pots. Any hints or personal exprrience?
We are not in zone 4, but here is an article that talks about helping container plants survive the winter!
http://www.hgtvgardens.com/container-gardening/the-cold-hard-facts-on-protecting-potted-plants
We are in zone 5 and last year I got some plants late and ended up not getting them planted due to health reasons. I set them in an corner behind the house where they got sun from the south and wind protection from the north and east. This spring they look like they spent the winter in a greenhouse!
Why are there plates in the containers with the apple trees?
I believe they are just decoration!
Great article! Not only do containers improve the appearance of the plant, but it also restricts them from growing out of control!
Thanks for sharing.
Could I plant fruit bearing fig trees in containers? I love figs but not many are grown in my area. My grandmother had one & I loved picking them off the tree & eating them when I was a child. Would love to be able to do that again.
Yes! Check with your local nursery for the best type for containers, they should be able to help you with what grows best in your area.
Just today I was thinking it was a shame I had no place to grow iris because I love the deep blue flowers. I had never thought of growing them in pots!