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RECAP: Container Gardening Class For City’s Backyardless At Gastown’s “Old Faithful”

by Michelle Sproule | Gastown’s Old Faithful – truly of Vancouver’s coolest stores – held a workshop last weekend called Container Gardening 101. This was an in-store class teaching the basics of growing herbs and greens well above the earth’s surface for those bereft of backyards. We snuck in to catch the tail end and were so inspired by the throng of happy gardeners that we got in touch with workshop instructor Lisa Giroday to ask her about how our readers could pull together a container garden on their own. Lisa sent us back the following:

5 tips to consider for anyone who wants to grow in a container…

1: Before you put anything inside your container, the most important factor to consider is drainage. The ideal container has holes in the bottom for water to drain out completely, most plants are NOT happy when there roots are constantly soaking in water. With this in mind, you want the container to elevated so that the water can drain completely and not collected in a pan below.

2: Do a little research and plant what’s right for what you have. Most plants are happy with 4 hours of sun a day, but there are a few such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers that love the heat and south facing sun, so make sure your spot is the right fit for your food.

3: Soil is also a very important component to the success of your container plants. It needs to be nutrient rich, but not too heavy. A light-weight soil than can drain well is ideal. Also don’t forget, if you’re eating what you’re going, don’t save money buying the cheap stuff, splurge, spend a few extra and buy organic.

4: There are two options for planting: seed and started plants. For either, timing is important. If you plant too late, the plant won’t have time to mature before it gets cold and it can no longer survive. If you plant too early, there may not be enough heat for the seed to germinate or the plant to survive the cold weather. So like in various steps above, do a little research and figure out when the best time to plant your food.

5: Maintenance is very important. By this, I mean watering and feeding. Containers dry out or get water logged rather quickly, so be sure to check everyday if your plant is not getting enough or too much water. Also be sure to feed your plant with some organic compost by mulching (piling up) at the base where the plant meets to the soil to ensure that all the right nutrients are available for your plant to grow.

For those looking for further guidance, Old Faithful also carries a few great gardening books.

Garden Wisdom & Know-How ($24.95)

A Little Piece of Earth – Maria Finn  ($24.95)

Terrarium Craft – Amy Bryan Aiello & Kate Bryant  ($22.95)

  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful
  • Container Gardening 101 at Old Faithful

Considering how many young Vancouverites can’t afford the luxury of a backyard, it’s no surprise that this sold out on the double quick. If you weren’t one of the lucky, forethinking ones and you’ve been troubled by it in your highrise ever since, don’t fret your would-be greenthumb a second more, for there are similarly-themed workshops coming down the pipe. Bookmark the Old Faithful blog and the Scout List for news about an upcoming Terrarium workshop.