Q: I live in a condo and my deck faces west so there's lots of sun, but the big problem is that it is so windy, it feels like a wind tunnel all the time. I have gone through three patio umbrellas and have finally given up on that. I don't really want to hang plants, but would like a few planters on the deck. I thought geraniums would be sturdy. What others would you advise? I am not a very great gardener, but I sure like my flowers. Perhaps just a few sentences could send me in the right direction.
A: Geraniums (pelargoniums) are a good choice. You might also consider zinnias and nasturtiums. Lantana is a very pretty annual that is wind-resistant, as are dahlias. With dahlias, you would have to bring the tuber in for the winter, or treat them as an annual. They should be staked, but they are very good at resisting the wind and would offer spectacular flowers, colour and form.
Q: Hello, my helpful friend in the past. I bought an Early Girl tomato plant for my glass-enclosed balcony (glass can be opened). The plant is in flower and measures 63 centimetres from top of soil to top of plant. Pot size is 24 cm tall, and 26 cm in diameter.
Will it do well in a pot of that size, or should I transplant to a larger one? In one of your articles, you advised a 40-cm pot. Since the plant is already flowering, my concern is that I may do it more harm by transplanting it than if I leave it. What do you advise?
A: I can't help but feel good when my readers start calling me their friends. Thank you. I would definitely recommend moving the plant into a larger pot. The one you describe will soon be too small for it. In fact, a pot that size will result in the tomato being quite root-bound in a short period of time. A 40-cm-diameter pot will work well. The pot should also be approximately 40 cm deep.
Just as a reminder, don't forget to give the plant a sprinkling of slow-release container fertilizer pellets. I have become a huge fan of these pellets. I use them in all of my containers. I have found that they cut down significantly on my having to fertilize the pots. Many of them will have the slow-release fertilizer last for most if not all of the growing season. All major garden centres carry this fertilizer. The formula is usually 14-14-14, but it can vary slightly.
Q: I'm wondering if you could tell me how to mix soil for vegetables in pots. The pre-mixed stuff is very expensive.
A: I agree. Buying potting mix can be an expensive proposition. This is especially true if you have 30-plus pots like I do. I have actually cut down on the number of pots this year -- down to 32 from 36. It was hard to cut out those four pots I'll have you know, but I digress. You can make your own potting mix by mixing one part of sphagnum peat moss with one part perlite or vermiculite. My personal favourite mix is one part peat moss, one part perlite and two parts compost.
Q: Around all our newly planted trees, the landscaper put about 7.5 centimetres of two-cm rock over landscape fabric. Is this a good idea? I feel that the roots will not get any air, and the soil will remain cold all summer long. I would like any comments from you, please.
A: Depending on who you read or listen to, the expert opinions can vary in the recommended depth of rock mulch application. The consensus is that a depth of five to 10 centimetres should be safe. In my humble opinion, I never mulch to more than a depth of five cm. Having said this, if the soil drains well, the 7.5 cm of rock mulch you describe should not be a problem.