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Petunias, geraniums, zinnias, nasturtiums, and begonias are good choices for main-theme flowers. Fill in with things like inch plant, ivy, euonymus, heather, or vinca, which will cascade over the edge of the box. Impatiens do well in shady locations. More subtle choices include coleus, heliotrope, and salvia.
What can I grow in a window box?
List of Best Window box Vegetables Lettuce. With its shallow roots and quick-growing nature, lettuce makes for a top contender for window boxes. Spinach. A small box is all you need to grow spinach right by the kitchen window or on a balcony. Bush Beans. Radish. Green Onions. Carrots. Garlic. Cherry Tomatoes.
How many plants should be in a window box?
Traditional planting is when you allow enough room between plants that the planter looks full after 2 to 3 weeks of additional growth. Generally I would use 3 or maybe 4 plants in 10 or 12-inch planters, 4 to 6 plants in a 14 to 16-inch planter and Six to 8 plants in an 16 to 20-inch planter and so on.
How do you prepare a window box for planting?
Always make sure your window box has drainage holes. To aid drainage, place 2 inches of nonbiodegradable packing peanuts or old wine corks in the bottom of the box, and then cover with landscape fabric to prevent soil from seeping out. Next, fill the box halfway with potting soil, and add your plants.
What plants grow well in planter boxes?
Top 19 Planter Box Plants Basil. Green beans. Parsley. Peas. Peppers. Potatoes. Radishes. Strawberries.
Can you plant vegetables in window boxes?
Even with little growing experience, you can master raising fresh and flavorful plants in a window box. Shallow-rooted plants, including leaf lettuces, greens, radishes, peppers and bush beans, can yield in soil in the 6-inch-deep range. Deeper boxes (up to 12 inches) can host carrots, onions and tomatoes.
What can you plant in a window box in March?
Some excellent choices are basil, chives, parsley, lavender and cilantro. Mixing herbs and flowers will bring beauty to your house and delicious fresh herbs to your kitchen. Starting a spring window box is easy even when winter lingers into March and April.
What do you put in the bottom of a window box?
In addition to drilled holes, stones and gravel are essential to proper drainage of windowboxes. Put a two- to three-inch layer of pea gravel or pebbles in the bottom of the planter. This will allow water to filter through the soil and gravel before passing through the drilled holes.
How many flowers should I plant in a window box?
For a 2′ window box, use 2-3 geraniums, for a 3′ window box use 3-4 geraniums. In between the main plants, put in a filler plant- something that stays lower and more compact such as lobelia, calibrachoa, compact verbenas, flowering vinca or petunias.
Can lavender be planted in a window box?
Lavender is particularly suitable as a balcony bloomer because the plant can cope well with sun and wind, and is available in sizes ranging from small enough for a window box through to larger specimens which can be displayed solo in a pot.
What is the best compost for window boxes?
Choice of compost is also important, as many multi-purpose composts are too light and will dry out in a flash, so choose a soil-based compost such as John Innes No. 3 or make your own mix from top-soil and multi-purpose compost. In terms of planting, first consider where your window boxes are.
How many bedding plants should be in a window box?
A general rule of thumb when planting a hanging basket is to use one plant per inch of basket diameter – so 12 plants per 30cm (12″) hanging basket. The only exception to this is when you use strong-growing plants such as Fuchsias and Geraniums (Pelargoniums).
Should you mulch window boxes?
Soil for Window Boxes Choosing a good soil mix will ensure your window box garden is a success. Try using mulch on top of your soil to retain moisture and provide warmth to young plants. A good bark mulch or small gravel will work fine in a window box.
What can you plant in a window box in the winter?
Try junipers, arborvitae, False cypress, Japanese yew, spruces, flowering heaths and heathers and boxwoods. Add flowers and pretty foliage for color. Pansies are generally hardy to zone 4 and rebloom in winter in zones 7 and higher, while violas are hardy in zones 3 to 9.
What plants last all year round?
The 8 prettiest evergreen plants to give your garden year round Camellia. Th gorgeous Camellia flower, so associated with luxury brand Chanel, only bloom during the spring months. Aucuba. Fatsia Japonica. Yew. Magnolia Grandiflora. 6. Box. Lavender. Holly.
Can you plant perennials in window boxes?
If gardening isn’t your thing or if money is an issue, perennials are the perfect choice for window boxes. In the right climate and environment, they can survive through the winter and grow back the following spring. In climates with light frosts, your perennial choices may seem endless.
What vegetables grow well in a window box?
Perfect Window Box Vegetables lettuce. spinach. radish. carrots. chives. bush beans.
Can you plant tomatoes in a window box?
Yes, you can grow tomatoes in a window box, and it’s a popular option in more urban gardening environments. Since window boxes tend to get a lot of sun and are easy to water, tomato plants generally have no problem growing in them.
What can I put in flower boxes besides flowers?
Succulents: While many succulents work perfectly in flower boxes, we love the succulents known as houseleeks or hens and chicks. Serving as ground cover within the flower box, they grow to resemble tufted rosettes and add architectural interest to your arrangement.
