One Container; Many Opportunities
A little creative thinking and some assistance from
families or caregivers helps ensure that seniors can continue to enjoy
the types of gardening they love. "Imagine growing almost everything
for a recipe in one container," "What a great gift idea!"
Suggestions:
The following projects to get you started:
- Try a pizza garden! (If your
senior isn't a pizza fan, he or she might enjoy growing one for
grandchildren.) Whiskey barrels work well for growing tomatoes, but can
be expensive. A plastic laundry basket with holes cut in the bottom for
drainage will work just as well. Plant a Roma tomato in the center,
onions along the sides of the tomato and basil around the edge of the
container.
- A twist on the pizza garden concept: a fresh salsa garden! It's similar to a pizza garden, only with tomatoes, onions, hot peppers and cilantro.
- A one-pot vegetable garden
is always a hit! Take three bamboo poles and make a teepee in the
center of the pot. Plant beans at the base of each bamboo pole, and
fill the horizontal space around the pot with carrots, beets or other
favorite root vegetables (make sure your pot is at least 10 to 12
inches deep.)
Check out these handy tidbits on how to help the seniors achieve gardening success:
- Herbs grow anywhere and are great for seasoning.
Kitchen herb gardens are wonderful for seniors. The more you pinch and
pick the herbs, such as basil, parsley and chives, the more vigorous
they grow.
- Think height, filler and spiller.
When you're creating flowerpots, consider height, filler and spiller.
Plant a variety that will grow at least twice as tall as the container;
fill in with plants that will grow to no more than half of the height
of the taller plants, and then plant a variety that will cascade over
the pot.
- When it comes to annuals, pack them in. When
you create flowerpots, pack your annuals in because they will become
root-bound and grow up and over the pots. You'll get drama and a
beautiful arrangement
- Look for equipment that can make the job easier. There
are many wonderful tools available that can make gardening easier for
anyone including seniors. Bud-Eze tools, which can
be found on the Internet, are a good option, as are bionic gloves (www.bionicgloves.com.)
In addition, the Arthritis Foundation has a product and services
directory for senior gardeners and others with mobility problems: log
on to www.arthritis.org.
- Garden right outside your front door or back door. Container
gardening allows seniors access to flowers or vegetables in one pot and
also gives them the height that helps make gardening easier for them.
- Team with others to garden. If
a senior can't garden anymore, enlist the help of others who might
enjoy sharing the work and the produce or flowers from the garden.