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RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM

CONTAINER GARDENING

&

Horticultural Therapy

F. F. PRIMICH, MD

November 2011

DISCLOSURE

• THERE IS NO FINANCIAL INTEREST

OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT.

• THE SLIDE PRESENTATION OF

COMMERCIAL SITES SHOULD NOT BE

CONSTRUED AS AN ENDORSEMENT.

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

The American Horticultural Therapy

Association defines horticultural

therapy as “a process utilizing plants

and horticultural activities to improve

social, psychological and physical

adjustment of persons thus improving

their body, mind and spirit”.

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

“Horticultural therapy is using

plants and growing environments

as tools to heal and rehabilitate

sick and disabled people.”

Joel Flagler, H.T.R.

RCE FS692

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HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

• Horticultural therapy may improve the

over all well being of not only patients,

but caretakers and family of patients.

• Horticultural therapy should not be

limited to a season or location, but may

be utilized year round and in almost

any location (indoors and outdoors).

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

Benefits of Horticultural Therapy:

• Physical…to improve muscle function

and strength.

• Psychological…to improve mental

activity and self esteem.

• Social…to increase independence and

possibly help others.

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

Benefits of Horticultural Therapy:

• Spiritual…a place and time to pray

and meditate.

• Nutritional…better tasting, fresher

and safer food.

• Environmental…a means to improve

a living area.

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

Accessible Gardens for Therapy:

• Raised beds

• Table planters

• Hanging baskets

• Containers of varying sizes and

shapes

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HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

Horticultural therapy is

not limited to the aged

and disabled!!!

Container Gardening

Container gardening is living art

that can please all human senses.

CONTAINER GARDENING

ADVANTAGES:

• CONTAINED…BY THE SQUARE FOOT

• MANAGEABLE…MINIMAL DIGGING

• AGE FRIENDLY = 2 102

• MOBILE

• FOUR SEASONS

• “GIVE A GARDEN”

CONTAINER GARDENING

ADVANTAGES: GARDEN THEME

• SALAD GARDEN

• HERB GARDEN

• KITCHEN GARDEN

• MEMORIAL GARDEN

• EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN

• BIBLICAL GARDEN

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CONTAINER GARDENING

ADVANTAGES: BIBLICAL THEME

…a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees

and pomegranates, of olive trees and of honey…

DEUTERONOMY 8, 8

SEVEN SPECIES

1. Wheat 5. Pomegranate Trees

2. Barley 6. Olive Trees

3. Grape Vines 7. Date Palm (dwarf)

4. Fig Trees

CONTAINER GARDEN

PERSONAL LIBRARY

***

• REFERENCE BOOKS

• RCE FACT SHEETS

• GARDEN RECORDS

EASY GARDENING GUIDES REFERENCE BOOK

Can you be a self

sufficient gardener?

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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

WEBSITES

• RUTGERS (NJ)

www.rce.rutgers.edu

www.ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu

www.njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs

• CA, NH, NY*, PA, VA & WA**

CONTAINER GARDENS

IN

METUCHEN

CONTAINER GARDENING

VEGETABLES = SALAD

BEANS, POLE ONIONS

BEETS PEAS, SUGAR SNAP

CARROTS PEPPER, SWEET

CUCUMBER RADISH

EGGPLANT SWISS CHARD/SPINACH

LETTUCE TOMATO

Area 1

6

Area 2 Area 3

Area 4

Area 5

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CONTAINER GARDENING

HERBS:

BAY ONIONS

BASIL PARSLEY

CHIVES ROSEMARY

DILL SAGE

MARIGOLD SHALLOTS

NASTURTIA THYME BASIL, CHIVES & THYME

SAGE, CHIVES & PARSLEY BASIL & ROSEMARY

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CONTAINER GARDENING

HERBS…MEDICINAL:

• ALOE = Aloe vera

• HENS AND CHICKS = Sempervivum

HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

(Physical…Psychological…Nutritional)

MINOR BURNS…Aloe vera

BEE & WASP

STINGS

***

Sempervivum

CONTAINER GARDENING

TREES:

BAY, SWEET

FIG, BROWN TURKEY

LEMON, MEYER & CITRON

OLIVE, LECCINO & SAN FERNANDO

POMEGRANATE, BIG RED WONDERFUL

DATE PALM, DWARF

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LEMON, BAY & FIG

CONTAINERS

• WOOD

• TERRACOTTA

• PLASTIC

• CONCRETE

• METAL

• STONE

*********

GLASS

GOOD DRAINAGE

IS ESSENTIAL!

CONTAINER GARDEN

AQUATIC

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CONTAINER GARDEN

AQUATIC

Water Lily, alba

Cattail, mini

Goldfish

(Mosquito Larvae)

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

• TROWEL

• HAND FORK

• DIBBLE

• PRUNER

• SCISSORS

• KNIFE

• WATERING CAN

• SPRAY BOTTLE

WHEELS CAN MAKE MOVING EASIER

TOOL CARE

1. REMOVE DIRT

2. RINSE WITH WATER

3. WASH WITH SOAP AND WATER

4. DRY

5. OIL LIGHTLY

6. STORE

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TOOL CARE (ABUSED)

1. CLEAN RUST

2. SHARPEN

3. OIL

4. STORE

BASIC PLANT NEEDS

SOIL

WATER

FOOD

LIGHT

PLANTING MEDIA

• SEED STARTER SOIL

• PROFESSIONAL POTTING MIX

• COMPOST

• PEAT MOSS & VERMICULITE

• POTTING MIX, PEAT MOSS,

COMPOST & PERLITE…FOOD

POTTING MIX

********

“SOILLESS”

vs.

GARDEN SOIL

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WATER

• MORNING

• BOTTOM

• RESERVOIR

• FREQUENCY (?)

WATER

• MORNING

• BOTTOM

• RESERVOIR

• FREQUENCY (?)

“SELF WATERING” CONTAINERS BLOSSOM-END ROT = CALCIUM DEFICIENCY & WATER (+/-)

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FOOD

COMMERCIAL:

WATER SOLUBLE…RAPID

GRANULES…SLOW

SALT COMPOUNDS BIND PLANT NUTRIENTS

FOOD

ORGANIC (NATURAL SOURCES):

• COMPOST*

• GREEN MANURES

• FRESH MANURES

1 2

COMPOSTING: Grass (green), Leaves (brown), Aeration, Moisture & Time

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Rapid vs. Slow Composting

COMPOST

***

1. ODD YEARS

2. EVEN YEARS

3. 3RD YEAR

4. 4TH YEAR

LIGHT

FULL SUN

SHADE

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BASIL

BASIC PLANT NEEDS

TEMPERATURE

DISEASE CONTROL

PEST CONTROL

TEMPERATURE

COLD HOT

RCRE: ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu

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PEPPER

DISEASE

&

PESTS

CROP ROTATION

VS

CONTAINER ROTATION

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SICK PLANTS

DISEASE TRIAD

1. HOST

2. ENVIRONMENT

3. PATHOGEN

PATHOGENS

BACTERIA

FUNGUS

VIRUS

TOMATO: Anthracnose Fruit Rot

RCE: FS 547

TOMATO

FUSARIUM WILT (F)

VERTICILLIUM WILT

(V)

***

SOIL FUNGI

***

USE RESISTANT

PLANTS

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WILT FUNGI ENTER PLANT VIA ROOTS → STEMS → LEAVES

WATER CONDUCTING VESSELS BECOME PLUGGED & DISCOLORED

CONTAINER GARDENING

DECONTAMINATION:

0.5% SODIUM HYPOCHLORIDE

***

BLEACH SOLUTION (5.25%) → 10%

MAKE FRESH DAILY!

PESTS

INSECT

ANIMAL

HUMAN

COMPANION PLANTING

********

LETTUCE & ONIONS

TOMATO & MARIGOLD

BEANS & RADISH

CUCUMBER & RADISH

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Deer and Lyme Disease

TOMATO MONSTER

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PROPAGATION

• SEEDS (sexual)

• CUTTINGS (asexual)

• LAYERING (asexual)

- DIVISION

- OFFSET HOME NEWS TRIBUNE

HOME & GARDEN

January 17, 2008

CONTAINER GARDEN

PLANNING

***

SEED CATALOGUES

GARDEN RECORDS

GARDEN DIAGRAM

RCE - FS129

SEED TESTING

EGG BOX

PAPER TOWEL

PERMANENT MARKER

SPRAY BOTTLE

WINDOW GREENHOUSE

HEATING PAD

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LETTUCE & ONION SETS

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BASIL & ROSEMARY CUTTINGS

PROPAGATION

CUTTINGS = EASY

***

BASIL & ROSEMARY

PROPAGATION: CUTTINGS = DIFFICULT

BAY

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BAY

CONTAINER GREENHOUSE

Container (24”x10”x10”)…Screen Base…Plastic Leaf Bag

HARVEST & STORAGE

FRESH

DRYING

FREEZING

TOMATO (RAINBOW) & BASIL

FRESH SALAD

TOMATO, LETTUCE, PEPPER,

BEET GREENS

SHALLOTS

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PARSLEY

CONTAINER GARDENING

MOVING INDOORS:

1. PRUNE AND SHAPE PLANTS

2. SEARCH FOR INSECT PESTS

3. ADD CONTAINER MIX AND/OR REPOT PLANTS

4. PREPARE FOR TRANSITION

5. INITIATE DORMANT CARE

6. SEEK APPROPRIATE SITE FOR PLANT

KEEPING RECORDS

• BOUND JOURNAL

• LOOSE LEAF JOURNAL

• FILE FOLDERS

• COMPUTER JOURNAL

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KEEPING RECORDS

ANNUAL

INDIVIDUAL PLANTS

CUTTINGS

PLANT ROTATION

RECORDS: ANNUAL RECORDS: INDIVIDUAL PLANTS

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RECORDS:

PLANT ROTATION

CONTAINER GARDENING

• TRY NEW PLANTS

• TRY NEW IDEAS

• TRY NEW LOCATIONS

• BE INOVATIVE

• EXPERIMENT!!!

2005

EXPERIMENT

***

UPSIDE-DOWN

TOMATO

PATIO

DETERMINATE

2006 EXPERIMENT - BEETS

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2006 EXPERIMENT

LIMA BEANS

2007

EXPERIMENT

********

OLIVE TREE

∞

GETHSEMANE: Garden of Olives

EXPERIMENT

2008

• Bay Tree Cuttings:

Heel vs. Terminal

• Container Greenhouse

2009

• Bay Tree Cuttings

• Lemon Tree Cuttings

• Olive Tree Cuttings

• Pomegranate Tree

Cuttings

• Rosemary Cuttings

EXPERIMENT

2010

• Grape, Concord seedless

• Date Palm, dwarf

• Blueberry (3 varieties)

• Citron

• Cuttings & Storage of plants in garage

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EXPERIMENT

2011

• Potatoes

• Aquatic Garden

(Plants & Fish)

• Biblical Theme

(Spiritual)

TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS

1. Pick a good site.

2. Start with good soil and keep

improving it.

3. Plan carefully.

4. Start small.

5. Grow only what you like to eat.

6. Select crop varieties with care.

TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS

7. Water only when necessary, then

water deeply and early in the day.

8. Visit your garden every day.

9. Make sure you’ve correctly identified

the cause of a problem before

applying a “treatment”.

10. Maintain good garden sanitation.

UNHCE

Life is Beautiful!

finis