Niagara Falls of Window Boxes
Man, we wish we could get our window boxes to look half as good as the ones at 28 Cambridge Place. We really dig the way the plants and flowers cascade over the edge, almost reaching the ground. Any insider secrets?
Man, we wish we could get our window boxes to look half as good as the ones at 28 Cambridge Place. We really dig the way the plants and flowers cascade over the edge, almost reaching the ground. Any insider secrets?
I planted sweet potato vines over a month ago in hanging containers and they are not growing. I live on a busy street with lots of sun. Do you think pollution is the problem? Is it normal for this plant to take awhile to start growing?
The Greenbridge program at Brooklyn Botanic Garden has wonderful community horticulture programs to answer questions such as these. In anticipation of the annual “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” contest, each spring Greenbridge has a class on window box and container gardening, in addition to classes on greening up your street or your storefront. Go to http://www.bbg.org for more info. You can also call BBG’s Gardening Help Line, 10:30 am-12:30 pm and 2:00-4:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday – they are a great resource for all your gardening questions.
South Slope–
My geraniums stopped flowering in July during the intense heat, but now they’re flowering again–the more temperate weather makes a huge difference.
You can maybe get away with less frequent watering if you use Soil Moist, except during heat waves–then every day is key. As for plants, check out a catalogue called High Country Gardens–they specialize in plants for the American Southwest. They have annuals and perennials that are very heat-tolerant and/or can get by on less water. Plant your boxes early in the season so they’ll be nice and full by mid-summer.
You don’t even need to buy the Sweet Potato vines. If you have some that sprout in the refrigerator, or on a counter, you can just plant them. They are remarkably easy to grow.
I think the flowers are lovely. My only gripe with side-by-side window boxes is when they are not a mirror image of one another. Symmetry is key for a well thought out look.
i love those triple hung windows!! you must get so much light!!
and the little “stone” balusters>>> very French.
now on to the plants:
you might also try geraniums and ivy [bird’s foot ivy etc ] which are kind a classic combo
but like people say, you need to give it lots of water
by the way, they also have “trailing geraniums”
south slope,
With small containers, like window boxes, in full sun, you pretty much HAVE to water every day. It’s a PITA, but, short of putting out plastic flowers, there’s not much choice.
You could put much larger containers, like half whiskey barrels, in your area way and water every few days.
Hey,
My neighbor told me that pictures of my window boxes were on this website. I know nothing about flowers or plants. I usually kill everything I plant, indoors and outdoors. I randomly selected these plants this year because I liked them. I was lucky because my windows face east and I chose the right plants. Go figure!
Your advice about next year is much appreciated. I will definitely try a silver fuzzy leaved licorice plant, purple leaved sweet potato vine, wave petunias and a vibrant shizo. Look for them.
Thanks for the interest.
ooh I have container gardening questions. We have a west-facing balcony with nothing above us, so it gets relentless sun from 1:00 on. I had geraniums and sweet potato vines, but the geraniums, while healthy, stopped blooming by July. What will thrive and flower all summer in that much sun? I can only water every few days, I can’t deal with daily watering.
Thanks!