Courtyards at Southpoint
Garden Club
Container Gardens Make Use of Courtyards’ Limited Space, Master Gardener Says
Container gardening is ideal for raising plants in small spaces — such as Courtyards at Southpoint properties, Master Gardener Valarie Jarvis told participants in a seminar sponsored by the Garden Club last month.
Container gardening involves growing plants in boxes, pots or tubs rather than directly in the ground. Numerous Courtyards at Southpoint homeowners grow plants in containers.
Folks in our neighborhood can create their own “small garden oasis,” Valarie said. In addition to achieving master gardener status, she is a registered nurse, herbalist and co-founder of Jireh Family Farm in Durham.
For maximum growth, plants should receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight, she noted. This is true especially for herbs, whose flavor depends upon access to sunlight.
Master Gardener Valarie Jarvis presents advice on container gardening.
​Soil quality is important for plant vitality and flavor, Valarie added, suggesting gardeners test the pH of their soil. “Most veggies favor slightly acidic soil, while herbs thrive in slightly alkaline conditions,” she explained.
Focusing on soil quality, she also recommended gardeners “regularly amend soil with compost or aged manure to enhance fertility, structure and beneficial microorganisms.”
“Our soil is clay, which holds a lot of water, making plants susceptible to root rot,” she said. “It is crucial the soil is amended.”
Courtyards at Southpoint gardeners can supplement their use of containers by adding trellises for vines and running plants, Valarie noted.
Also, as long as raised beds are open to the earth, garden soil rather than potting soil can be used to fill the beds, she said.
Valarie invited gardening questions. You can reach her by email here or at 919-560-0528.