Evening star., 1942-05-03

04e<fs
ture may be prepared. Mix thor
oughly and sift. Put the coarse
material in the bottom of the box
after covering the drainage holes
with broken flower pots or gravel.
When the box is one-half filled with
the soil mixture add either dried
cow manure or commercial fertilizer
"a half pound of COW manure or
one quarter pound of the commercial
fertilizer to a 4-foot window box
Mix thoroughly with the soil and
then fill with the sifted soil mixture.
Most window box gardeners pro-
cure their plant material from the
florist, many buying potted plants
ready to bloom. However, there
are some who prefer to SOW the
seed and grow their own. The dis
advantage of growing plants for
window boxes is that the growing
of the few plants necessary is quite
a chore II they are started early
enough to provide a long season of
bloom.
The list of plants suitable for the
window box is long, but for any one
situation we must have variety to
choose from if we are to have the
variation in height, color and habit
of growth.
For the sunny window (east, south
and wesD consider the following
Petunias, dwarf marigolds, dwarf
zinnias, dwarf nasturtiums, china
asters, ageratum, verbena, Dusty
Miller (Centaurea cineraria), poly
antha roses, dwarf roses (Rouletti
and hybrids), nasturtiums. vince
minor, sweet alyssum, heliotrope
lobelia, lantana and geraniums. Fol
trailing vines there are the wander
ing Jew, English ivy, Kenilworth ivy
climbing nasturtiums and the clock
vine (Thunbergia alata. (Note
Use little or no fertilizer in boxes
containing geraniums and nasturti-
ums if you would have flowers
Other plants to be used are thu
dracaena, pandanus, date palm
cactus, Succulents and summer
Towering bulbs.
A southern exposure in full sur
may not be suitable for all of these
although most of them will grow i
given proper planting and care. 4
western exposure is the most diff
cult of all and only such depend
ables as portulaca, dwarf marigold
and dwarf Zinnias should be at.
tempted until experience has provel
others to be suitable An eastern
window is the best of all, assumin,
that it has full sun until midday.
For the northern exposure ther
are a number of shade-loving plant
that are worth growing Pansie
+. perennial and annuaD will grow
; in heavy shade or full sun. but dt
not last well The tubeNus roOtet
, begonia, If protected from wind, i
excellent. Fuchsia. dwarf plantail
lilies. primroses and vinca minor TO
} flowers; English ivy, Kenilworth ivy
t ferns, sansevieria ana pandanuS TO
r foliage do best in shade
For winter effects small ever
green's (small-sized) are widely use,
and with care are successful. II
general, they require a sander sol
and considerable moisture through
out the winter. Ordinarily they las
for only one winter, although the.
may be planted in the garden afte
D year in a window box. Plan
t them early so that they may becom
|. we'll established before cold weather
7. Early spring Towering bulbs ar
j frequently planted in the boxes wit
r evergreens-daffodils, crocus, hya
n cinths, tulips, etc.-and make a col
= orful early spring showing.
S In closing, one word of caution
g Make certain that the brackets hold
d ing window boxes are strong an
secure.