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Test Products from Gardener's Supply

© Diana Pederson

I received this trial product from Gardener's Supply. This first picture shows the planter at the start of the summer. Some of the plants were roughed up from shipping. Several plants were "test plants" from Oglevee and others were simply plants bought at local greenhouses. Plant varieties: Begonias, Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, water loving sedge species.

Specifications: This planter is 26 inches long by 29-¾ inches wide and 10-½ inches deep. It holds 40 quarts of soil. I used MiracleGro potting soil. The planter's reservoir holds 4 gallons of water. This planter is available in stone (gray), terra cotta, or green.

Problem. This product also had a tomato cage available. I could find no way to keep the tomato cage in this planter. It repeatedly fell out with every windstorm. Therefore, I gave up the idea of using the tomato planter and choose test plants that didn't need a trellis support. The tomato cage is currently surrounding some newly planted clematis. I'll see how it stands up in the garden as these vines grow.

Recommendation

The double wax begonias, impatiens, and New Guinea Impatiens were larger grown in this self-watering patio planter than those grown in a traditional planter. These plants also tolerated more sun (southeastern exposure) than the same plants in the other planter. I strongly recommend this product to my readers. It provided a convenient way of test growing some plants and proved its value when I "forgot" to water daily. Gardener's Supply has produced an entire line of self watering containers for various locations. I believe you will find the one that suits your needs.

Olde Stone Planters.

These planters are available in two shapes and sizes. The first is rectangular measuring 12" by 14" and weighs 3 pounds. The second one is round with an 18" diameter and weighs 5 pounds.

The plants appear to have successfully over-wintered in this faux trough garden. It was planted with an unidentified shrub (thanks to a lost label!), two Dianthus species and a Saxifrage species.

The planter's outside is rough like a hand carved stone planter would be. It was actually dusted with powdered rock to help it appear to be real stone. The inside surfaces are smooth and it has a centrally located drainage hole. The planter walls are approximately 1.5 inches thick. The supplier says it is completely weather resistant and indestructible. This planter looks so much like a stone planter that I am just waiting to see if moss will decide to start growing on its surface.

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