This is part five of a ten part series on apartment gardening and summer project management. This article series is “Plant Carts for Aspiring Vegetable Gardeners” which was inspired by a conversation with my local apartment gardening store clerk who likes to give gardening a try when the weather gets to be a little cold. This particular summer project involved planting two small flowerbeds in two containers on the apartment balcony. The yield from the balcony was less than I had hoped but that’s okay because I am starting a garden anyway.

Plant containers for balconies are a simple and inexpensive way to provide moisture and shelter for plants during those summer months where the weather can be a bit unpredictable. This simple arrangement is rated a five on the scale of difficulty in planting a small garden and is easy enough for anyone to make a go of it with minimal specialized training. The two containers I planted were rated a four and five on the scale of difficulty. Each contained about one square foot of plant bed space and about five fourth inch tall plant roots. I planted the California poppy (Symriseae impatiens) in a large box and a California lavender (Symplocos carterii) in a medium sized potting soil container.

The plantings received good reviews in the local gardening paper and on line at the plant nursery. The California poppy received the highest rating for both height and soil fertility. The California lavender received a rating of four out of five for height and a three for soil fertility. The California poppy performed well in both areas and out of all the plants I tested the California poppy performed the best in both arenas. The California lavender did not do so well in the heat or dry conditions of the test lab but it did out perform the other two.

This plant was rated a seven in the local gardening newspaper and was reviewed in the gardening blog at the plant nursery. This plant is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It received good reviews in the gardening blog and was rated a five out of seven for foliage color and beauty. This plant grows well in full sun to partial shade in south facing areas. It is a member of the morning lace family (Ricinus communis).

This plant was rated an eight out of ten for foliage and a three out of five for beauty. This plant is known as a water-bearing plant. It is a member of the Composidaceae family (Ricinus communis). The flowers of this plant have a yellow/cream color.

This plant was rated a six out of ten for foliage color and a five out of ten for water and plant life control. This plant was one of the best light sources recommended for balconies in the plant catalogue. It received a five out of ten for plant life control and a four out of ten for water and foliage color.

This plant received a five out of ten for container size and a three out of ten for container size only. This plant was one of the best rated and reviewed plants for the purpose of using on decks, patios, walkways, and as a container for hanging flowers and foliage. The holder reviewed and rated in the plant catalogue this plant for best natural sunlight.

This plant received an eight out of ten for foliage and a five out of ten for plant life and water management. This plant was also one of the best reviewed and rated plants for deck and patio use in the plant catalogue. The holder reviewed and rated in the plant catalog this plant for best natural sunlight. This plant has proven to be a great choice for many gardeners and landscape contractors.