The Perfect Spring Plants for Your Garden Window

Spring is almost here which means it’s the perfect time to start choosing plants for your garden window. A window garden is a great way to add some color and fresh air to your home while taking advantage of the warm spring sunshine.

There are lots of different spring plants that you can grow in your garden window. Just remember to choose pet safe plants if you have pets that could possibly get into the garden window and get into the plants. Some of the most popular spring plants for a garden window are:

Succulents

Succulents are one of the easiest types of plants to grow, even if you think that you can’t grow plants, you can grow succulents. Succulents are tiny plants and they’re a great filler when placed around other plants. They also look great when you plant several different varieties together in a group.

Echeveria, which is one of the most popular types of succulents, is pet-friendly. Succulents only need to be watered every 3-6 weeks usually and they can thrive in medium to full sunlight so if you’re starting a garden in a window that doesn’t get full sun these hardy little plants will be just fine. Succulents are fantastic for first-time growers because they’re practically impossible to kill.

Fruits and Vegetables

You don’t need a full backyard garden to grow some of your own fruits and vegetables at home. A simple garden window can be the perfect place to grow just a few of the fruits and vegetables that you use often in small quantities.

If you want to try growing fruits or vegetables in a garden window box, the best ones to try are strawberries, leaf lettuces which are fantastic for quick salads, radishes, spinach or tomatoes. The only thing to keep in mind is that tomatoes will need more upkeep than the others.

If you love fresh salads, start your garden window with a few different varieties of leaf lettuces. There are plenty to choose from. They’re low maintenance and can grow well in mid to full sunlight. There’s nothing like grabbing some fresh lettuce right from your own kitchen to whip up a light spring salad for a meal or an appetizer.

Once you’re comfortable with the leaf lettuce you can move on to other fruits and vegetables. If you love strawberries you can always start some strawberry plants in a garden window box and then transplant them outside if you want to grow them in larger quantities.

Herbs

Fresh herbs can make any meal taste like a gourmet meal. Fresh herbs will give your kitchen a wonderful earthy smell and they can also be dried and stored for use during the winter.

The best herbs to grow in a window box or in a garden window in your kitchen or breakfast area are parsley, sage, oregano, thyme, chives, and basil. A baked potato topped with fresh chives or a homemade tomato sauce with fresh basil will taste even more delicious when you get the herbs right from your own garden box.

Flowers

Planting flowers in a window garden box are the perfect way to brighten up the outside of your home and give your home a little extra spring curb appeal. You don’t need to have a green thumb to grow beautiful colorful flowers that will shine in the spring sun either.

With the right tools and a little care and attention, you can grow stunning flowers that will bring joy to everyone that sees them. If you’re not an experienced gardener the best flowers to use when you are starting your window garden are:

• Ivy
• Ferns
• Pansies
• Verbena
• Lobelia
• Tulips
• Heliotrope
• Begonias
• Petunias
• Sweet Potato Vine
• Coleus
• Creeping Jenny
• Dusty Miller
• Impatiens
• Snapdragon
• Ornamental Grasses

By combining ivy and ornamental grasses with some bright colored flowers, you can create a very lush and beautiful landscape in your garden window box.

Garden Window Box Basics

Measure Your Window First

You can build your own window box or buy a decorative window box at any home improvement store but you need to know the size of the window first so that you will be able to get a box that won’t be so large it overlaps the window or so small that it doesn’t fill up the entire window space. Double check your measurement to be sure that the size is right before you buy or make a box to use for your garden.

Line the Window Box

One of the best things about a window garden is that you can change out the plants seasonally so that your home always has a bright and seasonal look. Making sure that the plants that are planted in the garden box are seasonal also means that you won’t have to worry about the plants dying because the temperature is too warm or too cold for them.

The secret trick for making it very easy to change out the plants in your window box is to line the box before you plant the flowering plants. That way when you want to change the plants you can just lift the liner out. This also makes it easier to transplant the plants into the ground or into pots so that they can grow all winter long.

Use Wooden Boxes for the Best Results

Metal or plastic window boxes aren’t as good for the plants as wooden boxes are. You can make wooden window boxes from old pallets or fruit boxes or you can buy them.

Before you plant in the wooden box paint it with heat and water resistant paint to protect the plants that are in it and make sure that you have added drainage to the box if it doesn’t come with pre-drilled drainage holes.

Protect Plants from the Heat of the Sun

The spring sun can get quite warm, so you should insulate the plants so that they don’t absorb too much heat which can kill the root. Line the inside of the box with thick corrugated cardboard and then put your liner inside the box and plant the plants. Place some peat moss around the cardboard.

The moss and the cardboard will absorb all the excess heat that builds up inside the box so that the heat won’t kill the plants inside. If you’re using a plastic liner, drill a couple of holes in it to let some of the heat out and make sure that there’s air circulating around the roots of the plants.

Protect Plants from a Cold Snap

In the spring, the soaring temps can sometimes plummet back down to wintry temperatures during the night. If a cold snap is predicted make sure that you insulate your plants by covering them with a layer of bubble wrap and then tarp overnight. That will ensure that the plants don’t die from the cold temperatures if winter does try to make one last stand before giving way to spring.

Garden Windows at Feldco

A garden window is a great way to add some natural light in your home and start a window garden. The options are endless for what you can grow and Feldco can help you get started.

Start your garden window project today and get a free quote now.