This afternoon I planted our front window box.
When it comes to long-lasting flowers for your fall containers and window boxes, the pickings are pretty darn slim. There’s cabbage, chrysanthemums, pansies, and violas, that’s about it.
If there is one fall plant I absolutely cannot stand it’s those ugly, small, tight chrysanthemums they sell in all the stores for like a buck fifty. The really big ones are okay, but the small ones? No thanks. They rank right up there with carnations if you ask me.
Dark hued winter pansies are a much better choice if you ask me.
Need something really tall for the center of your container? How about Rainbow Swiss Chard? Apparently the winter weather won’t kill the stuff {at least that’s what I’m banking on anyway}.
And really, how could you possibly go wrong with ornamental cabbage? It’s winter hardy, plus you can pluck it’s leaves and add it to soup if you’re desperate.
So there you go. My edible window box garden
~ Mavis
Do YOU plant anything in your containers for fall?
Are you a chrysanthemum lover or a hater?
Need some more inspiration for your window boxes? Window Boxes: Indoors & Out
Elizabeth F says
Nice window boxes…but…I like the little mums. They do well here and withstand the cold and I get as many different fall colors as I can. Not too far north of us they were already talking frost on the news tonight.
My husband is bringing in trays and trays of tomatoes , ripe and partial ripe that will continue to ripen on the dining room table. I have always thought it a good thing we have no birthdays past Sept 3 up until Thanksgiving as can’t really use the dining room during that time.
I have a Homemaker’s meeting here Monday night but none of the ladies will care as there kitchens are canning-crazy this time of year too.
Lisa says
I change out my window boxes twice a year (Spring and Fall). I’ve never repeated a look. Last year for Fall I did a thick line of Copperfield Pansies (hues of mauve, burgundy, pink) and a solid line of wire vine. It was stunning. Especially when they all started to grow in the Spring. They bloomed all Winter long.
I did containers with Swiss Chard, purple heuchera, black mondo grass, and red mums (I was having a photographer coming to take photos for a book). I needed some instant color. I later transplanted the heuchera and mondo grass into the garden.
This time of year I like to use evergreen perennials and violas and pansies in container designs. A good collection of mum alternatives are various colors of heuchera (chartreuse, black, pink, carmel), Japanese Sweet Flag, purple Ajuga, Corkscrew Rush, sedums, hens and chicks, needle point ivy, sage (purple and green), rosemary, thyme.
Autumn is my favorite time of year to design containers. The possibilities are endless.
Elizabeth F says
I just saw first time ever “winter pansies” in the garden center flyer. Said plant now and enjoy color and then enjoy again in summer. Never heard of such a thing. They must be winter hardy for here. I have never had any plant survive the winter though here left unprotected in a planter.
Chelsea says
I totally hate pansies but love those small chrysanthemums. I just planted one in my backyard and I need to get more! My hate for pansies comes from visiting my grandpa in La Quinta, CA every year (its near Palm Springs). They plant pansies EVERYWHERE on the golf courses there and it looks so UNNATURAL… all that green grass and a million pansies smack in the middle of the desert.
Elizabeth F says
I know, I know! And then using so much water to irrigate it and keep it green when it shouldn’t be in the first place.
Teresa says
I love the mums!!!