GROW YOUR OWN

Don Koehler picked some fresh rosemary which he uses to season pork, chicken and vegetables.

Paul Schnare, owner of Sunny Hill Gardens & Florist, displayed a lime tree. Many choose the small citrus trees for decoration, but the fruit is edible.

Some people grow their own pepper plants in containers. Tobasco peppers can be used to flavor vinegar and spice up other foods.

A sunny window or shelves equipped with proper lighting can be sites for growing fresh food all year.

In today's busy society, many are reluctant to plow up a portion of their yard and plant a garden for fear of not having time to tend it.

Others, living in smaller, more urban environments, may have the inclination but not the space.

Still others may not have the physical ability to tend an outdoor garden.

Cultivating a potted crop may be the answer.

Welcome to the world of container gardening.

The increasingly popular type of gardening offers many advantages and can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose.

Potted plants can be less work when placed at a height that minimizes bending for watering and tending.

They can provide a garden plot in urban apartments or homes with no space for a traditional garden.

One of the special advantages of container growing is that you can extend the harvest season by moving pots indoors when the weather grows cold.

Paul Schnare, owner of Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist, suggests bush tomatoes -- plants with thick stems which grow better in pots -- for container gardening.

Schnare, who teaches greenhouse management and woody plant identification at Southeast State Missouri University, also writes a regular gardening column for the Southeast Missourian.

In addition to tomatoes, small-fruited peppers, several types of lettuce and radishes are among the more popular container plants.

"But it takes a lot of lettuce to make a salad," Schnare said, so those who are limited in space may want to pass.

On the other hand, herbs need as little space as a windowsill.

For this reason, as well as for their versatility, herbs probably rank at the top as the most popular choice for indoor and outdoor container gardening.

In fact, one Cape Girardeau couple claim herbs are the most useful plants a person can grow.

Since late 1995 Carol and Don Koehler have operated Sylvia Harlow's tea room in the lower level of the former Campster School on Bloomfield Road.

The two certified master gardeners have been growing herbs more than 10 years.

Also, as part of the Missouri Extension Master Gardening Program, they conduct lectures about the art of growing and using herbs.

Much of the couple's own crop can be found on a small deck overlooking their backyard, including several varieties of basil, garlic chives, thyme, cardamom, Aztec gold and lemon verbena.

The rosemary plant flourishing on their fragrant patio was a gift from a friend.

Don Koehler said he often uses the rosemary sprigs when roasting potatoes or cooking chicken or pork.

Carol Koehler said when she lectures she urges would-be gardeners to grow herbs.

"So many people today don't have the time today to take care of a garden. When I give talks, I encourage people to plant herbs. They take very little space, very little time and very little work," she said.

"You can practically grow a whole herb garden in a strawberry jar," she said.

Tips for the beginner:

For outdoor containers, Schnare suggests heavy clay pots that won't be blown over by stiff winds.

Also, if you decide to garden on a balcony or porch, rolling pots will make things easier as you "chase the sunlight" and rotate your plants.

Ask an expert about the right soil for your project. In general, Schnare suggests a potting mix.

Water often.

For indoor gardening, grow lights are almost essential, Schnare said.

Indoor light, particularly in winter months is often too low to support the growth of vegetables and herbs, so it's often necessary to supplement natural light with artificial.

The light coming through a window may seem bright to human eyes, but its intensity in winter is often less than one-tenth of outdoor lighting during a summer day.

Use caution in choosing a grow light.

"All grow lights are not the same," Schnare cautioned.

Grow lights will only work if their light intensity is high enough and the spectral quality is right, said Schnare.

Another thing to keep in mind is to move outdoor plants indoors gradually.

A plant that is adapted to abundant light often turns brown and drops leaves indoors because it can't produce enough food to maintain itself.

When preparing to bring plants indoors, gradually adjust the plant to lower light. Place it in partial shade for two to three weeks, then in deeper shade for another two to three weeks before bringing the plant indoors.

When plenty of new growth appears, the plant is ready to go into the house.