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Ms. Cheap: Gardening experts say these plants are ‘most likely to succeed’




Melissa McKay shows off the lantana plants in the Bates Nursery greenhouse in Whites Creek.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

Melissa McKay shows off the lantana plants in the Bates Nursery greenhouse in Whites Creek.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

When I was first out on my own, I wanted to do something very “adult,” like put some pretty plants in pots on my porch.

I randomly selected an assortment of annuals based on the colorful pictures on the tags on the plants.

They were beautiful for a few days, but before long the plants had either shriveled from too much sun or failed to flower because of too much shade. Or maybe it was the lack of water, or perhaps too much water. The dead plants looked so sad, and I thought, “What a waste of my money and energy!”

Not really adultish!

I learned my lesson from my naive buying mistake and now I rely on gardening experts to guide me to the proven winners for the pots on my porch and in my backyard — not the Proven Winner brand of garden stock, but the plants the garden experts deem to be most likely to succeed.

Melissa McKay, at the three-generation locally owned Bates Nursery in Whites Creek, made me feel better about my early gardening missteps and encouraged sticking with it.

Marigolds are a good bet for sunny areas.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

Marigolds are a good bet for sunny areas.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

“Accept that there will be failures. Even those of us who’ve been gardening for 20 years occasionally lose plants,” she said.

“That said, selecting plants that are easier to grow than others will give you a better chance at success. If you keep those plants alive this year, go with what you know next year. But don’t be afraid to throw something new in the mix and have some fun.”

She said the Bates staff often helps shoppers select plants that will do well together and are appropriate for certain areas of their yards.

“We get people in every week saying they have a pot and they don’t know what to put in it,” she said, adding that she and other garden center experts are happy to help.

She also advised: “Do your research, but you should know that books, videos and the internet are just a start. It will take time to figure out all the advantages and limitations of your space — how much/little sunlight, how often you are able to water, etc.,” she said.

Bates Nursery’s Melissa McKay says begonias are a good choice for pots in shady areas.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

Bates Nursery’s Melissa McKay says begonias are a good choice for pots in shady areas.Mary Hance / Main Street Nashville/Main Street Maury

“You may not get it right the first time, but don’t claim a ‘black thumb’ if your first season isn’t as successful as you hoped,” she said, adding that you should “give yourself some grace. The journey to becoming a successful gardener involves a whole lot of trial and error.”

McKay’s list of “bound for success plants” includes spike, impatiens, begonias and coleus for shade and lantanas, sweet potato vines and marigolds for sunny spots.

UT Extension Agent Michael Barry said a great way for new gardeners (especially those on a budget) to get started is by growing annual flowering plants from seed.

“Plants grown from seed are much cheaper, as you can purchase a packet of seed for just a couple of dollars, and you can enjoy the experience of watching them grow from germination to full-size blooming plants over the summer,” said Barry, who said some easy-to-grow-from-seed plants include zinnias and marigolds.

“This is a great way for kids to enjoy the plants as well, if they are involved in the seeding and then watch them grow,” he said.

Barry said for flowering plants that like full sun, there are plenty of choices. “At my house over the last few years, the Gerber daisy has been a successful summer plant with large blooms and good color,” said Barry, who also recommended vegetable plants for newbie patio and balcony gardens.

“Many vegetables can be grown in an average pot with small space requirements. Of course, tomatoes are probably the most popular for this. Be creative! There is a long list of tomato plants available that include heirloom varieties, and not just red fruited tomatoes, there are other colors as well.

“Other vegetables that are fun to grow are peppers. In addition to bell pepper, there are several chili peppers that offer some beautiful colors when the fruits have matured. The bonus with growing vegetables is the edible bounty that a person can produce. Herbs are also great for the balcony gardener. Grow herbs that you enjoy eating or cooking. Basil, cilantro, dill are just a few of the countless herbs that are fun to grow.”

For shady areas in Middle Tennessee, Barry suggested colorful annuals like begonia, coleus and caladium.

Barry advised new gardeners to think about the overall size of the mature plant, the sun/shade requirement and the color of the blooms.

He said other factors to consider with all plants are to plant in a well-rained soil; keep plants watered but don’t overwater; and shop for plants at reputable garden centers. He also noted that the plant packages or tags should provide some material about the plant and its care.

I was happy to read in the Wall Street Journal this month that a National Gardening Association survey showed ”upward of 18 million novice gardeners have picked up a shovel since 2020.” The article said, “Research shows that in times of stress, exposure to plants yields benefits for both mental and physical health.”

Good to know!

Mary Hance, who has four decades of journalism experience in the Nashville area, writes a weekly Ms. Cheap column. She also appears on Thursdays on “Talk of the Town” on NewsChannel 5. Reach her at mscheap@mainstreetmediatn.com and follow her on Facebook at Facebook.com/mscheap.

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