Learn about Eco-Container Gardening
By Daniel Moise
Photos by Pete Prown

Last week, we stopped by Mostardi’s Nursery in Newtown Square, PA, to see what was going on in the world of containers. There, owner Steve Mostardi opened our eyes to three innovations in container planting, all of which will make gardeners better stewards of the earth.

EarthBox Garden Kit
The EarthBox Garden Kit is a
quick way to make a vegetable garden without worrying about digging a new bed. Basically, the EarthBox is a plastic trough that has a self-watering reservoir at the bottom, making it easier for non-green-thumbs to care for.
The unit is large enough to hold three gallons of water and you can even cover the top in black plastic to control weeds.

Accessories include a trellis
system to support climbing plants or veggies that need staking (like beans, peas, or tomatoes), and a set of wheels so you can roll the EarthBox into various spots on your patio to catch the light at certain times of the day.

Steve Mostardi--also a member of PHS Council and other volunteer committees--says he raised tomatoes and peppers for display in the shop last year and they did very well. How many plants can you fit in an EarthBox, we asked? “That depends on the size of the plants,” he adds, “But with herbs you could fit a dozen or so in here comfortably.”

“Really, the Earthbox is about the fastest, easiest way to start a garden,” Steve says. “Just purchase seeds and soil, and you’re good to go."

Biodegradable Flower Pots
Tired of gardening in plastic pots that will someday end
up in a landfill? As a solution, Steve showed us a line
of colorful pots made by Rosso’s International. These eco-friendly containers are made of bamboo husks and other natural fibers, and
come in a variety of bold, attractive colors.

“The planters last for several years, but are in fact biodegradable. When you’re done with them, you can throw them on the compost pile and they will break down completely,” he notes.

Coco Moss Fiber
Coco moss fiber, according to
Steve (pictured at right), is more
of an initial investment than the biodegradable pots, but certainly a worthwhile purchase when you think long-term. You can buy containers lined with pre-cut coco moss, such as wall troughs, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Mostardi’s also sells the moss “by the foot” for planters that need to contain soil while still being porous.

Other Trends
“People are looking for containers
that just look more earth-friendly, even if they’re not,” Steve says. “We sell one line of ceramic pots that are painted with a green, mossy finish that customers seem to like, while another has moss bits actually glued on (pictured at right). They also seem to like ones that appear as though they’re made from fibrous materials, even though they’re plastic.”

“I think the good news,” Steve adds, “is that today's gardeners are more aware of the environment and are trying to find products that are greener and more beneficial to the garden. And that's good for everyone. ”

You can visit Mostardi's Nursery at:
4033 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073
610-356-8035
www.mostardi.com