What is a potting house?

Your garden will blossom, thanks to a special space One definition of a potting shed is "a small outbuilding used for potting plants and for storing garden tools and supplies." Your potting shed, however, does not have to be a separate building, nor are its uses limited to potting plants and to storage.

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Pamela T. Hubbard, Penn State Master Gardener, Monroe County

One definition of a potting shed is "a small outbuilding used for potting plants and for storing garden tools and supplies." Your potting shed, however, does not have to be a separate building, nor are its uses limited to potting plants and to storage. You just need a functional, sheltered area where you can work comfortably. Rather than "potting shed," a more accurate term is "potting place." Here you may sort seeds, tend seedlings, pot up houseplants, write in your garden journal, read and strategize. First, let’s look at the history of today’s potting shed, then at the various types, and finally how to set up your potting place.

A brief history of the potting shed

In the 1600s, an illustration in a German book by W.H. von Hohberg on farming and gardening showed a simple structure with a worktable and garden tools. The term "potting shed" came into use in the 1800s when the grand houses of England had resident gardeners. There was always a greenhouse and a separate potting shed; the gardener began seedlings in the potting shed and matured them in the greenhouse. He produced sufficient vegetables to feed the whole household and enough flowers to decorate the magnificent rooms of the house. The use of sheds spread throughout 20th-century England as gardeners realized the benefits of having a sheltered place to store tools and perform garden tasks. In America, an article in the October 1912 issue of The Garden Magazine described the uses of an attractive tool shed. The potting shed tradition had not yet caught on here; it didn’t take hold until more recently. As today’s environmentally-conscious gardeners reduce the size of lawns to grow more flowers and vegetables, the potting shed has come of age.

Types of potting places

Decide what type of potting place will work for you. Some potting sheds are custom made to match the house, but while you may not be able to afford this, you have many other options: • You may wish to utilize an existing building on your property, such as an old barn or outhouse. • There are many prefabricated sheds you can purchase. They may be assembled in a few hours or arrive on a large truck ready-built. My own potting shed is a prefabricated shed/greenhouse hybrid that I found in a big-box store. An added built-on cold frame extends the gardening season. • If you own a greenhouse, you could repurpose part of it by installing a potting bench and shelving.

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• Another potting place may be a partially sheltered structure with laths or trellis for a roof. One gardener uses her lath house as a staging area for hardening off seedlings, for storing divided plants, as well as for keeping tools. • Some gardeners use a corner of the garage, basement or mudroom. A warm basement is an excellent place to start seedlings under grow lights. • If you prefer to work outdoors, you could set up your potting place under a protective eave or on a patio.

Designing and setting up the space

It’s a good idea to locate your potting place in an area where there is some shade. If possible, integrate it into the overall design of the garden. I made mine the focal point of the kitchen garden. If you are adding a structure, you will need to obtain any required permits, level the site and add crushed stone for a firm base. The fun begins when you set up the work space and personalize it.

Here are six essentials:

1. Windows

A window is a plus if your potting shed is enclosed. Preferably, it will have a view of the garden. A window that opens may provide a refreshing breeze when needed.

2. Lighting

Good lighting is a necessity for when you handle tiny seeds and seedlings. An inexpensive florescent light becomes crucial on cloudy days or when you want to work in the evening. You may wish to invest in some grow lights for seed starting. Hang simple shop lights fitted with grow bulbs over the potting bench for this purpose.

3. Potting bench

The addition of a potting bench differentiates the space from a storage room. It should be of the right height for you to stand and work, or such that it will accommodate a chair or stool. A bench that is a yard deep, and as wide as space allows, is ideal. I sometimes wish mine had raised sides to stop potting soil falling onto the floor.

4. Storage bins, shelves and hooks

Utilize bins, buckets and baskets to store potting soil, perlite, vermiculite and sand. Ideally, label the bins and stow them under the potting bench or place them on the floor in easy reach. Deep, strong shelves hold plant pots, sprayers, fertilizer, kneeling pads, and more. Narrow shelves hold your garden books and journals. I made shelving out of wooden crates that I stood on end and placed side by side. Use baskets for smaller items like string, garden staples, seed packets, scissors, pens and plant labels. Bamboo plant stakes fit perfectly in a clay chimney, in a drainage pipe, or in an old milk churn. Add a row of hooks or nails on which to hang large tools, such as shovels, rakes and hoes. Store hand tools, for example snips, trowels, and pruners, in a clay pot or similar container on your potting bench.

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5. Water

A water source is necessary for watering plants, for premoistening potting soil, and for washing your hands. You do not need to install expensive plumbing, however, as a few watering cans at the ready will fulfill the need. Locating a rain barrel as close as possible to your potting place will keep you supplied with water. You can purchase a water station that receives water through a hose that is attached to an outside spigot.

6. Accessories

Adding accessories will personalize your potting place. Some gardeners like a quiet environment, while others prefer a radio for background music. A small heater brings comfort in early spring and late fall, as well as being necessary to preserve seedlings on nights when a frost is forecast. The vintage rocking chair in my shed is a favorite spot for reading and for writing in my garden journal. Personalizing your potting place with a few home comforts will make it a welcome retreat. Whatever type of potting place you produce, it will be the heart of your garden, the spot where your garden begins. With a little planning, you can create a useful work space that will bring endless pleasure as you pursue your gardening dreams. Pamela T. Hubbard gardens in Effort and is a Penn State Master Gardener. Penn State Extension in Monroe County: extension.psu.edu/monroe. facebook.com/mastergardenerspa. For gardening questions call the Master Gardener Horticulture Line, 570-421-6430, 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. Walk-ins are welcome at 724 Phillips St., Suite 201, Stroudsburg.

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