As well as my allotment kitchen garden and the Rosebank ornamental salad garden I also grow vegetables in containers every year, hoping to utilise as much of my space as possible. The containers vary from old metal buckets and washtubs to hanging baskets, flowerpots and crates.
 |
smallorganicgardens.com
via
Pinterest |
Container gardening opens up lots of opportunities for growing virtually anything, anywhere with very little extra work.
 |
bhg,com
via
Pinterest
|
I like to keep the containers all together in one area, if possible, for ease of watering and to make more of a colourful display.
 |
containergardening.com
via
Pinterest |
 |
llhdesignsblog.com
via
Pinterest |
The containers I use vary in size depending on what I am going to plant. Small for lettuce, onions, garlic and annual herbs. Medium for peppers, aubergine, bush beans. Large for tomatoes, cucumber, squash, runner beans and peas.
 |
tastefulgarden.com
via
Pinterest |
They are all placed in the sunniest part of the garden and have to be watered daily and fed regularly. The plants do need a lot more looking after, than those planted out in open ground. As in the picture above, you can container garden at all levels and heights to make the best use of the space available.
The advantage is that when one crop has finished you can replace the potting compost and re-sow with something different which gives you a good succession of crops.
How successful have you been with your container gardening, and if you haven't tried it before, do you think you will give it a go this year?
I'd love to get my hands on some of those wooden wine crates - VERY upmarket!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about asking my local council if they have any spare recycling crates. We used to be issued with two when we had monthly glass collections, but this recently went back to fortnightly and I gather that many people have handed back their second crates...
Hi Elaine, I grew quite a bit in containers last year.I fully intend to grow more again this year.Sweetcorn was very good in a half barrel and the salad leaves, chives,carrots and tomatoes did well too in containers.
ReplyDeleteThe wine boxes are fab.I got one at our local rubbish tip just before the man next to us threw it in the skip.I use it for storing my plant pots though.
Great post for those people out there who think you need a lot of space to Grow our Own! I'm inspired too x
ReplyDeletethis is how I my passion for growing started in containers. I still do it now and grow alot still. the only thing I do diffrent is add water retaining gel to the compost when filling the container that way it holds onto the water better in hot days particualy good for water loving tomatoes I find. its also a great way to get children involved in gardneing too i find my girls have there own pots that they decorated last year with paint and glued on shells etc. such a great way of growing veg.
ReplyDeletegreat post Elaine
I always grow some potatoes in bags. They do fine and it's great if you want to try just a few of a variety. I also grow some herbs and loads of succelents in pots. I have a huge fatsia growing in an old water tank from the attic.
ReplyDeleteWe grow potatoes in bags and a few other things in pots and troughs. Herbs are in wooden troughs. We also have cranberries in tubs as other wise they just sprawl along the ground.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a peach tree in a large pot - it was it's first year last year and produces 8 peaches so we are hoping it wasn't a one off.
Do you have an irrigation system set up as it must be a bit of a nightmare arranging to go away for a week or so?
At our previous house, I to grow 'a tomato' plant, runner beans, carrots and lettuce in containers. Didn't have a lot of success to be honest!
ReplyDeleteI used to grow lots of veg in containers before I got my allotment. I still grow all my salad in containers, it's much cleaner that way and doesn't get as much pest damage, especially from slugs. The only downside is watering, you have to be vigilant to ensure the containers don't dry out.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are really inspirational! I love container gardening. I've grown potatoes in bags and in an old wheelbarrow. I had good success with carrots over the summer in tubs. Herbs, courgette, cabbage, etc in pots and recycled boxes/tubs. A self fertilising apple tree grows in a large pot. I had good success with leeks in pots two years ago and will do that again this year.
ReplyDeleteCan I echo Kelli's comment. I alos find these photos inspiring. A real zing of colour especially with the orange surround. I thought they were all your photos, Elaine.
ReplyDeleteI also plant a lot a lot in pots to move around the place. I have some lovely old wooden crates for salad crops and sometimes dahlias. I got them from "The Worm that Turned"
All I can is wow! This post perfectly illustrates how almost anyone can grow things if they don't have a garden.
ReplyDeleteFlighty xx
I just love your blog my dear! Container gardening is wonderful and can be very whimsy with the use of so many different containers. We are in for a winter storm tomorrow so I may have to place my containers on hold. :)
ReplyDeleteHave great weekend,
Hugs Rosemary...xoxo
I tried container gardening last year and im not a big fan, I love the look but it takes to much attention for my liking... im just a lazy gardener lol
ReplyDeleteNow there's a good excuse for buying a crate of wine. Don't really grow that much in containers now except for a few herbs at home, as I am lucky enough to have an allotment. Have done in the past though and might yet do again in the future.
ReplyDeleteBefore I moved I grew all my fruit, veg and herbs in containers. Our previous garden was on the small side so this worked out better. The chickens couldn't get to it either. I don't miss all the watering though and prefer to grow in the ground.
ReplyDeleteSaying that, I do grow a few things in containers so that I can move them into the greenhouse during winter.
Lovely container gardens. very resourceful and saves space for other things you want to set-up in the garden
ReplyDelete