A pot a day keeps the gardener at play
Our own garden isn’t large by any means so ever since I started gardening, container growing has been an essential part of the success. I particularly enjoy growing in pots and appreciate the exciting potential that they afford to gardens of all shapes and sizes. From closer-to-the-backdoor growing in larger spaces, to vertical gardening opportunities when space is at a premium, here are some of my favourite picks to help you on your way.
Healthy strawberries
Made from 100% recycled plastic (and it is also 100% recyclable too), ELHO have created a pot that ticks all of the boxes when it comes to the perfect space for tasty home-grown fruit. Strawberries, although generally fairly simple to grow, can easily be ruined by either a waterlogged pot, or by letting the fruit touch the floor, but not with this new design. It cleverly allows for free drainage, while also boasting a water reservoir for the roots to tap into, should they need it. If you enjoy this there are also others in the Basics range too, including a nifty tomato planter and pot for potatoes. See elho.com, RRP £22.99.
Innovative thinking
The Globee from Hayloft demonstrates that containers shouldn’t be dull and, in fact, this new design is set to change how we might think about displaying our plants. The Globee is unique in how it works as it can stand alone as a solo pot, with its flat bottom and rounded exterior, or you can combine a series of them into a chain of planters with their innovative hanging system that you can suspend from a hook on a ceiling or wall.
Each unit is also supplied with an inner pot that is the perfect size for a wide range of houseplants and outdoor plants alike. See hayloft.co.uk, available individually for £17 or as a set of three for £44.
Perfect for beginners
If you’re completely new to container growing and you’d like the ideal set to get you started, then look no further than this two-planter set (complete with easy compost) from Richard Jackson.
Richard and his team have designed these to be both stylish and hard-wearing, to withstand either indoor or patio growing. Available in both an aqua and green, these large pots have a ceramic effect without the worry of them cracking. The set also comes with two coir, peat-free compost discs with added nutrients, which means you’ll be planting them up in no time at all. See qvcuk.com, RRP £66 for a set of two, with Easy Compost.
Classy raised beds
For something larger and with endless possibilities, a raised bed is fantastic for growing almost anything. This round modular bed from Harrod Horticultural is manufactured from high-quality galvanised steel, which is then powder-coated in your choice of cream or green. The coating ensures that this gives you a long-lasting weatherproof colour, while also looking the part in modern and traditional gardens or allotments.
This has been carefully designed to allow you to combine it with other planters in the range to increase your potential growing space and create really diverse shaped raised beds of your own. See harrodhorticultural.com, available in two colours with an RRP £75
Time for terracotta?
Finally, how about something that adds a real touch of class to any patio, path, or walkway? The Elii Cretan Terracotta Planter from Tom’s Yard is one of their most popular designs and is handmade using traditional methods and materials.
The firing process is done over three days, which means your planter is built to withstand some serious battering by the prevailing wind, rain and cold and as such will do well either in your garden, or equally in a conservatory or indoor environment.
I’ve got this very pot, planted up with a small Prunus tree with some Saxifraga at its base and the contrast between the colour of the plants and the terracotta is a match made in heaven. See tomsyard.co.uk, this particular pot is £120 but they also have a range starting at £40.
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For more gardening advice, tips, and DIY projects, you can follow Adam on Instagram @viewfromthepottingbench
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