Suitable Containers-You can use many different types of container to plant in. Some suggestions for containers include:
· old tyres
· tied bundles of newspaper
· buckets
· plastic storage boxes
· half barrels
· old bins
· containers made from pallets
· old chimney pots
· old sinks
Remember, unless you are growing bog plants, the containers will need to have drainage holes.· tied bundles of newspaper
· buckets
· plastic storage boxes
· half barrels
· old bins
· containers made from pallets
· old chimney pots
· old sinks
Planting up your container:
1. Choose your container. Check that it has drainage holes at the bottom. If it hasn’t, make a few in the bottom.
2. Use broken bits of clay pots or flat stones to cover the holes. Fill the pot until a quarter full. This stops the holes getting blocked by soil.
3. Fill with potting compost or good garden soil . If you cannot find an organic potting compost then buy a peat-free compost.
4. You can now start to plant up your container. Suggestions of suitable plants are given on the back of this leaflet.
5. Once your container is planted you must remember to water it regularly. Plants in pots need watering more often because the soil dries out faster.
Why peat free?
Peat is a soil-like material made up of partly rotted organic matter (things that have once lived).
It is still used in many composts. The peat is taken from peat bogs where rare plants live. Bogs take thousands of years to develop and are getting smaller as the peat is used by gardeners. To do your bit and help preserve (keep) this habitat use peat-free composts.
Vegetable varieties to grow in containers : Broad Bean, French Bean, Carrot, Chard, Courgette, Cucumber, Leek, Onion, Pea, Pepper, Potato, Radish, Tomato.
Flowers to grow in containers: Bergamot, Candytuft, Chives, Honesty, Love-in-a-Mist, Pot Marigold, Nasturtium, Perennial Cornflower, Phlox, Poached Eggplant, Small Scabious, Spring Crocus, Sunflower, Wallflower.
