How to grow vegetables in containers
No matter how small your garden space, many vegetables will grow very happily in containers, from shallow bowls to larger pots, window-boxes and even hanging baskets. So you can have fresh tasty vegetables whenever you need them.
Shopping List
- Vegetable seeds or young plants of your choice
- Growing containers
- Good quality vegetable or multi-purpose compost
- Liquid fertiliser such as seaweed extract
- Wooden plant label
- Hand trowel
- Watering can
- Gardening gloves
Step By Step Guide
- Fill a container of your choice with vegetable or multi-purpose compost and water gently. Shallow containers are good for salad crops, while deeper pots work best for root crops like carrots. Hanging baskets and window boxes are ideal for herbs or trailing tomatoes.
- 2. To grow your vegetables from seed, sow them evenly across the surface, cover with a fine layer of compost and add a label. This is the most economical way to grow lots of vegetables.
- 3. Alternatively, for quicker results, plant ready-to-grow young plants available to buy in pots and strips. This is a great option for warm growing vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes or chillies or for those with limited space to grow from the seed stage.
- Keep your planted container under cover in a bright sunny spot protected from the cold, moving outside to a sheltered site when all risk of frost has passed.
- Water regularly to keep the compost moist. After about six weeks feed weekly with liquid fertiliser to ensure strong and healthy growth.
- Pick your vegetables when they're ready, emptying and replanting your containers for an additional late season crop.
Top Tip: Sow or plant little and often for a continual supply of tasty veg
Know Your Veg
Carrot Early Nantes
Growing carrots in planters or patio containers is a great way to begin your grow-your-own experience at home and a fun growing project for children too. Choose a container deep enough to accommodate the growing roots. Ready to pick after around eight to ten weeks.
Tomato Tumbling Tom
Ideal for growing in hanging baskets and window boxes for a non-stop supply of sweet cherry tomatoes on trailing sterms. Irresistible to little fingers!
Salad Leaves Cut and Come Again
Ideal for shallower containers, this fast maturing seed mix includes a range of colourful and tasty leaves including Mizuna, salad rocket and Park Choi. Can be sown all year round, protecting from the cold during the winter months.