Feeding container plants

Anything grown in a container will need regular feeding. I grow my blueberries in containers to ensure that they have the ericaceous conditions they need and that my soil cannot sufficiently provide (most of Longmeadow has a pH that is close to neutral, of about 6).

In order to ensure good flowering and then conversion to a good crop of berries, I feed weekly them with liquid seaweed. This is high in potash and encourages good root, flower and fruit formation rather than lots of lush foliage, which is what a high nitrogen feed will do. Any tomato feed will do the same job and home-made comfrey feed is good too.

The rest of the containers at Longmeadow – and there are scores – get their weekly feed (we have Feeding Friday) throughout summer and it helps keep the display looking great right the way into autumn.

There is always a temptation to over feed – especially if something is looking a little under the weather – but this should be resisted. Follow instructions and feed enough but not too much, as the excess will either encourage lush growth that will be perfect for aphids and fungi or simply be wasted as the plant will not be able to absorb it.

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Plants in containers swiftly use up nutrients so need regular, weekly feeding during the growing season