Go potty for veg
You don’t need an allotment or swanky kitchen garden to grow anything from tomatoes to courgettes and salad leaves
IWANT to take you back to the early 2000s, when I was features editor on a well-known gardening magazine. Every year the editorial team would get together to plan 12 months’ worth of reports, photo shoots and front covers. At one meeting I suggested putting together a major piece on growing crops in pots, only for it to be dismissed as being too niche.
It might be close to two decades later, but I maintain that my proposal should have been implemented, and that rejecting it was shortsighted (I would say that, wouldn’t I?). However, if that meeting was to take place today, nobody would suggest growing veg in containers was a marginal pursuit, as it’s become a popular way to produce fresh food.
A big reason behind the burgeoning appeal of growing in containers is that it’s the perfect method of growing edibles for those with smaller gardens or limited outdoor spaces, whether that’s a balcony, paved backyard or simply a windowsill.
In my opinion, another part of its allure is that it’s seen as a way of producing crops that people with basic skills can attempt and achieve results.
In the past gardeners had to discover for themselves the varieties that were naturally compact or didn’t require a great depth for their roots or tubers. Today, seed companies have embraced the trend, introducing varieties bred specifically for growing in containers and ranges aimed at devotees of this way of raising food.
Among the best veggies are potatoes, trailing tomatoes, French beans, courgettes, spring onions and beetroot, along with short, stump or round rooted varieties of carrots and radish. Mixed salad leaves are a must-grow because they are ready for harvesting within 21 days of sowing and a single packet contains enough seeds to provide pickings for months.
Also available are pint-sized versions of crops that typically need a lot of space to flourish, such as runner beans, turnips and butternut squash.
Pea ‘Half Pint’ (sometimes sold as ‘Tom Thumb’) is a heritage variety that dates back to the 19th Century and carries pods on plants that grow to around 8in tall, a good 1-2ft shorter than other varieties.
It’s important to pick the right containers for your edibles, whether you’re in the market for pots, planters or window boxes. Make sure they’re equipped with plenty of drainage holes – otherwise you’ll need to drill some yourself – and that they’re large enough to allow your plants to reach maturity. In the case of round pots, something between 8in-18in diameter is ideal.
Plastic pots are relatively cheap and retain moisture well, while terracotta, ceramic and terrazzo pots look smarter but are porous, meaning compost will dry out quickly – one way of remedying this is to line the inside with plastic sheeting pierced at the base.
Another option is to recycle food containers, wooden wine crates and galvanised zinc receptacles.
Hanging baskets are great for those who want to make the most of their vertical space. There’s a huge range of models available, including heavy-duty metal ones and plastic baskets, ranging from 8in-24in across. Whatever you choose, make sure support brackets are fixed securely to prevent baskets crashing to the ground during stormy weather. As for compost, annual vegetables will romp away in any multipurpose type that’s been fortified with controlled-release fertiliser granules and moisture-retaining granules. If you are planting thyme, rosemary, sage or other perennial herbs that originate from the Mediterranean, fill containers with John Innes No.3 compost improved with a handful of horticultural grit.
Start seeds of tomatoes, peppers and other tender veg off indoors, moving them into their final pots outside when there’s no longer any danger from frost – if you don’t have the space to nurture seedlings undercover, snap up readygrown plug plants next month. Beetroot, beans, peas, mixed salad leaves are perfect for sowing now into pots outdoors.
Different crops have different maintenance requirements, but something that all veg in containers need is close attention to watering. Once plants are actively growing, water regularly, especially during hot, dry spells – if the compost is allowed to dry out, yields will be poor and plants will lose vigour, making them vulnerable to pests and diseases.