Container Growing                                                             

Filling pots, troughs and window boxes with a range of vegetables is one of the best ways for those with little or even no garden to harvest their own, homegrown produce. Tomatoes, salads, dwarf beans, herbs and some root vegetables are just a few of the crops that will thrive in containers and can make attractive displays on patios, steps and windowsills. Containers filled with good-quality potting mix are also useful in gardens with very poor soil or where soil-borne pests and diseases make vegetable growing difficult. However, containers can be expensive to buy and fill with potting mix, and without regular watering and fertilizing, plants will not perform well, so consider the practicalities before you begin.

• Keep costs down and be creative by making your own pots from galvanized metal bins or plastic containers.
• Good drainage is vital to prevent soil from becoming waterlogged, so be sure pots have holes in their bases.
• Choose large pots, as they hold more soil, take longer to dry out, and suit many vegetables well.
• Look for vegetable varieties suited to container growing, such as short, round carrots.