Author: Antonio Pachowko

Growing Plants in Containers in Full Sun, Part III-The Annuals

In the previous parts of this series, plants which can be grown in a sunny location has been discussed. Part I concern the shrubs and trees that can be grown in containers in full sun, whilst Part II was about perennials or perennials that are treated as annuals, and disposed of as the growing season comes to the end.

In this final part of the series of growing plants in containers in full sun, concerns the annuals or biennials that can be grown in a sunny location. As this can be quite extensive, then the list of plants will not …

Growing Plants in Containers in Full Sun, part II- The Perennials

As mentioned in the post Growing Plants in Containers in Full Sun, part I- Shrubs and Trees, plants of this nature was discussed. In this post the range of plants will be extended to perennials that can be grown in containers and window boxes in full sun will be enclosed.

The choice of what perennials that can be grown in full sun in containers are very extensive and this article will only scratch the surface of all possibilities. The container needs to be large enough (but not as large as those required for shrubs and trees) to hold enough …

Growing Plants in Containers in Full Sun, part I- Shrubs and Trees

As mentioned in previous posts on how extensively container gardening is, from container selection to containers’ arrangements. It is now time to think about the plants that can go into the containers and their suitability. In this article, the selection of shrubs and trees that can be grown in full sun (more than 6 hours per day of sunlight), will be discussed. This is part of a three-part series of growing plants in containers in full sun.

The choice of what shrubs and trees that can be used are quite extensive, as it will give a dramatic, sculptural focal point. …

Growing Soft Fruit in Containers- Grow More than Strawberries

In a previous article (Growing fruit trees in containers-there’s a fruit tree for you) fruit trees that can be grown in containers was discussed. It is now time to turn our concentration and attention to growing soft fruit in containers.

Soft fruit tends not to grow as big as fruit trees, and therefore more types can be grown in containers. You can grow blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, blackcurrant, redcurrant, white currant, gooseberries, goji berries, and grapes.

What follows is a discussion of what soft fruits can be planted in containers and the best way of doing this.…

Potato Grow Pots- Growing Potatoes in Pots Easily

Product: Potato Grow Pots

Best Place to buy: www.amazon.co.uk

Size of pots: 30cm in diameter and 25cm in height. 3 pots are shipped with this product.

Capacity: 13 litres.

My score: 8.5/10

When it comes to summer there is nothing like harvesting first earlies potatoes, especially if it is grown in a pot where the potatoes are easily accessible.

You can harvest potatoes in the matter of ten weeks, especially if they are chitted before being planted. Traditionally you have to plant first earlies, second earlies, or main crops in a large area of land. The potatoes are normally …

Growing Potatoes and Tomatoes in Containers

In a previous article (Growing Vegetables in Containers- Growing your own Meals) I omitted the growing of potatoes and tomatoes in containers, as I wanted to go into their growing in greater details.

In this article, the growing of potatoes and tomatoes will be discussed, as these are the most grown vegetables in the UK. They tend to be some of the easiest vegetables to grow, but only if you follow the right methodology, otherwise poor yields can result.

POTATOES

Potatoes traditionally are divided into three categories; first earlies, second earlies, and main crop. First earlies tend to crop within …

Growing Vegetables in Containers- Growing your Own Meals

In theory, it is possible to grow any vegetables in containers, if a large enough container is used. This may not be practical as the return from some vegetables in containers is so small.

It makes sense to concentrate on high-value crops, the crops which are harder to find in shops or are very expensive to buy. One myth that is often spread is that home grow vegetables taste better than shop bought. This is not true, sometime it will taste better, other times it will taste inferior. Do not always believe what the seed merchant tells you.

The first …

Getting Children Involved in Container Gardening

Everybody with children knows when the six weeks of summer holiday arrives, children will get easily bored with nothing to so. How do you entertain them on these long days, on weekends and on those long evenings? There is a way which could pique their interest, and that is container gardening, a hobby that can become a life passion.

Gardening is a fun activity for children as they can get their hands dirty, doing something which is not only educational but providing skills that are useful for the child’s benefit in later life. They can learn maths in how to …

Container Gardening for Hay Fever Sufferers-Stop the Snuffles

Gardening is often such a pleasure for many, as you can grow what you like, where you like. This pleasure is not readily available for those who suffer from hay fever, as pollen can cause misery to these people.

It is no fun if your eyes are streaming, your nose is running and/or block, your sinuses are killing you, and you are breaking out in hives. Gardening will be the last thing you want to do. But is this so?

Gardens are normally filled with pollen-rich plants that are good for bees and butterflies, but not so for hay fever …

Herbs in Pots- Spice Up Your Container Garden

Herbs are useful in everybody’s kitchen as they provide so much flavour to foods. Most herbs do not take a lot of room and therefore can be grown in small spaces. They also do not take much looking after, as it seems that herbs thrive on neglect.

As most of our herbs come from the Mediterranean hillside then they can grow on the harshest conditions. They prefer to be grown in a mix of multipurpose compost with sharp sand, in a ratio of 2 parts multipurpose to 1 part sand. You can add grit to make it more free flowing …