Container gardening

Learning objectives:

Container | Planting | Soil | Drainage | Watering | Seedling | Growth | Harvest

• They can add structure, style and brighten up areas while adding extra space for crops
• They can be sited close to the classroom allowing for supervision
• They are smaller, manageable spaces so children can care for them easily
• They can be moved, for example from indoors to outdoors when the weather improves
• They can be taken home over the holidays
• They can be made accessible for everyone with a few adjustments, for example by raising them up
• They enable you to grow plants even if the soil you have is poor or the plants require something different (e.g. blueberries that need ericaceous
  

  Plants that thrive in acid or ericaceous soil, which has a pH of less than 7 (neutral). You can measure your soil pH using a simple testing kit. Ericaceous or acid-loving plants include rhododendrons, camellias, heathers and blueberries.

  or acidic soil)
• There is less chance of pest damage in containers or at least it is easier to manage

• They can dry out easily so need watering and feeding more frequently
• Only small amounts of vegetables can be grown in containers, so match the size of the crop to the container
• Pots can restrict plant growth, although this can also be an advantage making some plants a more manageable size

There are many different varieties of vegetables that are suitable for growing in containers.

As fruit bushes and trees live for a long time, it's best to plant them in as large pot as you can (around 45-50cm in diameter) and refresh the compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

every two years.

Different types of containers:

Ready-made:

• Grow bags
• Various pots and troughs in plastic or terracotta
• Plant bags
• Hanging baskets
• Window boxes

Upcycled:

• Baskets or wooden crates
• Bricks with holes in them
• Chimney pots
• Old boots or shoes
• Old pots, pans or colanders
• Old sinks or baths
• Tin cans

Things to remember:

• Containers not intended as plant pots may need drainage holes drilled into them (take care when doing this)
• Containers full of holes may need a lining of horticultural fleece
  

  A soft, fibrous, translucent material laid over or around plants hastening their growth and protecting them against weather and pests. Heavier grades of fleece give about 2°C of protection from frost. It is usually used without supporting hoops.

  or plastic netting (such as shade cloth) to keep the soil in place
• Standing containers on bricks or tiles can help to avoid waterlogging
• Where you plan on keeping plants in a container for more than one year, use a soil based compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  and a slow release fertiliser to keep them healthy