Going to Pot

by Peggy Morgan

In our middle years we can potter in our gardens. In our more mature years, when we require less strenuous activity, we can garden in our pots.

No mowing- no weeding – no digging; but time to relax and enjoy the pleasure of leisure.

Pots and containers are ideal for this purpose. You can put them wherever you wish.

Taking into account the aspect – sunny and shady – they can go on paving, steps, patios, walls, gravel, pebbles or bark. But in any case try to create divers features and use contrasting materials to complement the surroundings – ancient or modern.

There is an unlimited choice of pots and containers.

Anything from a teacup (with a primrose) to a wheelbarrow (overflowing with plants). Then there are troughs, window boxes, half beer- barrels, buckets, old sinks, lead cisterns, chimney- pots, urns, painted boxes or tins, and old tyres It’s fun to go to a car boot sale and pick up some unusual object to use.

Pots can be classical or modern; plain or coloured. Plastic ones are very popular as they are clean, durable, economical and light-weight, and with a textured finish are almost indistinguishable from a real terra-cotta or lead pot.

But when you have selected your pots or containers you come to the tricky bit – planting...

Plants are rather like children, if you want them to do well in life you must give them a good start, and a nourishing diet...

First, cleanliness, and then drainage (no wet feet). So crock the bottom of the chosen pot with broken bits of terracotta flower pots, or polystyrene broken into small pieces, or a piece of turf, grass side down, which will help moisture retention.

Raise the pot off the ground to aid the drainage. Little feet can be bought or you can just use a brick or a ring of pebbles.

Make up good compost. Half loam if available, and half John Innes compost, or, if it’s easier, all John Innes, then add a few granules of slow release fertilizer.

You are nearly ready to plant, but it is important to consider the weight of the pot when filled, planted and watered. - so it easier to fill it in its chosen position, as we don’t want any pulled muscles, bad backs or collapsed balconies!

Incidentally, if you still want your own tomatoes or courgettes etc. how about a GRO-BAG. A few bedding plants will soon burgeon and hide the hideous plastic bag.

And you can always make your own – paint a veg box green, line it with polythene – pierce a few holes for drainage, fill it with compost and – voila!

Makes a nice herb garden too.

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