The standard 30 litre pot is often used by novice gardeners as the ideal container for growing herbs. But as time goes on, we’ve come to realise that there are many other options when it comes to container gardening. Container gardening can be an extremely enjoyable way to grow herbs, as long as you know the advantages and disadvantages of each method! In this article, we’ll look at the three most common types of container gardening – sun loving, water loving and container gardening.

Most Sun Tolerant Pots The biggest plus side to using pots that are designed as suntan food containers is that they will generally tolerate much more sunlight than other suntan foods like lettuce or celery. Many of these pots have even been found to be so friendly to the eyes, that they are suitable for working in the sun all day long – no more hard hats or sunglasses to lug around! This means that if you like to go out and hike, you don’t need to be looking for extra shade. Also, plants grown in the traditional suntan type of pots will normally tolerate temperatures of up to 60 degrees, much more than the usual pots of lower temperatures. With a little careful watering, most herbs can survive even the hottest summer day. Sun loving pots are also a great option for growing herbs in large numbers, as their large surface area makes them perfect for sowing huge bunches of stalks.

Water loving containers There’s no denying that container gardening is a lot quicker and easier than traditional outdoor vegetable growing. But the speed of growth also comes at a cost, and pots that are designed to grow quickly do this at the expense of poor plant health. Many modern container gardening pots are made from porous materials that can soak up a lot of water. This means that when a plant needs to be watered, it has nowhere else to go – and leaves its roots in the soil, to ensure a quick recovery.

However, what if you want a fast outgrow? How about a outgrow that doubles its height in two weeks time and then doubles again in four weeks’ time… What then? A 30 litre pot can house six plants, but what is the best solution to a fast outgrow? A six foot tall plant placed in a six foot square tray? Or a six foot tall plant placed in a four foot square tray?

Rootgrow pots with drainage material have been growing in popularity for several years now, because they allow the roots to go directly into the dirt. If you’ve ever had a tomato plant that has grown wild on your kitchen windowsill, you may have had to clip the plants after they sprout, and dig them back up when they’re too big to fit in the pot. These pots with drainage material allow you to grow tomatoes, without the fuss.

Some people plant their trees and shrubs in containers but what about perennial flowering plants such as the orchid? With containers for your trees and shrubs, you can buy them ready-dotted and have the flowering plant to start growing in a few months. But if you want a real planting, an outdoors container garden will suffice. You don’t need a greenhouse, no gardening skills needed, and there are plenty of beautiful containers out there with a tropical look, suitable for placing in your garden.

Where to place your tree support? Where should your tree sit? Where you want the plant to hide is all part of the planting process, but don’t worry too much about where you set the tree support – remember, your pots will provide all the nutrients it needs, so don’t add too many pots, and the soil will eventually fill in with the compost it produces. Plant your tree in a location that suits its natural environment and then plant the pot in that spot, remembering to water the plant regularly. If you are planting a tree that flowers, you may want to plant it in the early spring when the soil is moist, although you may plant it at a later stage, in the summer months when it is dry. If it is a tree or shrub, it doesn’t really matter, but a container garden can be planted almost anywhere, providing good drainage.

Once you have selected the site for planting, remove the roots from the soil. Measure carefully to establish the depth of the hole, remembering that it will need to accommodate a substantial amount of soil. Prepare the hole by digging it straight down and filling it with gravel, or a similar substance. After securing the inner surface of the ground, add a light soil based plant food, a natural organic fertilizer, and apply a light layer of compost over the soil, followed by a layer of compost and a final layer of topsoil, just like you would after planting a vegetable. Cover the hole with a screen of corrugated cardboard and you are finished.