- 29 October 2024
Dreaming of harvesting fresh, homegrown produce but limited on space? No worries! Growing veggies and herbs in pots or containers is a fantastic way to create your own mini-garden, even if you’re short on room. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started with container gardening.
DIY Project Steps
1. Choose the Right Container
For stylish, functional, and compact gardening, pots and planters are the perfect choice. Northcote Pottery has a fantastic range of trough planters that come in three beautiful colours to match any outdoor decor. These planters look great and offer plenty of room for growing, without taking up too much space.
2. Start with Quality Potting Mix
Using a high-quality potting mix is essential for container gardening. Go for a specialised mix like Debco Premium Potting Mix, formulated for veggies and herbs. This mix not only provides the perfect foundation to help your plants grow and flourish, it’s also boosted with nutrients to get your plants off to the best start.
3. Pick Compact Veggies
When choosing veggies for small spaces, look for compact varieties that thrive in containers:
- Compact growing Tomatoes: Try growing dwarf tomatoes like ‘Little Sicily’, which are perfect for pots. They only grow 60 cm tall, but still produce a big crop of tasty tomatoes. Also look out for cascading types which are tailor made for pots and hanging baskets.
- Capsicums and Chillies: Naturally compact, these plants are perfect for containers and yield an abundance of fruit that can be picked and enjoyed throughout the warmer months.
- Leafy Greens: Fast-growing and space-saving, leafy greens are both productive and beautiful in pots. Grow loose leaf lettuce types like Mignonette or Cos lettuce (or even a loose leaf lettuce mix) which can be picked leaf by leaf as needed, creating a mini salad bar right in your backyard.
4. Add Flavour with Herbs
To complement your vegetables, plant herbs like basil and parsley alongside them. Herbs are easy to grow in containers and enhance your recipes with fresh flavours.
5. Feed Your Plants
Veggies are hungry little things, so encourage a bumper crop with the right fertiliser. Start each season with a good dose of controlled-release fertiliser to give you plants a steady supply of nutrients and promote strong healthy growth and an abundance of fruit, like Scotts Osmocote Tomato, Vegetable and Herb Controlled Release Fertiliser. This helps maximise your harvest, keeping your small-space garden productive and healthy.
Now, imagine stepping out into your garden and picking fresh tomatoes, herbs, and greens no matter how limited your space is! Just pop into your local Mitre 10 to see what’s in season and get all you need to start your container garden today.
