Strawberries are easy to grow and work well in strawberry planters.
In this attractive display we plant strawberries in a bespoke tiered strawberry planter, where the plants and fruits can hang from the pot like pretty, bright red jewels.
As well as growing them in pots and containers on the ground, you could also try growing strawberries in window boxes and hanging baskets.
More fruit-growing advice:
Learn how to plant up a strawberry container display, below.
Place empty plastic plant pots in the base of the container to stop the compost falling out of the bottom, and aid drainage.
Part-fill the pot, up to the first tier of planting holes, with peat-free, multi-purpose compost. Add slow-release fertiliser granules and mix in with your hands.
Start planting up the pot, from the bottom. Use your hands to gently place the plants in position, and firm them into the compost.
Add more compost and slow-release fertiliser until you reach the second tier of planting holes, and add more plants, firming them in. Repeat this process until you reach the top of the container.
Add more compost to within 5cm of the rim of the pot, and firm everything in to remove air pockets. Water the pot well.
Allow the water to thoroughly drain from the pot before moving it to its final planting position.
Most herbs originate in hot, dry climates and dislike our cold, wet winters. Growing them in pots is therefore perfect because they can be brought under cover for the winter. You can also keep them near your kitchen, where you can access them easily. Herbs look fantastic in containers, too – here we’ve combined red-veined sorrel with geranium, basil, calendula and salad burnet.
Carnivorous plants are easy to grow in containers and can help control whitefly in the greenhouse, or fruit fly in the home. In the example given below, we’re growing sarracenias and cobra lilies in an old ceramic sink, which will spend most of the day in full sun. The most important thing you need when growing carnivorous plants, is a steady supply of rainwater. Without a water butt you’ll struggle to provide the right conditions – chlorinated tap water will eventually kill your plants. Carni
If you haven’t got the space for a mini meadow but crave the wild look, this pot will provide the perfect solution. Using native wildflowers and their close relatives, it will create the look of a meadow on a small scale. The blend of flowers and grasses will benefit wildlife and look good over a long season. Filled with yarrow, red valerian, avens, squirrel-tail grass, purple toadflax and woodland sage, this pot is perfect for a sunny spot.
Most queen bumblebees hibernate in autumn, building up fat reserves to survive winter without food. In spring, they are hungry, urgently needing life-giving nectar. To help them along, pot up some early-flowering plants to help them replace lost energy before they fly off in search of a nesting site. You Will Need