Veg for containers

When space is limited, you need ingenuity to get the most from your plot. Growing veg in containers is a lifeline for patio gardeners, and helps beef up the harvest from handkerchief-sized gardens, too. Follow our five rules for bumper container harvests every year:

Go large: bigger pots are definitely better, as the more your veg can spread their roots out, the happier they'll be. There's a range of roomy pots in our garden centre.

Mix and match: don't be afraid to grow several types of veg in the same pot. Plant quick-growing carrots around tall spinach, for example, to double your harvest.

Water, water, water: never let containers go dry: it's a recipe for bolting lettuces, drooping spinach and poor fruiting. Water daily in summer, adding liquid feed once a week.

Use your walls: troughs alongside fences and walls hold climbing beans and give you twice the space to play with. Nail trellis to the wall for support.

Choose the right varieties: veg with shallower roots, like beetroot, do best; or try varieties bred specially for pots. Look for 'patio', 'dwarf' or 'container' on seed packets in our garden centre.

Please ask a member of the Lakeside team for more information and advice about growing vegetables in containers.