If you haven’t a garden, or space for growing vegetables it is still possible to grow vegetables in containers. Here are some tips for choosing containers and vegetables to grow.

1. The space you have to put your containers should have full sun for most of the day. Most vegetables will need several hours of sun to ripen. Plants that bear fruit need the most sun (eg. tomatoes or cucumber)

2. Containers can be plastic, terracotta or concrete or metal – if wood it should be made of hardwood.

3. Containers can be pots of different sizes, window boxes or even hanging baskets. Whatever you have the space for.

4. All containers should have drainage holes, and if your container doesn’t have them, you should make them.

5. Organic gardening requires certain kinds of growing media and use of plant feeding materials.

6. Raised planters built to be mobile (for example, placed on a small wheeled trolley) can be used in areas where plants might not otherwise grow. These mobile planters can be moved to reach the sun at different times or moved out of the way during other activities (eg. during a barbecue).

7. You can plant short-rooted, quicker growing plants above those with long growing cycles and deeper roots. (For example, plant lettuce or oregano/marjoram above a root crop)

8. Plants grown in containers require frequent watering because they dry out quickly from sun and wind. Some may need watering every day. Apply enough water to reach the bottom of the container and drain through the holes. Don’t over-water or wet the leaves, especially later in the day – this encourages diseases.

9. To prevent drying out and reduce attack by pests you can cover the exposed soil with clear plastic, or plant root crops through a layer of black plastic.

10. Covering strawberries with straw will protect them from birds and squirrels – mulching them can give up to 50% more growth and crop. Organic compost growing bags are now available and suitable for growing strawberries.