As a long term renter I am quite familiar with learning to grow things in temporary container so I thought I'd put together a list of plants that I've successfully grown in pots.
Keys to successful harvests
Two key considerations for growing food in pots - firstly your pot choice and the quality of potting mix.
Pot choice
Firstly pots need to me at least 30cm high for most edibles. As a minimum I wouldn't plant edibles in a pot under 40cm. When it doubt bigger is always better.
Secondly you want good drainage. Most decorative pots have the one central hole which can cause the bottom of the pot to be constantly wet. You can combat this by putting in a layer of rocks (around 10cm) and some geo-fabric between your potting mix and the rocks and that will help keep everything consistent (just make sure you still have 30cm of soil). Alternatively you can purchase a cheap plastic pot with extra drainage holes that fits inside your decorative pot.
Potting mix
Don't skimp here, buy the best you can afford.
I like to make my own with potting mix, but if you’re keen to get started you can purchase some good quality mixes. It’s best to look for the Australian quality ticks - look for the red ticks on the pack. For an organic option I like the scotts pure organic (not endorses or affiliated just personal preference).
What you can grow in pots
Pretty much most things will grow in a pot if it's the right size! Here are some things that I have successfully grown:
- Herbs
- Greens (lettuce, kale, microgreens, rocket, swiss chard)
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Capsicums
- Rhubarb
- Chilli
- Eggplant
- Fruit (see the full list here)
What plants would you love to grow in a pot?
