What To Put In Planters

Garden planters allow anyone, even without an in-ground garden, to enjoy fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers by growing them in a container. With the right plants and proper care, you can create a lush bouquet from planters on your patio, garden or driveway. Whether you've got corten steel or wooden planters, plenty of the options listed below will be suitable for you to start growing.

Here are some top options for what to grow in garden planters:

Vegetables To Grow In Garden Planters

Herbs

Many popular culinary herbs thrive in outdoor planters. Choices like basil, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, mint, parsley, and coriander will grow especially well. You should aim to provide at least 6-8 inches of soil depth for herb plant roots. For herbs it is recommended to keep soil moist but not saturated and to harvest them frequently to encourage new growth. Herbs are best planted in late spring when the temperature starts to pick up.

A popular planter for growing herbs is our kitchen trough wooden planter!

Salad Greens

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, rocket, and mustard leaves can be grown in outdoor planters in succession for an ongoing harvest. Start new seeds every 2-3 weeks for a continual supply of salad. You can pick the outer leaves while allowing the plants to continue growing. Shallow planters such as a corten steel trough or even a small wooden three piece set work well for salad greens.

Strawberries

Alpine, everbearing, and day-neutral strawberry varieties produce sweet, juicy berries all season long when grown in planters. Strawberries are very popular for growing in planters due to their compact nature, however it is important to allow at least 8-10 inches of soil depth for the strawberry roots.

Tomatoes

Bush or compact tomato varieties, or even cherry tomatoes, are perfect for growing in outdoor planters. If you are looking to grow full sized tomatoes, this is definitely achievable if you use a larger planter and prune and trellis them. We offer trellis wooden planters for such uses. You should provide at least 12-15 inches of soil for tomato roots.

Peppers

When it comes to growing your own peppers, whilst they are best grown in a greenhouse, they can also be grown in the garden; however, you will need a larger garden planter for this. A planter growing peppers should be placed in a warm, sheltered spot that is likely to receive a lot of sun. Like with tomatoes, larger pepper plants may need frequent pruning and staking to grow well in a planter.

Carrots and Radishes

These root crops can flourish in outdoor planters that are at least 12 inches deep. A well drained and light soil mix helps the roots expand and grow straight. Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for ongoing harvests. When growing carrots in a planter, it is best to choose the shorter varieties.

Bush Beans and Peas

Bush bean and pea varieties are ideal for planters, though they should be at least fifteen inches deep. It is best to avoid vining varieties that require more space. We would recommend providing supports for the plants to climb as they grow such as a trellis. Harvesting these plants regularly will encourage more production.

Cucumbers

In order to grow cucumbers in a garden planter, you should opt for a compact variety and ensure that a trellis is in place to support the vines. Always check plant tags to ensure the variety works well in containers before purchasing. You should expect a smaller harvest than in-ground planted cucumbers, but if you use a large enough planter, you should still yield plenty.

Growing Flowers In Outdoor Planters

Don't forget flowers! An assortment of colourful blooms like petunias, marigolds, zinnias, alyssum, and begonias add beauty and charm to garden planters. Flowers can be grown in any of our planters so feel free to browse through the images of our various planter products to find one that is right for you.

With proper soil, fertilizer, drainage, and the right plant varieties, your garden planter will thrive. Be sure to provide adequate sunlight and water as needed. Get creative with fun containers too! Any pot or planter with drainage can work. Enjoy the ease and versatility of gardening in planters.