YES, IN YOUR BACKYARD!

You may not have a lot of space but you can still enjoy growing a range of fruit and veg

- Emma Bailey

If you thought you needed acres of land to grow your own vegetables, then think again. Many of us living in urban areas suffer from a lack of significant outdoor space, but this shouldn’t mean you have to miss out on fresh, home-grown produce. Why not try growing your vegetables in containers instead?

Don’t think you have to spend a lot of money on fancy gardening pots or planters either. Getting creative with your containers will not only save you money but can also be a creative way of adding interest to your space. I’ve upcycled an old wheelbarrow, plastic bins and even a few abandoned buckets I found in a skip once. Whatever container you use, it will need some drainage holes so your plants don’t end up sitting in puddles!

There is such a huge variety of unique and space-saving containers on the market now too. Felt bags and fold-away potato bags are a great choice if space is really limited and you prefer to pack everything away once the growing season comes to an end. You can even grow straight into a bag of compost.

There are so many varieties of vegetables you can grow in a container, from herbs, salad leaf crops, beans and peas. In fact, even broccoli, cauliflower, kohl rabi and fennel have all done well in pots for me, though a smaller container will result in a smaller harvest. If you are looking to grow a few tomatoes, I’ve found that a standard-sized bucket is about right as long as you add a cane for support when the plant gets heavier. I’ve even grown a pumpkin in a pot, so the sky really is the limit! If it grows in the ground, chances are you can make it grow in a pot, so definitely give it a go.