With summer around the corner, it is the perfect time to dig out your wooden planters. Why not dust off your gardening gloves, and plant your summer flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. But how do you choose the correct planter size for each plant? You may have heard the phrase, ‘the bigger the pot, the bigger the crop,’ but does size matter? Our complete guide to choosing the right planter size for your container garden will help you find the perfect pot for some of the most popular plants grown in the UK today.
What Size Planter Is Best For Strawberries?
Who doesn’t love the taste of English strawberries? Sweet, juicy and deliciously satisfying, they are the authentic taste of summer! Strawberries are easy to grow in wooden planters. Sow a few different varieties, and you could harvest an organic crop right through until autumn.
But how big should your strawberry planter be? You can grow strawberries in almost any container as long as you provide them with fertile soil and sufficient sunshine. To maximise your fruit crop, you should aim to space your plants at least 10cm apart in a long wooden trough-style planter.
Wooden planters measuring 60cm x 15cm x 18cm are ideal for growing strawberries on your window sill or balcony. Sustainably sourced timber planters of 120cm x 22cm x 22cm or more are perfect for larger gardens.
Raspberries, What size works well?
Raspberries are ideal for container gardening, and much like strawberries, they are easy to grow. But due to their extensive root systems, you need to plant raspberries in large, deep planters that allow sufficient space for these vitamin-rich berries to flourish.
While the best planter size for raspberries depends on the variety you choose, we recommend round wooden planters of at least 60cm in diameter (and depth). If you prefer a square or rectangular planter for raspberries, choose a container at least 60cm to 90cm wide and 35cm to 50cm deep. Our handmade rectangular planter is perfect for letting raspberries thrive!
What Size Planter Is Best For Blueberries?
The beauty of blueberries is that you can grow them anywhere in a wooden garden planter. But they need acidic ericaceous compost to thrive. Once established (you should expect only a modest harvest for the first two or three years), your blueberry bushes will provide you with an endless supply of antioxidant-packed berries. While making a beautiful addition to your garden or outdoor space.
When choosing the best wooden planter size for blueberries, bear in mind that they need space. A sustainable wooden planter measuring at least 60cm x 22cm x 22cm is ideal for smaller areas. If you have a large garden, a longer wooden planter of 90cm x 22cm x 22cm will allow you to sow more blueberry plants. If you are looking for a perfect blueberry planter made from sustainably sourced wood, why not look at our trough planter?
What Size Planter Is Best For Tomatoes?
If you are new to container gardening, tomatoes are a great place to start. Tomatoes are easy to grow at home, especially if you have a sunny, sheltered spot. A single plant can yield up to 5kg of ripe, juicy fruit with relatively little work. But they grow fast, so you need a big wooden planter for tomatoes.
When buying a planter box for tomatoes, choose one that is both long and deep for the best results. Aim to space your tomato plants 35cm apart and choose a container at least 25cm deep. Rectangular wooden planters measuring 25cm x 70cm x 30cm are ideal for growing tomatoes on balconies and patios. Larger 30cm x 150cm x 30cm planters are perfect for those with unlimited outdoor space.
What Size Planter Is Best For Lettuce & Salad Leaves?
You can grow lettuce and salad leaves in almost any planter that offers good drainage. Lettuce has short roots, so your wooden planter only needs to be 15cm deep but wide enough to allow the leaves to grow. Especially if you plant large head varieties such as Butterhead lettuces and Icebergs.
You can grow smaller lettuce varieties in wooden window boxes measuring 22cm x 30cm x 15cm. For larger plants such as Romaine lettuce, Cos lettuce, and delicate loose-leaf varieties such as Lollo Rosso, choose a large wooden planter of 80cm x 60cm x 50cm or, if space allows, 240cm x 120cm x 50cm to feed the whole family. Our square planters are great for letting salad grow, or rectangular planters if you are looking to grow different types of lettuce!
Root Vegetables Must Need A Deep Planter?
Most root vegetables thrive in large wooden planters, but space is key to a successful crop. Larger root veggies such as potatoes, onions, and turnips like their space, as do carrots and parsnips, so choose a large planter that has room to grow.
Your root vegetable planter needs to be at least 15cm deep, preferably 30cm or more and offer adequate drainage. If you are an urban gardener with space constraints, a planter measuring 80cm x 60cm x 50cm will be big enough to grow radishes, parsnips and baby turnips. If you have a large garden or patio, go for an extra-large wooden planter, and fill it with carrots, potatoes, leeks, onions, beetroot, and even ginger and garlic. You’ll save a fortune on your grocery bills and enjoy organic vegetables all year.
What About Foxgloves?
No English garden would be complete without foxgloves. This stunning woodland plant, characterised by its trumpet-shaped flowers, attracts an endless supply of butterflies and bees, although it is worth remembering that it is toxic to humans and pets.
You can grow foxgloves in wooden planters and create a beautiful container garden. Best of all, they require very little care. When choosing a pot for foxgloves, remember that these flowering plants grow up to 1.5m tall and 0.5m wide, so they need space. Your planter must be at least 30cm deep to support the roots and no less than 100cm x 100cm for optimal growth.
What Size Planter Is Best For Roses?
One of the easiest ways to add colour to your outdoor spaces is by planting roses. Thankfully, most roses grow well in wooden planters. If you are short on space, you can grow miniature rose varieties, such as Raspberry Royale and Sweet Dream, in small garden planters measuring 32cm x 32cm x 32cm. A container garden of this size should fit on any balcony or patio while adding a splash of colour!
If you’d like to grow traditional English roses such as the Graham Thomas or modern roses such as the Sexy Rexy. You will need a large wooden planter to give them room to grow. The best size planter for rose bushes is 65cm x 65cm x 65cm or above.
What Size Planter Is Best For Jasmine?
If you adore the exotic aromas of jasmine flowers, why not plant some at home? You can grow jasmine in any wooden planter or pot, and a single fully-grown plant could scent your entire garden.
While jasmine plants start small, they grow incredibly fast, so you’ll need a generously sized planter of at least 45cm x 45cm x 45cm. As deciduous climbers, jasmines love to have something to wrap their twining stems around. We recommend providing them with sturdy supports or place them next to a fence or trellis where they will create a wall of fragrance. Our bench planter is perfect for jasmine as it provides a beautiful background for you to sit at!
What Size Planter Is Best For Herbs?
Herbs belong in every container garden. They are tasty, nutritious, and easy to grow, even in urban environments where other plants fail to survive. This helps to make them ideal for those living in apartment blocks.
You can plant herbs in wooden planters of almost any size. They don’t need much space. You can sow smaller varieties in planters measuring 25cm x 25cm x 25cm, and larger herbs in planters of 45cm x 45cm x 45cm. Our planter wheelie bin storage is great for herbs! It keeps your bins safe and secure while also giving you space to grow your parsley and more!
Creating A Container Garden With Wooden Planters
Wooden planters are not only sustainable, durable, and hardwearing; they are perfect for growing most types of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Why not create a stylish container garden with square and rectangular planters, and save money by growing food at home. After only a year or two, the cost of the planters will have more than paid for itself, making them an extremely worthwhile investment! If you want more helpful gardening guides, check out our dedicated section or the rest of our blog!
