'There's a Hole in my Bucket'

Got a hole in your bucket? Then put it to good use. Were you revelling in the sunshine but already fed up with lugging heavy watering cans or unreeling unruly hosepipes or just seeking a lower maintenance method? Then plant up your holed buckets and containers with some plants that cope better with drier conditions in pots and containers.  

Our top tips for luscious containers, pots and buckets

1. Fewer is more, rather than lots of small ones. The larger the better as the bigger pots dry out more slowly. Shallow bowls are better suited to alpines and other drought resistant plants.
2. Don’t use garden soil to fill your containers, it is generally too dense and compacts, leading to poor drainage and aeration. It can introduce pests and weed seeds. If you only have multipurpose compost then mix 70:30 with garden soil or better still your homemade garden compost. 
3. Use 10 litre pots or bigger for vegetables. Courgettes, potatoes and sweetcorn need even bigger -20 litre pots. For single specimen shrubs etc use the size of the rootball as a guide for the container, otherwise excess compost can become waterlogged and cause the roots to rot.    
4. Plastic pots from recycled materials and glazed pots need less watering than terracotta. If using terracotta then paint the inside for a non-porous lining. 
5. Wood is good too. Metal can become very hot in summer and cold in winter. Upcycle your old wooden crate, buckets and baskets when you are short on space. Make sure there are drainage holes in whatever you use.    
6. Don’t plant outside too early. Especially veg such as aubergine, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and runner beans. Or tender flowering plants such as calibrachoa, dichondra, petunia, salvia or verbena. 
7. When putting tender plants outside keep a weather eye ready to protect if frost is forecast. 
8. Starting from seed, water young seedlings or newly transplanted plants until they have established their roots. Then water as necessary.
9. Feed with general purpose soluble fertiliser when watering. Avoid wetting the leaves, water the surface of the compost/soil. Saucers help retain moisture around the base.
10. Containers need less watering in the shade. Full shade: kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, chard, parsley and chives. Most other veg will tolerate partial shade except full sun lovers: aubergine, sweetcorn, tomatoes and peppers. More ideas for drought tolerant planting see below.

Drought tolerant Container Planting

Ornamental Grasses in many hues (e.g. Festuca Glauca or Lagurus Ovatus) would provide a backdrop for ‘everlasting flowers’ such as statice, gomphrena globosa and mesembryanthemum, together with Gaillardia x grandiflora Arizona Apricot or Dianthus Super Parfait – Raspberry, Strawberry or Red Peppermint. All these will survive less frequent watering.

Succulents are obvious contenders providing a range of colours and foliage shapes. Think aloe, aeonium (houseleek), sedum (stonecrop), sempervivum and echeveria.

Not just for flowers, vegetables and herbs can do well in containers too. Thyme, sage and lavender are perennial and will withstand drought. Chilli peppers are sun lovers and make a good centrepiece. Demon Red with mature bright red fruits, or Basket of Fire for a variety of coloured fruits. Basil, parsley, and dill can be excellent companions for peppers, potentially improving pest control and attracting pollinators. Or for a flash of colour, nasturtium or marigolds can also be beneficial in a container. Other tasty options are dwarf French beans planted up with rocket and chard or herbs and edible flowers as companions as above.