ACADEMY

The LECHUZA TRIO self-watering container with trellis is perfect for plants that need support

The self-watering planter specialist, LECHUZA, has a broad range of outdoor containers that are ideal for growing fruit and vegetables at home, from large-scale planters ideal for tomatoes and small fruit trees, to smaller designs you can attach to balconies or tuck into sunny patio corners.

The Trio Cottage planter (£173.83) with optional trellis and three removable planter liners, is not just a stylish solution for patios, balconies and green houses, it is ideal for leggy plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers which require some support. This lightweight and waterproof, wicker style planter incorporates three separate planting spaces, each with a removable liner and mineral plant substrate included.

The inbuilt self-watering system will ensure that plants remain hydrated, even throughout extended hot, dry periods, meaning you can go on holiday without worrying about your precious tomatoes dying of thirst! All you have to do for great growing is make sure you buy some seeds, as they may be in short supply if market demand is sky high.

The Trio planter is also available in an elegant Stone surface finish (RRP: £169.99) and a choice of versatile neutral colours Urban Gardening made easy with BALCONERA

For those of us who don’t have a big garden or other outdoor space to work with but would love to try our hand at growing, the BALCONERA model is perfect for cultivating salad vegetables and herbs. Lovely lettuce plants or spring onions, beetroots or radishes, will grow beautifully in this incredibly versatile planter, which can either be attached to a balcony or fence, or placed on a table or windowsill. This is also the perfect way to grow your own easy pick herb garden filled with basil, chives or thyme.

The BALCONERA design is incredibly popular and available in a number of different sizes, colours and surface finishes, including matte wicker-style or stone-effect for cottagecore enthusiasts, to bright and glossy colours for a more contemporary look.

LECHUZA’s state-of-the-art self-watering system, which is integrated into all planters in the range, supplies plants with the optimum amount of water and nutrition for up to three months, depending on the planter size. All you need do is keep an eye on the water indicator and top up the reservoir up when it starts running low.

Perfect Growing Media

LECHUZA also offers an exceptional PON substrate, which delivers optimal air/water ratio for plants, reducing their vulnerability to diseases whilst offering balanced nutrient distribution and enhanced water efficiency.

The specially developed VEGGIEPON (6 litres for £16.99 or 12 litres for £24.99) is a nutrient-dense, peat-free substrate enriched with vegan fertiliser and plant-based carbon for strong rooting, luxuriant leaves and abundant harvests. This structurally stable, pH balanced, vegan substrate will supply fruit and veg with essential micronutrients and help prevent contamination by binding heavy metals and pollutants out of harm’s way.

Whether you have a huge garden or a tiny balcony, container growing is a delight compared to the rigours of digging over allotments and garden beds, which require constant weeding throughout spring and summer and can be difficult to maintain if you have limited time and mobility. Containers can also be moved around easily to ensure plants can be shielded from the elements in the event of a surprise storm, frost, or overly-hot sun.

This is also good news for generation rent, who would love to get in on the grow-your-own fun without investing their time and money in somebody else’s property.