Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. The container gardener is limited only by his imagination.

The City – an endless sprawl of smog and fog, concrete and tarmac, and nothing green to be seen other than a cycle-lane or two? Not anymore! An ever-growing number of the Great British Public are finding ways to get the countryside into the urban zone. Whether on patios, roof-tops, window-sills or conservatories, it seems everyone can find a space to get growing.

The big break-through on this front was the development of container gardening. No longer was city gardening the preserve of those lucky enough (and dedicated enough) to run an allotment patch. Affordable, ready-to-use Patio planters mean that everyone, with a minimum of labour and space, can grow their own produce.

Patio planters are a simple polythene bag, with drainage holes in the bottom and handles on the side – Available in a huge range of colours and sizes, you can now buy a planter to suit pretty much every project. Due to the huge range of colours, shapes and sizes, the tarmac roofs and concrete patios of British cities are becoming a colourful and productive garden. Round and rectangular planters, deep and shallow, planters with pockets for herbs and strawberries and planters with canes for climbing beans and sweet peas – there’s an option for everyone.

The idea is simple. Instead of digging and weeding and all the traditional labour related to growing, you simply add a decent quality multi-purpose compost to your container of choice, plant your seeds, add a little water and food from time to time and Bob’s your uncle! For those who gain further interest, you can of course develop your seeds in trays and then transplant into the container for better results, but in its simplest form, container gardening works for the most un-green-thumbed...

Gardening has always been popular in the UK, and especially so when times are hard, both recently and in the last recession in the early 1990’s, the gardening sector remained strong as people turned to the simple satisfaction of home growing, coupled with the produce of cheap, healthy vegetables. Hopefully, everyone who has discovered container gardening lately will stick with it. The city feels a better place with green roofs and patios. Healthy, fresh and affordable vegetables are definitely worth it, and lets face it you just can’t beat that home-grown taste!