The_Simple_Things_-_March_2020

most attractive pots close to the house. It’s

so important to look out of the window and

take pleasure in what you see.

When arranging pots, try to avoid things

looking f lat and static. Think contrast: vibrant

orange f lowers next to glaucous leaves; purple

and bright green foliage side by side; or broad,

shiny leaves next to something fine and

feathery. Try to vary the height, too. It’s not

always the case that the tallest plants should

be at the back, although be careful not to

let a giant specimen block out all the light.

Something like dill, which offers height but

also transparency, is ideal. Plant supports such

as obelisks or wigwams help add interest, too.

GROWING TOGETHER

One of the good things about using generous-

sized pots is that they give you scope to grow

different plants together, extending the

cropping period for the container and creating

exciting combinations of texture and colour.

Mixing and matching can be great fun –

for example, think speckled green and red

lettuce alongside deep green parsley and

t he elect rif y ing ora nge of ma rigolds. It ’s

not difficult to create a space that’s attractive

and inviting, but there are some practical

considerations, too.

It’s important to ensure that not all the

plants are growing at the same rate, otherwise

they will crowd each other. Radishes are very

useful here, because they grow so quickly.

Sprinkle a few around your lettuces and they

will soon be ready to eat – the lettuces can then

expand into the space that’s freed up. Similarly,

you can place other crops around the base of

perennial plants – perhaps lettuces around

globe artichokes, or creeping thyme around

the base of a blackcurrant bush.

When combining crops, consider height. It

might sound obvious, but don’t grow climbing

beans in the same pot as a fruit tree unless you

want it to be smothered. But if you are growing

beans, why not add a few sweet peas? The

height of the plants will be complementary

and the f lowers will add colour and scent,

as well as helping to attract pollinators.

Companion planting can make your garden

more beautiful and more productive.

Taken from Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots: Planting

Advice & Recipes from Great Dixter by Aaron Bertelsen

(Phaidon Press); Photography by Andrew Montgomery

Good companions

Apart from looking good together,

certain combinations of plants can

provide a healthier growing environment.

Here are a few tried-and-tested pairings:

O Mediterranean herbs, such as

rosemary, thyme and lemon thyme.

Rosemary is useful for deterring cats,

and a handful of crushed lemon thyme

is good for repelling mosquitoes

O French marigolds with mixed salad

leaves – the flowers help to deter

whitefly

O Tomatoes and basil – because they’re

so often eaten together

O Figs and thyme – another great

flavour combination

O Fruit trees and nasturtiums – the

flowers will attract aphids and keep

them away from your other plants

O Purple kale with French marigolds

• the flowers help to repel beetles
  O Carrots with chives – the herb helps
  to deter carrot fly

Red lettuce

and feathery

fennel make an

attractive couple

GROWING

most attractive pots close to the house. It’s

so important to look out of the window and

take pleasure in what you see.

When arranging pots, try to avoid things

looking f lat and static. Think contrast: vibrant

orange f lowers next to glaucous leaves; purple

and bright green foliage side by side; or broad,

shiny leaves next to something fine and

feathery. Try to vary the height, too. It’s not

always the case that the tallest plants should

be at the back, although be careful not to

let a giant specimen block out all the light.

Something like dill, which offers height but

also transparency, is ideal. Plant supports such

as obelisks or wigwams help add interest, too.

GROWING TOGETHER

One of the good things about using generous-

sized pots is that they give you scope to grow

different plants together, extending the

cropping period for the container and creating

exciting combinations of texture and colour.

Mixing and matching can be great fun –

for example, think speckled green and red

lettuce alongside deep green parsley and

t he elect rif y ing ora nge of ma rigolds. It ’s

not difficult to create a space that’s attractive

and inviting, but there are some practical

considerations, too.

It’s important to ensure that not all the

plants are growing at the same rate, otherwise

they will crowd each other. Radishes are very

useful here, because they grow so quickly.

Sprinkle a few around your lettuces and they

will soon be ready to eat – the lettuces can then

expand into the space that’s freed up. Similarly,

you can place other crops around the base of

perennial plants – perhaps lettuces around

globe artichokes, or creeping thyme around

the base of a blackcurrant bush.

When combining crops, consider height. It

might sound obvious, but don’t grow climbing

beans in the same pot as a fruit tree unless you

want it to be smothered. But if you are growing

beans, why not add a few sweet peas? The

height of the plants will be complementary

and the f lowers will add colour and scent,

as well as helping to attract pollinators.

Companion planting can make your garden

more beautiful and more productive.

Taken from Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots: Planting

Advice & Recipes from Great Dixter by Aaron Bertelsen

(Phaidon Press); Photography by Andrew Montgomery

Good companions

Apart from looking good together,

certain combinations of plants can

provide a healthier growing environment.

Here are a few tried-and-tested pairings:

O Mediterranean herbs, such as

rosemary, thyme and lemon thyme.

Rosemary is useful for deterring cats,

and a handful of crushed lemon thyme

is good for repelling mosquitoes

O French marigolds with mixed salad

leaves – the flowers help to deter

whitefly

O Tomatoes and basil – because they’re

so often eaten together

O Figs and thyme – another great

flavour combination

O Fruit trees and nasturtiums – the

flowers will attract aphids and keep

them away from your other plants

O Purple kale with French marigolds

• the flowers help to repel beetles
  O Carrots with chives – the herb helps
  to deter carrot fly

Red lettuce

and feathery

fennel make an

attractive couple

GROWING