SMALL-SPACE GARDENING Great ideas and advice

Small-spacegardening

Bring your containers to life with seasonal ideas from our columnist Isabelle Palmer, The Balcony Gardener

CROP OF THE MONTH Mini cucumbers

Last year, I grew cucumber ‘Picolino’ (half-length mini cucumbers) in my pots and it was one of the most successful crops I’ve had. First, a tip: don’t grow from seed. For years, I’ve started with plug plants, which are pre-grown, young plants, either seedlings or cuttings grown in trays or single units. This cucumber variety is delivered from April, so get ordering now (try brooksidenursery.co.uk). If you don’t have a greenhouse, wait and plant plug plants outside when the risk of frost has passed and the weather has warmed up. Until then, keep them in pots under cover or on a sunny windowsill. You will be able to pick them from July. Water and feed little and often, keeping the soil moist to ensure a crisp, crunchy crop. Delicious.

THIS YEAR IT’S ALL ABOUT HOUSEPLANTS AND NATURAL GARDENS

Some gardening styles never fall out of favour, but the dawn of a new year is a good time to check out the latest trendsandfreshenupyourspacefor themonthsahead.AttheRHSChelseaFlower Showlastyear,mostofthegardensfocusedon a streamlined aesthetic and the use of natural products. There was a real sense of nature ’ s warmer hues making a comeback – think of wicker, wood, grasses and rusting metals.

But the new garden trends aren ’t just about neutrals–moodyhues,darkpink,purple,silver and orange are also set to be popular for 2022. Bring the style into your space with asters, salviasandaplethoraofsoft-tonedornamental grassesalongwithdahliasandgladioli:it’ san easy way to create a fantastic display. Gaura will be a big player too, which is good news as it has a long flowering period and adds to the diversityofsmall-spacecontainergardening.

Houseplants continue to be key for 2022. Big varieties, such as rubber plants, bird of paradise and banana plants are my hot tip. Try growing cuttings in water dotted around the house in glass vases – they look beautiful. My other prediction for the next big thing. You heard it here first.

Turn the page for Isabelle’s list of plants to grow for the new year. Follow her on Instagram @thebalconygardener

Coconut fibre is durable enough to line hanging baskets and containers – ideal if you have large or unusual shaped planters. Just cut to size.

Drumstick allium

ISABELLE’S PLANT LIST

What to grow for the new year

The secret to this is to line window boxes with a flexible coco liner (see previous page). Then any excess water is absorbed by the liner and can be released back to the roots easily. It also ensures that it’s a straightforward task to remove old displays and insert a new one.

Achillea millefolium ‘Apricot Delight’ Allium sphaerocephalon (drumstick allium) Antirrhinum majus ‘Chantilly Light Salmon’ Antirrhinum majus ‘Chantilly Purple’ Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ (michaelmas daisy) Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ Dahlia ‘Classic Rosamunde’ Dahlia ‘Dark Desire’ Dierama pulcherrimum ‘Blackbird’ Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’ Gladiolus ‘Jessica’ Gladiolus ‘Velvet Eyes’ Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ (gaura) Pilosella aurantiaca (fox and cubs) Salvia ‘Cherry Pie’ Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria White’ Salvia greggii ‘Mirage Cream’ Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’ (burnet) Sedum ‘Thunderhead’ (stonecrop)

GRASSES FOR POTS

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (red or purple fountain grass) Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’

Purple fountain grass

Q&A What’ s the best way to stop window boxes leaking brown water on ledges?

How to... CHOOSE THE BEST WINDOW BOX FOR YOU

Now is the time to get ahead of the game if a window box is on your to-buy list. Choose one with drainage holes; if it doesn’t have any, make sure it’s suitable for you to create some with a drill or a hammer and nail. Placing a window box in a south-facing position? Steer clear of metals and materials that heat up quickly (you’ll be forever watering it). Stone and clay are better for a sunny aspect as they’re porous and allow the plant to access oxygen in the soil and not become waterlogged. If you’re placing them in a cooler position, metals are a smart choice.

You need to bear in mind weight, too. Your window box must be secure, so if you’re not fixing it in place with brackets (a must for a balcony), go for something heavy that’s not going to fall off its ledge when the container is drier and lighter. The best all-round material to use is fibreglass or GRP (glass reinforced plastic). It’s light, doesn’t overheat, comes in lots of colours and, the added bonus, it’s sustainable.

ISABELLE’S PICK OF THE BEST GARDEN BUYS FOR 2022

Corten steel trough planter, from £102, londonstone.co.uk