So you have decided to try your hand at container gardening using a 40cm pot. There are many benefits to be gained from container gardening. However, you may find that the amount of work involved in growing your own herbs, vegetables or even flowers in a container is too much for you to handle. If this is the case then you may wish to consider taking advantage of a potting bench.
So what exactly is a potting bench? This is a small bench with slats on it, used to hold soil in place. The soil could be placed directly onto the potting bench or you can dig a hole in the ground and place the pot in the hole. Another method is to place the pot in the potting bench and fill with the soil, leaving the pot suspended over the rim of the pot.
So, how does container gardening work with a potting bench? It’s actually quite simple actually. You will need to create a hole in the ground by using an excavator or a wheelbarrow. Next you will need to line the bottom of the container with small stones or bricks so that your soil won’t drain. Now you will need to add soil, peat moss or even compost into the hole and level off the bottom.
Now you may wish to add some plant food to your pot and put a shallow covering of dirt on the pot. Then you simply add the soil and plant it in place. Some pots can be lined with netting while others should still be lined. The type of pots you use will depend on the weather conditions where you live but there are two general types of pots you will see used for container gardening.
First is a round pot which is most often used for herbs. This pot is small and therefore very easy to fill. It is also a great size for plants that need to have lots of sunlight but as most potting benches have holes at the bottom it is perfect for potting herbs. As well as being small, these pots tend to dry out fairly quickly when they are not in use. They also tend to leak as water is pulled through the soil and as this water drips through the bottom of the pot it also dries out the leaves of the plants. If your pot leaks do not try to fix it as if it is leaking then you will end up losing the plant.
Second is a square pot. This pot is good for larger seedlings and for root growing plants. These pots are usually long and narrow but can be rounded depending on what you are growing. As with the round pot, you will find that this pot will dry out rather quickly and so will need some watering. It is recommended that you keep a water bottle near by so you can refill any water you may lose through the leaves.
Third is the rectangular pot. This is the most popular type of pot in most gardens as it is large enough for most types of plant life. These pots are ideal for growing herbs, vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and even larger plants such as corn. These pots are usually rectangular in shape but you will also find some with a bit of a wavy shape. Most gardeners will agree that pots with a wavy shape are easier to tend to as they have a wider base than solid ones.
It is important that you make sure you choose the correct pot as the wrong potting bench will not only result in wasted plants but also be an eyesore. A pot that is too small will be hard to hold on to to a pot that is too large will dwarf most other pots in your garden. A potting bench should be chosen based on your needs and the space in which you are choosing to plant. There is a lot of choice when it comes to potting benches so you are likely to find one that suits your garden perfectly. Once you have selected the right pot for you then you are set to enjoy years of enjoyment from your new potting bench.