Your first container garden: a simple starting plan
Choose one crop, one suitable container, and a place you can easily reach with a watering can.
Read the guideGARDENING, ON YOUR SCALE
Small space.
Plenty to grow.
Make room for something green. Practical container gardens and simple projects for balconies, patios, and the space you already have.
01 Container gardens02 Practical DIY03 Grow with confidence
Good things start small.
A manageable first pot. A better watering routine. A project you can finish this weekend.
Plan a planter project before you cut or buy
A measuring checklist for a freestanding planter, including room for drainage, access, and the pot inside.
Read the guideBuild a watering routine around the pot
Use observation instead of a fixed weekday schedule, and keep a simple record of what changes.
Read the guidePotting mix bag sizes: litres, cubic feet, and bags to buy
Turn the inside measurements of a planter into a shopping quantity, with worked examples and a simple way to compare bag sizes.
Read the guideA LITTLE HELP WITH THE NUMBERS
Container soil calculator
Work out how much potting mix your next planter needs.
Small Space Steward
Our approach
Start with your actual space, your local growing conditions, and the time you have. We separate practical suggestions from precise measurements, and use seasons rather than a one-country planting calendar. More about this site.