Choosing Containers & Pots

Getting Started

The right container gives roots room, holds enough moisture and keeps plants stable in British weather. There is no single perfect material: terracotta, plastic, glazed ceramic, metal, wood and fabric all have strengths. Prioritise drainage, size and a position that you can easily water.

How to do it

Match the pot to the mature plant, not the small plant you buy. Choose deep, wide containers for tomatoes, potatoes and beans, and shallower troughs for salad leaves and herbs. Every container needs drainage holes; drill them into suitable recycled vessels and add crocks over large holes if needed. Raise pots on feet so water can escape. Fill with fresh peat-free multipurpose compost for most seasonal planting. Heavy ceramic pots resist wind but are difficult to move, while lightweight plastic and fabric pots are easier to position. Check containers after frosts for cracks and replace damaged ones before planting.

Best plants

Troughs and window boxes suit salad leaves, parsley, chives, violas and compact strawberries. Large tubs suit tomatoes, dwarf beans, potatoes, blueberries and compact fruit trees. Grow bags are useful for tomatoes, peppers and courgettes. Hanging baskets work well for trailing strawberries, thyme, nasturtiums and flowering annuals. Tall, narrow pots are best reserved for plants with modest root systems.

Tips

Bigger pots are generally more forgiving because they dry out less quickly and buffer root temperatures. Dark containers warm up sooner in spring but can overheat in a hot, sheltered spot. Reuse sound pots after washing them, but use fresh compost for new crops. Keep a matching saucer only where it will not cause waterlogging.

Choosing Containers & Pots: frequently asked questions

How do I get started with choosing containers & pots?

Match the pot to the mature plant, not the small plant you buy.

What are the best plants for choosing containers & pots?

Troughs and window boxes suit salad leaves, parsley, chives, violas and compact strawberries.

What are some tips for choosing containers & pots?

Bigger pots are generally more forgiving because they dry out less quickly and buffer root temperatures.

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General guidance for UK gardeners. Match plant choices to your light and shelter. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.