Eight steps to successful container gardening

This introductory online workshop will give you all the basic information needed to grow veg, fruit, salad and herbs in containers successfully. It is designed for complete beginners as well as those with some experience who want to master the basics.  

4 Apr 2022 17:3019:00

Mark's container growing garden. Copyright: Mark Ridsdill Smith

Mark's container growing garden. Copyright: Mark Ridsdill Smith

Drawing on a central chapter in Mark’s book, the Vertical Veg Guide to Container Growing, you’ll find out how much sun different crops need (including what to grow on a shady balcony), what size of pot to use, how to water plants in containers, and how to ensure good drainage. You’ll learn why your choice of compost is critical. You’ll discover the big difference that feeding plants in containers make – and tips on how and what to feed them. You’ll also find out a little more about the wide array of health, community and sustainability benefits that even small space growing can offer.  

It’s not difficult to grow food in containers, but, if you’ve never done it before, there are some mistakes that it is really easy to make. This online workshop will help you avoid these. It will give you the information and the confidence – and the inspiration - you need to make a successful start.

Trainer bio

Mark is author of the Vertical Veg Guide to Container Growing. Unable to get an allotment, his container growing started on his Camden balcony in 2009. He founded Vertical Veg in 2010 to: 

  • Offer practical advice on everything from easy first growing projects, to how to create a highly productive edible garden in containers. 
  • Find solutions to overcome the specific challenges of growing in the city – like lack of space & sun. 
  • Pioneer – working with others – how to grow food abundantly and sustainably in containers using local, natural resources. And to champion how growing in small urban spaces can help feed our cities,  change our food culture and improve our wellbeing. 

Support our work

Your donation will help communities grow more food in gardens across London.

Donate to Sustain

Capital Growth is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Capital Growth

Capital Growth is London's Food Growing Network, with over 2000 members. Whether you are growing at home, as part of an allotment, in a community group or school you can join for free to receive benefits such as discounts, advice and monthly enewsletters.

Capital Growth
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Capital Growth is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

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