Potting Shed News - Plant Pots and Little Luxuries

I've been re-potting my beans today. They are already at quite a height, so I may have a crop in the conservatory this year too. I have sown another batch for succession and as a back up, as it's getting tempting to be putting a few outside. We have a mild climate and a sheltered garden here, so I often get away with sneaking a few out earlier than is wise. The one thing I haven't done yet is sown my tomatoes, so that is certainly a job for this weekend. My garden is small and well established, so much of my annual veg growing is done in various containers - usually recycled tubs and buckets. 

I don't buy plastic pots and I try to avoid buying plants sold in them (where possible I grow from seed or propagate from cuttings and division). Not only is this cheaper, it saves me having to deal with waste. Most modern plastic plant pots are designed to biodegrade, which is good if they end up in the ground and need to do that, but not so good if you want to reuse them! Over the years I've collected many vintage terracotta pots and they will last for as long as I don't smash them! Even when broken they are utilized as 'crocks' ( the shards that you put in the bottom of bigger pots to cover the drainage hole). It's possible to buy modern terracotta pots, but I will always look for vintage ones or those produced by artisan potteries first. I always avoid the mass-produced if at all possible; if I do have to buy instead of make, the independent crafter is the next best thing. This lifestyle isn't all about hard-graft and economy. It's important to have a few luxuries too, if only to remind us that this is a thoroughly modern way of life. That said though, these days I find that my luxuries are rather practical! A handcrafted plant pot from Whichford Potteries or a fancy rhubarb forcer from Errington Reay are the things dreams are made of!