[moose]

My neighbour is a boot fair fanatic and often brings me things. This time it is a large plastic planter 40" x 20" x 20". It has drainage holes is a dirty cream colour. What to grow in it? I can have it in full sun, partial shade or  a lot of shade. I don't need to use it for parsnips/carrots as I have O.K. conditions for them anyway. Also OH wants it another colour - white or green. What do you think?

[juliec]

you could grow beans in it by putting up a teepee of canes around it.

good luck with it.  BTW Id prefer it to be green.

jools

[moose]

Could do but I've already got enough room for beans. I'm really looking for something different from the usual veg.

[Yorkie]

Very few things can't be grown in a planter that size.

Is there anything you've a yen to grow but never managed to do, either because it needed too much attention away down at the plot, or for any other reasons?

Is there anything you can't grow on the plot for any reason?

You can get plastikote type paint (I think aerosol) which would do the trick, although I'd say it's likely to peel off over time.

[moose]

Thanks for that Yorkie, I have now got some green paint which I'm assured will be fine.
I have enough space for all my veg needs as I have a large garden and share an allotment. In the garden I already have apples, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries and cob nuts. I'm wondering whether to use the planter for more fruit trees/bushes. Would I get two dwarf/patio type pear or plum trees in it or just one? I can put it in a south facing position so it would get a lot of sun.

[Yorkie]

I'd be reluctant to put two trees in it; although it's a large planter, they will compete for moisture and nutrients.

If you're putting anything permanent in it then use John Innes No 3 compost rather than multipurpose.  This has a higher soil content in it (thus is heavier, put the planter in position before filling it) and holds moisture and nutrients for much longer - won't need replacing annually.