Plant your own edible window box

Window boxes are a good way of growing herbs and vegetables even if you don’t have a garden. Get tips on what to put in your window box with our video.

Hand planting lettuce in a window box

What to plant in a window box

  • Get inspiration for what to grow by having a look at seed catalogues. It’s fun doing this with friends, and seed catalogues are free.
  • Why not pick a theme for your window box, for example a Mediterranean garden or a Mexican garden? That's a good way to get kids interested. You could try peppers, aubergines or tomatoes along with herbs like basil – all great toppings for a pizza. Or add chilli peppers for a bit of a kick.

How to plant up your window box

  • You don’t necessarily need to buy a window box; you can recycle containers such as big ice cream tubs. Poke holes in the bottom so that the water can drain away.
  • Add a few special ingredients to your compost: water retention granules, which swell up when you water the container and then slowly release the moisture; and slow release fertilizer, which keeps feeding the plants throughout summer.
  • Give each plant enough room to spread out, placing taller plants at the back of the tub.
  • Water the container well before you put it outside.
  • Continue to water regularly and check for snails and slugs under the leaves and around the rim of the container.
  • Enjoy harvesting your herbs and vegetables throughout the summer!

Video

Plant a window box

Design your own Italian-inspired container garden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch