Patch & Pot

Your First Pot

A 10–15 minute setup for salads, herbs, and easy veg.

  1. Choose a pot with drainage holes. 20–30 cm wide works for salads/herbs.
  2. Add drainage mesh or a paper layer over holes to stop compost escaping.
  3. Fill with peat-free compost to 2 cm from the rim. Mix in slow-release feed for tomatoes/veg.
  4. Sow or plant (see “What to Sow & When”). Thin seedlings if crowded.
  5. Water deeply until a little drains out the bottom. Keep evenly moist.
  6. Light — 6+ hours sun if possible. Turn the pot weekly for even growth.
  7. Harvest — pick outer leaves first; never strip the plant bare.

Kit checklist

  • Pot with drainage + tray
  • Peat-free compost
  • Seeds/seedlings
  • Watering can or jug
  • Optional: slow-release fertiliser

What to Sow & When

A UK-friendly month-by-month sketch. Adjust for micro-climates.

  • Spring: lettuce, spinach, kale, radish, parsley, chives.
  • Early Summer: basil, tomatoes (bush), chillies, courgette (large pot).
  • Late Summer: cut more salad, sow last basil, start autumn kale.
  • Autumn: hardy salads, rocket, Asian greens in sheltered spots.
  • Winter: herbs on a bright sill; tidy, mulch, plan next season.

Small Space Winners

Cut-and-come-again leaves, mixed herbs, cherry tomatoes, dwarf chillies.

2-Minute Calm

Use while watering, thinning, or just standing by your pots.

  1. Square breath: In 4 · hold 4 · out 4 · hold 4 · repeat x4.
  2. Label 5 things you can see, 4 feel, 3 hear, 2 smell, 1 taste.
  3. Micro-gratitude: name one tiny win your plants managed today.

Save for later

Bookmark this section and try one prompt each time you visit your plants.