In my quest to save money, eat a more healthy diet and help the environment my sister, who lives next door to me, my daughter and myself decided we would turn our green fingers to growing our own fruit and veg. We both had enough room in our gardens to plant a good variety of veg, we both have dwarf fruit trees and we both have raspberry bushes but neither of us could seem to find quite enough room for strawberries plants and of course, with strawberries being the perfect juicy summer fruit with so many uses, from smothering them in sugar and cream to blitzing them in a smoothie, we had to think of something.
Whilst browsing around our local Dobbies we came across the Haxnicks Strawberry or Herb Patio Planters, which were advertised as being perfect for small gardens, patios and balconies. Sold in a pack of 2 for £15 we decided to buy one pack and split the contents and the costs, therefore not shelling out too much money and if we did like the results we could buy more next
year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What Are Haxnicks Strawberry or Herb Patio Planters? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Basically the planters are made from a tough polyethylene material, they are cylindrical in shape with a diameter of 35cm and a height of 45cm when opened up. They have 8 side pockets for your chosen plants and they have drainage holes around the bottom and in the base, these drainage holes are reinforced with metal eyelets. The planters also have strong carry handles on the sides for easy moving, although I must admit that now mine is full of soil and strawberry plants, I personally would not be able to lift or move the planter on my own, but my husband can and the way in which the handles are placed on the sides would make it easy enough for two people to move.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How To Use The Planters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The planters are folded flat and packaged neatly in a cardboard folder on which full usage instructions are printed, and then they are sealed in a plastic bag. Once unfolded and opened up the planter can hold up to 45 litres of soil. Not being of a solid design the planter was quite difficult to stand up when empty, however once I had placed a few trowelfuls of soil in the bottom of the planter it did start to hold it's shape much better. Before starting you are advised to place gravel or bits of broken pots in the bottom of the planter to help with the drainage. You are also advised to water each of your plants well before planting. I first filled the planter with soil to just below the level of the lowest side pockets. I then carefully placed my strawberry plants through the lowest side pockets, watered it in as I was going, and continued to fill the planter with more soil and place my other plants through the higher up side pockets until I reached the top. Once at the top I was then able to finish off by placing a few more strawberry plants in the top of the planter. All in all I was able to plant 12 strawberry plants in my planter. Of course, as the name of the planter suggests, you don't have to use strawberry plants, you can use herbs as well, or even flowers if that's what you would prefer. Really the choice is up to you. Some herbs suitable for use in the planter are Basil, Dill, Fennel, Lemon balm, Chives, Coriander, Rosemary and Thyme just to mention a few.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Results So Far ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The results so far have been more than impressive. The planter look s great and the strawberry plants are really thriving with a good few strawberries already taking shape. Having such a wide diameter makes the planter very easy to water and I am really impressed with the way in which the planter has held it's shape. Not being made of a solid construction I was anxious that it may just disintegrate and wash away with the first sign of heavy rain, well that has definitely not happened! We had more than our fair share of heavy rain during May and the planter held up well and actually looks really impressive standing with pride of place in my garden. The planters my sister and I got are pink and I personally think they look quite stunning sitting in our respective gardens and I know that when the first of the strawberries turn to a beautiful shade of red they will look even more stunning against the backdrop of the pink.
Made from a very, strong woven polyethylene material, now filled, my planter looks very sturdy and I am sure will be around for many years to come and I hope the strawberry plants will too!
I would definitely recommend these planters to anyone with a small garden or indeed anyone who wants to add a bit of colour and character to their garden and, of course, the prize has to be when you eat the first of your strawberry crop, when you take that first bite into the beautiful, juicy, red strawberry you have so caringly nurtured, still warm from the sun, with the juice dripping from you chin! Mmmmmmmm.............. what more can I say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For More information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haxnicks Ltd, Beaumont Business Centre, Woodlands Road, Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6BT 0845 241 1555 www.haxnicks.co.uk
Thanks for reading.
İlel1969
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well done on your short and good award! l had a strawberry planter one year, but the sun never shone and l seem to remember the slugs had them more than we did
. . . . . . ♥ jes ♥
exceptional by (9%):
very helpful by (91%):
