What would you fill a LARGE container with?

[Tangle]

DD1 has just turned 4. For her birthday DH made her a "garden" (something a bit like this but all one level - total volume is around 200L). Plan is to go out this weekend to get something to fill it with and some seeds to plant in it.

For large pots I tend to chuck in a mixture of soil based compost, a bit of water retaining gel and some slow release fertiliser - and possibly some manure as well. I suspect she's going to wind up with easy annuals, mainly flowers, maybe some veg (I'd like to try carrots in the hope she might then eat them...)

So does that mix sound about right? If not, what would you change it to? She's so excited about having her very own garden to play in I'd hate to get this wrong and set her up to fail before she even starts...

[fortyplus]

Carrots want poor soil so maybe about a third sharp sand - don't fertilise or add manure. I think you might be better off growing the carrots in something else. We had some mini ones in a gro-bag one year.

What about those little alpine strawberries? And a mix of lettuce seeds with different coloured/shaped leaves. Sungold tomatoes are good - very sweet orange fruits that ripen early.

[MelinaM]

Pop some herbs in there too, lavender, sage, rosemary, marjoram, camomile etc... I'm sure your DD will love sniffing those and watching the bees and butterflies that they attract
You could also make a couple of small wigwams for some french beans, sugar snap peas, and sweet peas to grow up, they'll add a bit of height to the arrangement. Have fun!

[Thingumy]

I've bought some Kew urban Garden seeds this year for our patio veg.

There's even a dwarf runner bean!

Herbs are a great idea too as is one section for plants for bees.

I'd go for a John Innes compost no 2.

[Tangle]

Hmm.

Already have a big pot that we grew dwarf runner beans in last year, and plan to do the same again - that's what got her eating beans :o

Do you reckon carrots would grow in a smaller pot (maybe 12")? I've got quite a few of those that usually get filled with summer bedding, but could easily be re-allocated. Tomatoes are something else she's not keen on, so that could be a good idea.

Oh decisions, decisions! The plan is for her to choose seeds with my parents, so if I've any strong ideas I need to give them guidance in advance. Keep them coming :)

[Prunnhilda]

What about a quirky grass - we have a curly bronze one and have had 'lamb's tails' in the past. V low maintenance and a bit different for a child.
We also have one blackcurrant bush, which we keep small - makes half a pot of jam, which ds eats in a one. Marigolds a big hit too, as v easy to grow.

[Thingumy]

Yellow tumbling toms?

Carrots are lovely pulled small and eaten raw-you can get purple varieties.

Courgettes? Lots of different colours and the round ones are fun.

Viola 'heartsease' is pretty and can be eaten-lovely in salads.

I'd go for fun and quirky myself.

[MelinaM]

^Yes, do purple carrots!

How about strawberries, and you also can get miniature sun flowers -Teddy Bear is the variety, they don't go any taller than 1.5 feet, and look lovely too

Garlic is also something that doesn't take up too much space.

[urbangardener]

How about radish and spring onions as they grow really quickly and take up very little space. Chard looks lovely.