XL garden pots

[nicemarmot]

I’ve grown some sweet peas from seed for the first time this year and I’m starting to harden them off ready for planting. We’ve got a couple of nice wigwams to grow them up and wanted to grow them in pots on the patio. I’ve now realised that none of my pots are big enough. The wigwam measures 40cm diameter so ideally looking for a pot that’s at least 50cm wide. The prices for the really big pots are frightening. Has anyone found reasonably priced big pots (that also look nice)?

If you don’t mind plastic then The Range has some modern big ones, or garden centres do huge ones that look like terracotta for about £20 each. It’s hit and miss with good ones looking very convincing and bad ones looking horrible so it’s best to go in person. My local also has a reduced section for glazed pots, it’s hidden away at the back, so might be worth looking in yours in case they have one too

Morrisons have some big planters. I bought a 46cm plain plastic one for £8 to repot my olive tree. It's totally ungrateful though and still losing its leaves!
This one is plastic but 52cm and doesnt look too bad? £18
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/mims-plastic-whiskey-barrel-planter-52cm/114521832

Watching as this is the holy grail

the only other suggestion is to browse fb marketplace

Agree that second hand is best, you can get some real bargains. Marketplace, Gumtree, local eBay, jumble sales, car boot, charity shop if you're lucky.

Farm supplies can be useful too, or builder's trugs. Wooden planters tend to be cheaper new than ceramic. Building your own with scrap wood is also quite fun.

I find half oak barrels the best value off eBay. You do need to drill some holes in the bottom for drainage before planting in them, but they are huge and look great.

I agree with the plastic pots. I saw some in a garden centre the other day that were plastic but patterned, and they didn't look plastic at all!

The best thing with plastic is that they are a bit lighter when filled with soil and therefore easier to move.

large plastic trug buckets. make holes in the bottom. cut the handles off if you dont like them. cheap n cheerful.

If you have a local WhatsApp group, it’s worth asking if anyone has pots they want to get rid of. Every year I get new pots from neighbours, ranging from massive 50cm plastic pots down to small and medium sized terracotta, glazed and chimney pots, all for free.

@Pumpkinpuffin - Olive trees like tomorite! I once rescued 2 from death (all leaves dropping off) by replacing part of the compost with tomato grow bags. They loved it! Don't let them get too wet (lol this is Britain) or too dry (though they prefer that to wet) and they do need good drainage.

Thank you for all the ideas. Forgot about eBay- a barrel might work. Don’t know about a local WhatsApp group but FB might be worth a look. Will also try some the local garden centres to see if my luck is in.

That doesn't look too bad tbh, thanks!

Whisky barrels - look on facebook marketplace, half barrels near me are £25.

Oh thanks for the tip! I put fresh compost in, but just normal stuff. I did drill a load of drainage holes in the new pot too.