Growing Climbing Plants in Containers

When to Start: Spring
At Their Best: Summer
Time to Complete: 1-1/2 hours

Materials Needed:

• jasmine or other climber
• a large frost-proof pot
• broken clay pot pieces
• potting soil

• trellis
• twine
• gravel or pebbles to mulch
• watering can

Before You Plant

Put pieces of broken clay pot into the base of the container, then cover with a layer of soil. Position the support at the back of the container and then pack some soil around it to help hold it firmly in place. Make sure that there's enough room for the plant roots to spread out.

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Angle Plant Toward Trellis

Partially fill the container with more soil. Set the climber on top to check that it will be at the same depth as it was in its pot when planted. Plant it with the stems angled toward the trellis. There should be a gap of 2 inches between the compost surface and the rim of the pot.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Tie In Main Stems

Remove any supports the plant has been grown on. Tie the main stems loosely to the trellis with twine. When the stems have hardened, remove the ties and tie in new growth higher up the trellis.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited