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Rachel de Thame explains how to grow apple, pineapple and curly mint varieties in a pot, with advice on compost, planting and maintenance.springMore on growing herbsPractical advice on raising herbsVideo guide to How to grow peppermint and thyme

James Alexander-Sinclair's blogs on the subject of small trees but wanted to share my own experience - not of growing trees in the garden but in large pots.Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' is a stunning small, slow-growing maple with the most gorgeous palm

flavour. Lemon thyme is also a favourite for poultry - add a handful to the cavity with half an onion, cook and let the aromas fill your kitchen.Stand the pot in partial shade and feed weekly with seaweed extract, until early autumn. Deadhead the sage

-lead plantersCrocks for drainageJohn Innes No.3 potting compost2 x controlled-release fertiliser tablets2 x 80 clear outdoor static fairy lightsPut a few crocks in the base of the pots, half fill them with compost and add a fertiliser tablet to each one

If you like rustic charm and relaxed, informal planting, this pot display is for you. With a traditional holly bush at the centre, and red berry lights for a little sparkle, you couldn't wish for a more festive container recipe. You should find all

not in flower. Place it in a shaded, sheltered position in view of the house so you can always enjoy the display.March - April or October - NovemberApril-May30 minutesCompact camellia, e.g. 'Tom Thumb', 'Anticipation' or 'Black Lace'Large, deep pot, 30-35cm

with roast vegetables, especially tomatoes. Use purple shiso (or perilla) in stir-fries, add to salads or - in a similar way to vine leaves - stuff with pine nuts and chive flowers. Place the pot in partial shade - avoid full sun, as the leafy herbs

Acid-loving azaleas grow happily in pots of ericaceous compost, so you can enjoy these plants even without acid garden soil. They come in a wide range of colours, from deep red and pink to orange, yellow or pure white. Some even have a wonderful

'Gypsophila cerastiodesPratia x2Small potWire 'gabion' basket planter, 23cm x 23cm x 15cm CompostFill a pot with compost and place a wire mesh container inside the pebble gabion. Place the alpine pink centrally in the container and position the pratia and Gypsophila

Some pots cry out for a simple planting scheme that doesn't detract from their own beauty, for which this arrangement is perfect. The bamboo combines beautifully with the dark brown-bronze leaves of the red hook sedge to form a sleek display