Cretan Terracotta 'Long Tom' Planters

The Cretan Terracotta Long Tom Planter. A pot at long last named after the man behind the business! Jokes aside, traditionally speaking; A 'Long Tom' is an open pot, crucially taller than it is wide. 

Thomas says: ''Long Tom's were originally designed for deep rooted plants and have been loved by British gardeners for well over 100 years. Although these two sizes are quite large, both are perfect 'presentation pots' for adding structured planting to an entrance. Raise your Long Tom with the scroll plinth or the less-formal wedge design.''

Each pot is individually hand-thrown and made from the finest quality Cretan clay. This clay is renowned for its durability and and unique appearance. Once a pot has been fired in a kiln for a duration of 3 days at temperatures reaching around 1200 Celsius, the results are a hardened clay that can last for decades.

Hand-made and frost hardy to -20°C. Read more about the process below.

Pots & compost go hand-in-hand; That's why every planter now arrives with peat-free compost on the house. See it as a thank you for supporting the Yard... Happy gardening!

Every week of the year pots are being sent out across Great Britain.

1) An economy England & Wales pallet service covers most orders for just £40 per pallet. Scottish or off-shore addresses requires a quote. This £40 is charged per pallet however in most cases I can fit more than one pot on a pallet. Sometimes up to 6.

2) I offer a local ''white-glove'' delivery service that covers a 45 mile radius from Tom's Yard HQ. This fee (calculated off your postcode) covers an entire consignment no matter how many items are on order.

3) A courier service at request for larger nationwide jobs or when a more personal service is required.

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Delivery prices are automatically calculated at checkout. For further information on the various services, click here or get in touch to chat through your order.

At Tom's Yard we choose to import clay pots made from the best materials that are put through extensive firing processes, tried and tested by our Potteries for many years.

All of our clay pots are made to be left outside and enjoyed for 365 days of the year.

With that being said, there are simple steps you should take to ensure the longevity of your pots and also the health of your plants.

Winter

If prolonged or sudden, harsh freezing conditions are forecasted, we recommend wrapping your pots in bubble plastic or fleece; this should prevent the earth from freezing solid (and avoid the risk of splitting the pot) and at the same time protect any plants growing in them; a frozen pot will kill off a plant far easier that if it were growing in the ground.

Following the steps below will go a long way to mitigating harmful effects to your plants and will ensure that your pots last for years to come.

Drainage

Drainage holes are vital if a pot is going outside. If not already in the pot, unless specified, we always drill holes before a pot leaves the Yard. Every so often check that the holes have not become clogged up, otherwise water could be retained within the pot, leading to root-rot, or the risk of damage to the pot during freezing conditions.

Although not always necessary, you can raise your pot off the ground to assist with drainage. Flat stones, tiles, wooden batons, plastic matting or terracotta feet are ideal.

Planting

If you are using the pot for planting, put a good layer of gravel and broken crocks at the bottom. This prevents the holes from getting clogged up with soil and aids drainage. Top up with a suitable compost/soil blend depending on the plants.

If the pot is enclosed with a narrow neck we advise that you avoid permanent planting or have a removable plastic pot within the terracotta pot. Otherwise the roots will grow into the ‘belly’ of the pot making the plant extremely difficult to remove.

Even in straight pots, do be aware of garden favourites such as Agapanthus and Phormium. These plants produce very strong roots than can split a pot. It's far better to grab a hori-hori and to split the plant.

Sitting

Never stand your pot on bare earth. Being porous, the bottom few inches will soak up the moisture, frost playing on permanently wet terracotta may not be in the best long-term interests of the pot. Instead sit it on feet raised on a paving slab or dig a circle lined with metal edging and fill it with gravel.

The beauty of Cretan Pots is that each pot is entirely hand-thrown from clay only found on the island of Crete.

Once fired, due to the unique mineral content, some pots arrive more pale whilst others are more orange.

We recommend that you use each picture as a guide. However, don't get too caught up on colour - it won't take long for your pots to soften & weather as they are exposed to the elements.

Each pot is hand-thrown on a wheel - no easy task! Due to this ancient method of making pots, there are minor variations in exact size and form, so we recommend you use the dimensions above as a guide. We will always do our best to make the best matched pairs/groups for you.

As there are multiple imports throughout each year, it is not guaranteed that the colour of your pot looks exactly the same as the model featured above. This is because my terracotta pots contain a lot of naturally occurring minerals which when fired can result in a varied tone - making each pot individual in its own right.

When ordering multiples, I'll always do my very best to select pairs or groups that match.

Please use the images above as a guide. If you are ever unsure, just reach out and I'll be happy to send you images of the options available.