Hand-Thrown English Terracotta Greenhouse Pots

These are individually dispatched in double-skin cardboard boxes, filled with wood shavings and paper to ensure they arrive intact. In some cases bubble wrap or a clear film may be used, though we'll endeavour to use as much material that can be recycled as possible.

Standard postage = £7.99.

Made from 100% English clay sourced from Stoke-on-Trent, this range comes from a small pottery in the South West who have been perfecting their art for the past three decades.

Once the clay has been prepared (sliced into manageable pieces after being 'wedged'), it is ready to be worked.

The pots are subsequently finished in gas-fired kilns at temperatures reaching 1165°C. Once this number has been hit, the kiln slowly cools off. This process occurs over two days.

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

All of our clay pots are made to be left outside and enjoyed 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 (avoiding the risk of splitting the pot) whilst offering insulation to protect your plants. This is because plants grown in pots can be more vulnerable to changing weather conditions.

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. Every so often you should 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. All pots will arrive with standard drainage holes.

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

Please use the images above as a guide. Although each pot in a range will physically look similar, exact tone of the fired clay will slightly vary. This is the nature of hand-made, earthenware pottery.

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

The same note on colour should be applied to size. As these pots are hand-made, there may be minor variations to what is listed in the description.