A major focus on patio containers will be a central feature of this year’s Summer Showcase, the popular Ball Colegrave open days at the grower’s Oxfordshire trial grounds (Monday to Friday, 14 July to 1 August, 9am to 5pm)

This year's theme is Celebrating Colour, with a major new display looking deeply into consumer trends. There will be nine lifestyle, colour co-ordinated patio container gardens, each inspired by industry research into consumer attitudes to gardens and their use of outdoor space.

Each patio garden is focused around the simple use of containers; by far the simplest way for even the most basic of gardeners to enjoy success with plants. This was a theme embraced by this year's industry campaign 'Whatever space you've got, it Starts with a Pot'

To showcase the diverse range of innovative patio containers available to the home gardener, leading manufacturers will exhibit their products in the event’s first ever Container Festival. Participants include Anglo Eastern Trading, Cadix, Lowes of Dundee, Modiform, Scheurich, Stewarts Plastics, Synprodo Plantpak, VertiGarden and Woodlodge.