Vintage sinks are ready-made planters that even have a built-in drain. They’re great for growing vegetables, flowers, and creating mini-ponds, and look beautiful too. This piece includes tips on where to find them and how to plant them up as vintage sink planters.
A couple of years ago I noticed a beat-up old Belfast sink at our allotment garden. There’s a path that leads from the car park to the field and someone had left the sink just off to the side. It was as if they’d unloaded it and were going to move it onto their plot. It sat there for six months before I decided to take it home and give it new life.
Stoneware sinks of all kinds are perfect for growing veg or flowers. It’s kind of a no-brainer since they have a built-in drain and the thickness of the stone can protect plant roots and bulbs from extreme temperatures. In fact, I’ve planted my Belfast sink up with a bulb lasagne and the bulbs lasted two years before I replanted them. They’re also built to last so a Belfast sink will become a shabby-chic garden feature that outlives all your other planters.
A beautiful alpine planting that I found on Pinterest
Ideas for Vintage Sink Planters
I was incredibly excited to take the abandoned sink home. It looks good and I knew from other gardeners that stoneware sinks are incredibly versatile planters. You can plant them with all manner of greens and flowers or even use one to create a mini-pond. Not only are they practical but their crisp white lines are a contrast to the living green that pours from them. They add so much character to the garden, no matter how you have them planted. Here are some ideas:
- Create an alpine garden
- Plant them with spring bulbs using the bulb lasagne method
- Grow culinary herbs like coriander (cilantro), basil, and thyme
- Fill them with water to create a water feature
- Pack them with succulent plants like hen and chicks
- Insert a trellis in them and grow sweet peas
A mini-pond will attract frogs and wildlife to your garden — image via the RSPB
Finding Vintage Belfast Sinks
I actually damaged my car getting the thing home and probably hurt my back a little in the process. It doesn’t look that big but it weighs a ton. A little less actually, 47 kilograms (103 pounds) of dead weight to be exact. I managed to get it into the passenger side of my little car, scraping the inner part of the door frame in the process. Moral of the story: when you find your own planter, make sure you ask someone to help you move it.
This vintage sink is at a seaside garden on the Isle of Man
Here on the Isle of Man I’ve seen quite a few vintage stoneware sinks being used to feed and water livestock. If I were looking for another one locally I’d probably ask a farmer or go to a Buy-and-Sell group on Facebook. On a small island like ours, it’s amazing how things can come out of the woodwork if you just ask if anyone had one for sale. As for price, I’ve seen old ones like my own for £5-30 being sold online. In the UK, check Gumtree, eBay, and reclamation sites.
Across the pond, Belfast and butler sinks are more difficult to pick up. I’ve just done a quick search on Craigslist for ‘vintage sink’ though and there are plenty of listings. eBay is the same and my search just now turned up some pretty funky pink, blue, and green retro sinks.
Herbs planted in a Belfast sink — image via Klaus and Heidi
How to plant Vintage Sink Planters
The trick to a successful vintage sink planter is to make sure the drain isn’t plugged up with soil. Placing gravel, crocks, shells, and pebbles in the bottom can help excess water to escape. On top of that place your compost, then whatever you’re growing. Finally, a layer of grit or gravel on top to keep the compost from drying out and eroding. Plants have no problem pushing through.
- Place the sink in its final position before planting. It will be back-breaking to move afterward
- It will help drainage if you can place the sink on bricks or wooden blocks
- Fill the bottom of the sink with 1-2″ of gravel, crocks, shells, pebbles, or small rocks
- Fill the sink with compost up to 1″ from the top or overflow drain that might be on the side
- Sow with seeds or dig in your plants
- Top dress with grit or gravel and then water
Not only did it give me a place to grow greens, but this heavy Belfast sink kept my greenhouse in place during storms
Coleen Dawn Brown says
I have just bought a new house and at the bottom of the garden is a ‘Belfast Sink’, how excited am I? I cant wait to get it sorted as per your video and plant the bulbs I have purchased especially for it. Oh by the way did I mention that I live just 20 minutes outside Belfast. 😊
Bernadette Britt says
I’m so thrilled to have seen this article. My dear friends are doing up their house and want to get rid of ‘an old Belfast sink ‘ So pleased to see all the photos, as they all look so gorgeous. I will use it to grow salad veg in front of my green house rather than on my allotment where it wont be admired so much ! Thank you for the ideas ! Bernadette in Norfolk .
Shari Jennings says
A great idea. I love chili and herbs. I will start planting herbs in the spring of next year
Emma Cooper says
Lovely! I saw mint growing in an old sink at a ‘Dig for Victory’ allotment recreation a few years ago, and it always looks stylish. It would be nice to get my hands on a suitable old sink one day!
lovelygreens says
Keep an eye out…you never know! 🙂
Bill says
Excellent! We similarly repurposed an old livestock watering trough. I hadn’t thought of putting some gravel in the bottom but it makes good sense.
lovelygreens says
It should really help! The next time I plant it up I’ll sprinkle a layer of horticultural grit on top of the compost too. It stops weed seeds finding someplace to grow and keeps the compost moister for longer.
Patti says
Yum. I love arugula and cilantro. Great herbs to grow in that gorgeous sink.
lovelygreens says
Gorgeous and HEAVY sink 🙂 My greenhouse isn’t going anywhere!