A planter is a container designed for growing plants. You might see planters on apartment balconies holding tomato vines, on front porches displaying colorful flowers, or in classrooms where students grow bean sprouts for science projects. Planters can be made from clay, plastic, wood, or ceramic, and they usually have holes in the bottom so excess water can drain out and roots don't get waterlogged.

The word also refers to someone who plants crops, especially in historical contexts. In early America, a planter was a landowner who ran a large farm, typically growing cash crops like tobacco, cotton, or rice. These plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor, a brutal system that shaped American history. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both Virginia planters before they became presidents.

Today, farmers still use mechanical planters, which are tractor-pulled machines that dig furrows, drop seeds at precise intervals, and cover them with soil in one smooth operation. Modern planters can plant dozens of rows at once, making it possible to sow hundreds of acres in a single day.