Containers for veg?

Purpleclutterbuck · 10 June 2009 at 10:15PM

I think my vegetable plot is very un-aesthetic at the moment as I am currently using an old fridge and an old microwave to grow potatoes - and the chives/herbs are in my hubby's old walking boots! If you can fill anything with soil then you can grow something!

Mazzarati2000 · 10 June 2009 at 10:29PM

The bags available from Wilko (mentioned earlier) are at £1.49 at the moment (If they're the same ones I have). I know what you mean about stability, but I have put some wood & bricks round to stabilise & fence them in a bit, & they're doing well atm, do you have anything you could support the edges with?

huggermugger · 11 June 2009 at 8:22AM

These are all fantastic ideas - I really fancy making some boxes if I can scrounge some wood. Can't make window boxes as I have very small, sloping windowsills!

Mazzarati2000: By Wilco do you mean Wilkinson's? The nearest one here is 15 miles away so not really economic to make a trip for one thing... maybe I can get someone else to pick some up for me

I keep meaning to try Freecycle - have been daunted by the whole process so far but will try signing up...

huggermugger · 11 June 2009 at 8:25AM

Morty_007 wrote: »

I am experimenting with growing tomatoes upside down in Tesco hessian bags at the moment. No reason a 10p reusable (and replacable ) bag for life shouldn't work to grow stuff in with a bit of card for reinforcement.

I am really intrigued by this - tell me how you do it! They are lined with a plastic membrane, aren't they so that must make them quite durable...

Emma684489 · 11 June 2009 at 11:30AM

Hi there

I don't know if this helps but you could try growing veg in some old tyres. Simply place one on top of the other until you get the right height, fill with compost/soil & hey presto. It's then easy to make the "pot" higher if need be by adding another one. If you could post a wanted ad on your local freecycle but I think you should be able to get a hold of the quite easily.

Good luck!

Emma

balloo_2 · 11 June 2009 at 12:16PM

balloo wrote: »

I used B&Q builders buckets last year 99p. I was their Favourite customer, (Should have had an invite to the B&Q Christmas do). What about the Black Flower Buckets They Give them away in ASDA & TESCO's COOPask for a donation in the charity box and 8for 99p in MORRISONS. Not sure of the size of them tho.

UPDATE

When I was in Asda to other day i was asking for the flower buckets they also had what looked like collapsed crates i did'nt think of asking about them.
The pound shops are doing terracotter and some are doing green colored plastic urns For guess how much £1
Painters use large buckets of paint any good? printers use ink in large barrels? Not to large maybe ok.
What do i know i'm a Bear and locked in a cage all night and concrete walls during the day :eek:

Savannah02K · 11 June 2009 at 12:49PM

for their recycling section. My local one just dumps all their old containers on one side with a note saying 'help yourself.' Loads of the smaller containers obviously but I've also picked up six massive tree tubs (about two foot across) and several just a bit smaller. They're glad to have you take them off them. I've also used the card boxes you get photocopying paper in, line it with black plastic, lasts long enough to give a couple of crops of lettuce, raddish and then I just lift up the black plastic and pop it into another box. Any office will gladly let you have these. Also, use the actual bags the compost comes in, I've been growing potatoes in these for a couple of years now.

Friend who lives in an area where council give you recycling plastic boxes says one of her neighbours has been seen sneaking out at night to nab said boxes for her allotment! Not so much moneysaving as just plain theft!

Mazzarati2000 · 11 June 2009 at 12:54PM

Hi there, Yes Wilkinsons, - sorry about that.

sunset_gold · 11 June 2009 at 1:34PM

huggermugger wrote: »

These are all fantastic ideas - I really fancy making some boxes if I can scrounge some wood. Can't make window boxes as I have very small, sloping windowsills!

Mazzarati2000: By Wilco do you mean Wilkinson's? The nearest one here is 15 miles away so not really economic to make a trip for one thing... maybe I can get someone else to pick some up for me

I keep meaning to try Freecycle - have been daunted by the whole process so far but will try signing up...

OH SIGN UP

you'll be hooked in no time! It's great for bits in the garden and for recycling your own stuff to make room in your house. it's lovely meeting other freecyclers too! It's a real community and yeah you do get the odd person who doesn't turn up or answer you, but hey there are people like that everywhere, don't let it put you off.

huggermugger · 11 June 2009 at 10:46PM

ooo - so many brilliant ideas! I love the photocopy paper box one - I've been trying to find some shallow containers for lettuce etc as I resent using deep ones I could use for something else. And you can compost the boxes afterwards! Double bubble as they say...

The big tree tubs are my holy grail. I do think the bigger the containers the better. I used to have a wonderful plasterers trough in a previous garden & I let my ex leave it behind when we moved - sob... Most of the garden centres around here are the upmarket chain sort (you know - lots of mobiles and soft toy birds that "sing" - what's all that about?) and I haven't seen much sign of recycling. But I will go & look again.

And I have considered asking the council for more recycling boxes (you can do this if you have loads to put out) and using them.

They're excatly the right size & green and everything...

Haven't been to the pound shop yet - went to Pound Stretcher and everything was MUCH more than a pound. They really stretch the pounds there!

Containers for veg?

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