Where do I start on a budget?

fedupandskint

Can I ask a question too?

I have an old style black dustbin and lid that I don't use. I was going to buy a potato planter to grow taters in then I read here I could use it. How many seed potatoes would you put in it to grow?

Also do you need to grow them with the lid on?

Many many thanks for reading. This is my first year of growing and I bought some seeds yesterday for tomatoes, peas. I'm off to Wilko's on Monday to see what they have available at a low cost. I am also trying to reuse lots of things instead of buying new eg using toilet roll centres and yoghurt pots for starting plants off.

I'm just waiting for the ground to warm up before I plant the raspberry canes I got last weekend. Tomorrow is ground prep day, weather permitting! I planted some bulbs today (yes I know they were a bit late!) I got from Woolies before they went into administration for a bargain price.

elektra-2007

Thats Brilliant theres a lidl bout 20 miles away il go this week and pick up some seeds.... i just want to make sure ive got this straight...I just get some trays fillthem with compost and put the seeds in and leave them on my windowsill untill they are small plants then i put them into containers...have i got this right?
Ive only got small windowsills but im sure i can squash a few trays on them.
Where do people recomend getting the compost from? Should i go for the most expensive like the john innings or just shops own?

nodwah

fedupandskint wrote: »

Can I ask a question too?

I have an old style black dustbin and lid that I don't use. I was going to buy a potato planter to grow taters in then I read here I could use it. How many seed potatoes would you put in it to grow?

Also do you need to grow them with the lid on?

Many many thanks for reading. This is my first year of growing and I bought some seeds yesterday for tomatoes, peas. I'm off to Wilko's on Monday to see what they have available at a low cost. I am also trying to reuse lots of things instead of buying new eg using toilet roll centres and yoghurt pots for starting plants off.

I'm just waiting for the ground to warm up before I plant the raspberry canes I got last weekend. Tomorrow is ground prep day, weather permitting! I planted some bulbs today (yes I know they were a bit late!) I got from Woolies before they went into administration for a bargain price.

I, I wrote out a long answer to your post y'day and then my InternetExplorer went wonky so I lost it :mad:

Anyway, plant 5-6 spuds in your bin, which you will have made holes in the bottom of and put a layer of stones in the bottom of for drainage. half fill it with compost and plant the spuds, water and put the lid on. Check regularly for sprout appearing and when they do, take the lid off permanently. when the sprouts get 6 inches high, add more compost up to the top leaves and keep on doing this til you get the compost near the top of the bin.
after 20-24 weeks, rootle around in the compost and pull out any big ones that you need for your dinner that day!

fedupandskint

nodwah wrote: »

Anyway, plant 5-6 spuds in your bin, which you will have made holes in the bottom of and put a layer of stones in the bottom of for drainage. half fill it with compost and plant the spuds, water and put the lid on. Check regularly for sprout appearing and when they do, take the lid off permanently. when the sprouts get 6 inches high, add more compost up to the top leaves and keep on doing this til you get the compost near the top of the bin.
after 20-24 weeks, rootle around in the compost and pull out any big ones that you need for your dinner that day!

Many thanks nodwah! I will get onto this asap!! :T :A :T :A

By the way when can you plant spuds? Also do you need to replant when the spuds arrive or do they keep on going?

nodwah

It depends a wee bit on what type of spud you want to grow - is it the New type?

You can put them straight into your bin or you can chit them - as described elsewhere - aka letting them sprout a bit on your windowsill before you put them in.

Conventional wisdom is that you should do this for new potatoes and don't need to for maincrop ones

cheerfulness4

elektra - this link was one I picked up that is a really easy step by step to growing with pictures.

http://www.vegetable-garden-guide.com/growing-carrots.html

Its not just carrots but allsorts that he shows you (with photos) how to grow. Lots in pots or basically anything that will hold compost.
I'm working my way through his pages now.