growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

angie_loves_veg

With seed spacing, you need to consider how big the plants will want to grow. There are generally two methods, either sow in rows, wait for them to germinate, the 'thin' (remove) to get the correct spacing OR try station sowing, a small pinch of seeds (say 3-6) correctly spaced where you will want a plant to grow.

so...... that said,

Beetroot. station sow 2-3 seeds every 4" in a grid pattern

parsnip - station sow 3-4 seeds every 4" in a grid pattern. (NB many people also plant radish with parsnip - parsnip takes AGES to germinate, and you will have eaten the radishes by the time they do! If you do this, sow in rows then thin the parsnips after you have had uyour radishes

carrots - either station sow 6 seeds ever 5" in a grid. Do not thin out, they can grow in a bunch allowing you to pull the biggest as they grow to give space for the others. OR broadcast (scatter) the seed over the whole surface and thin to every 2" apart.

Radish and spring onion, broadcast and pull when ready. also see parsnip notes.

Kestrel (2nd early??) plant late march/early april. Until then, put them in egg boxes (for stability) rounded (rose) side up in a cool but bright location (spare bedroom windowsill does for me) to CHIT. the sprouts that grow will form your potatoes. Plant with these sprouts facing UP

as for planting dates, I tend to go by the packet as it can vary for each variety

(I do so love my veg!)

hope this helps,

(manure comes from animals and makes parsnips/carrots etc Fork- grow into wierd shapes - compost you can buy in bags or even make your own, but for pots uyou are reccommended to buy it)

lynzpower

can this be done.?

I bought a packet from Wilkos and on the back its saying i need to prepare a raised bed to plant them in - IM not sure how much time I have for doing this and I have to plant out in March :eek:

If I can stick them in pots I can do it today, but a raised bed will take time.

wiggly

they need fairly deep soil to grow in (think mini leeks) but a pot would do

a trough one would be best though the neat rectangular shape being the best

(and also, they taste fabulous )

madhouseof4

I am going to grow my carrots in tubs as my garden is very stoney but how deep should the container be? I have a couple of 50cm tubs (diameter), how many carrots could I reasonably expect to grow in 1 tub? Is it the same for parsnips? It is such a beautiful day and I have spent the morning preparing these tubs to be used, drilling holes in them for drainage and filling with compost but now I am not so sure exactly what to put in them Any help/advice appreciated!

lynseydee

I was going to buy a couple of windowsill type planters to grow my carrots and parsnips in and hoped this would be ok as my garden is going to be taken up with plants this year. It will be interesting to know if these would be ok too.

roywra

For carrots I'd suggest a stump rooted variety or, maybe better for a tub, one of the round rooted varieties such as "Early French Frame" - available from Marshalls-seeds.co.uk

Good luck!

Biddyrolo

lynseydee wrote: »

I was going to buy a couple of windowsill type planters to grow my carrots and parsnips in and hoped this would be ok as my garden is going to be taken up with plants this year. It will be interesting to know if these would be ok too.

I grow my carrots in those type of planters and it works a treat.

angie_loves_veg

parsnips would need a deep root run-you would be unlikely to do well with anything under 8inch - 12 would be better as a minimum.

I regularly grow carrots (paris market, a ball type and chantenay types) in pots and 8 inch deep planters, and they are smallish but taste FAB!

MKwife

I am growing my veg in pots and I bought seeds for Mini carrots, and mini parsnips from a seller on ebay.

They are like the tiny ones you get in posh packets at tesco!

They are the best carrots for container veg.

katskorner

Remember not to fertilise soil that carrots and parsnips grow in as it causes them to fork.