growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

culpepper

Ive got some plants going that were saved tomato seeds from shop tomatoes last year.I just soaked up the seeds/juice when I cut up the tomatoes,using kitchen towel and then left it to dry. You can then break up the towel with the seeds or pull them off it and plant them.
You could make a raised bed over your clay.Dig down into the clay and add compost,then add more compost on top.I think sand is meant to help too ,where it is clay.People sometimes have a thick layer of gravel and then plant into bottomless pots with compost in if there is a drainage problem.
The problem with shop potatoes for seed,is you dont know if they have been subject to disease but as far as I can work out,so long as you always plant in different soil and never use the product of last years crop to start next years crop,you would probably be okay using them.I used grocery potatoes last year when I was just starting my veg plot and they were fine.

bootman

I have planted 3 buckets and 2 compost bags with seed potatoes. My first time so we shall see what happens.

bluemoon_3

culpepper wrote:

You could make a raised bed over your clay.Dig down into the clay and add compost,then add more compost on top.

I was going to suggest this too. I've been reading about 'square foot gardening' and stealing some of the ideas. My soil isn't great, but I marked out an area, dug down and added compost to the loosened soil, then edged the area with big stones that I already had in the garden. It's not quite a raised bed, but I'm planning to treat it in the same way - that is, not walking on it (it compacts the soil) and also topping up the soil with compost at least once a year. That way, the soil will get better as the years go by!

HTH.

oops_a_daisy

This raised bed thing may work actually. I have some rolls of unused wooden edging so If I could talk my poor Dad into trying to remove some of the clay we could then make a raised bed or beds with the edging. I could then put gravel down inbetween the beds to be able to get around them and stop the snails 'n' slugs. Brilliant. Just have to talk my Dad into it now
Well Im going to have a trip to Lidl to get some seeds for tomatoes and salad leaves. I have decided to buy some seed potatoes from a garden centre or I may go down to the allotments and see if I can get some there. I also need some pots so I will see if I can get any down the allotments too. If the raised bed thing works I will be able to grow more LOL

annie-c

Oops, in case you missed my earlier post, I received hundreds of pots of various sizes by posting a 'wanted' ad on freecycle - they will last me for ages!!!

oops_a_daisy

I have just noticed that on the other thread Annie. There were some pots advertised on our freecycle last week but I was away for a few days and by the time I replied they had put them in a skip so I think I will put an ad on for them - hey I may ask for some seedlings too you never know your luck
I have just told my daughter about this idea and she thinks it is great - i cant wait to get started now. Can anybody recommend where to get the best/cheapest compost from ? I am going to get my own composter but will need quite a bit to get started with the raised beds. Thanks everybody for you help and replies so far - this site is brilliant :T

nuttyrockeress

nearlyrich wrote:

I grew some vine tomatoes in grow bags in the conservatory a few years ago, the problem was the watering was tricky as the floor is a decent real wood laminate that cost a fortune and I didn't want to damage it. I also had to support the stems using strings down from the rail for the vertical blinds. The tomatoes were fab but the risk to the decor outweighs the saving so I can't do it again.

Did you know that you can buy gravel trays specificaly for grow bags. They are really handy and will save any overspill water!

oops_a_daisy

well I have put an advert on freecycle for some pots and any unwanted seedlings - will let you know how I get on

ChocClare

If you go on the square foot gardening website (here) it advocates putting your "raised bed" - the bits of timber you're going to make your bed out of - right on top of your existing soil without getting your poor old dad to remove the clay (he could knock the frame together for you though). You then fill this frame up with one-third garden compost, one-third vermiculite and one-third (they say) moss peat, but I'd use a peat substitute as there's little enough of it in the world any more. Have a read, it's quite inspiring!

oops_a_daisy

that site looks great. So ok then I dont need to remove any clay but do I need to remove the scraggy bits of grass that grows there ? or will it die off when I put the compost mix on ?