growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

Davesnave

Consider Swiss chard because it goes on & on through the year and sorrel (Rumex) which, though it's perennial, is best grown for only a season - perks up salads, sandwiches etc. Lots of herbs to try on Jekka's site: http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/index.asp
Also, consider mixing up your own compost with some 'body' by adding sharp sand, soil etc rather than just the soggy stuff that comes ready made. Slow release fertilizer is worth it if you grow 'hungry' plants like tomatoes.

elsien

I tried container veg for the first time this year - the garlic tasted nice but was a bit small, as I used garlic from the local farm shop, instead of sending off for the "proper" ones. These could go in now, as they benefit from the cold weather to get them going.
Courgettes are good for containers; if you're short on space make sure you get a patio variety rather than one that sprawls along the floor. I got mine from a local nursery in the spring, (cost a couple of quid) and it kept going all summer. Also mange tout - I made a wigwam for them to grow up with branches I found while wallking, and these with the courgettes kept me in stir fries for weeks.

Zazen999

The good thing with containers is that; if you get them from freecycle then you just need to add the compost and off you go; and you can reuse the compost later in the year. Make sure you are composting all your kitchen waste as well, just to add ot the mix.

I did summer vege boxes last year, bung some bean/pea seeds in, some courgettes and some toms. Add a tripod frame from canes or whatever you have to support the beans. From one box you get early beans, once they are done the courgettes are just about ready to harvest and these keep growing whilst the toms flower and can crop until the middle of November. If you put some onions/carrots in as well at the start then they will be there once everything else has finished.

There are loads of posts on this - just do some searches.

sammiboo

This is going to sound like a really stupid question but how do you know how big a container to use and how many can you plant in one? Or do the seeds etc come with destructions to tell you?

olly300

If you buy packets of seeds they tell you how to sow them.

Some you need to start in smaller containers and move to bigger ones as they grow.

Others you can sow straight in the containter you harvest them in.

Davesnave

Almost all plants are best sown in small containers & moved on as they grow & fill the pot. Exceptions are roots like carrots, radish, beetroot etc.which you sow in situ and thin out. Although ultimately plants like tomatoes & courgettes can't be given too much room, they would sulk if, for example, you were to put a 5cm plant into a 5 litre pot. The compost might go sour, as roots open it up, allow air in and remove water.It is all about experience & you will soon get a feel for it.

gwinnie

Has anyone tried growing mushrooms on logs?

rhonda_jean

Work out what you eat and go from there. I agree that you should grow the most expensive things but don't give up on potatoes if you eat a lot of them. Fresh potatoes are divine and much tastier than store-bought spuds. I've grown potatoes in cages that I made with stakes poked in the ground with chicken wire attached. Fill the base of the cage with compost or soil and straw mixed together with a bit of organic fertiliser, throw in 6 sprouting potatoes and cover them. As the potatoes grow, keep adding the soil/straw mix over the green tops, without breaking them. Potatoes only grow on top of the parent potato so if you can create a lot of growing space on top of your original spud, you'll get a good crop.

Alexandria

This thread got me thinking about growing my own, I have fruit trees but other than that my garden is devoted to child's play! Now I am going to utilise my conservatory and patio area for containers and I have a book that arrived today called the Edible Container garden which seems very indepth for us GYO noobs!

sammiboo

Alexandria wrote: »

I have a book that arrived today called the Edible Container garden which seems very indepth for us GYO noobs!

I will have a search for that thanks.