growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

harper20

Hiya

This was my second year as a very novice veg grower. We do have a garden but mum takes up almost every available inch so I've been growing in pots myself.

The first year was a near total disaster but this year I was much more prepared. I've been avidly reading on the subject and went mad growing at least 13 different things. I had good success with Carrots, turnip, parsnip, beetroot, several cut and come salad varieties, Chard, Pak Choi, dwarf beans and Strawberries.

Didnt have much luck with my Cauli but still hopeful that the broccoli will turn out okay. And it was such a kick to eat veg that I'd grown from seed!

Next time I intend to grow more of my favorourites. If anyone would like to share some of my seeds just contact me as I don't use anywhere near the full packet.

PS I'm hoping for some fruit on my almost three year old Blueberry bush next summer

Penny_Farthing_2

With container growing you need to be aware that you have to keep on top of the watering and feeding and not let them dry out, especially 'thirsy' veg like courgettes/ beans etc. To help this, line the inside of any terracotta pots you use with plastic (slit open compost bags are fine) but leave drainage holes. When you've planted them up, put gravel/pebbles/stones over the compost to stop the water evaporating. This saves lots of time watering.

harper20

I'll give that a try next year

thanks for the tip

JAMIEDODGER

this is all great advice:) thanks everyone! i am asking for garden vouchers for christmas this year:D

Alexandria

Right today I have planted my own herb seeds on the inside of my kitchen window (never grown anything from seed before so fingers crossed). Also got a mushroom growing kit and some winter salad seeds to get started too.
Want to throw some garlic in to grow too. Think that will do me to start with until feb when from the looks of things I can get going with a lot more

ChocolateMonkey

Oooo, thanks for this thread. I have been thinking about doing this for a while.

Jake'sGran

The big successes I had last one were chillies and tomatoes...oh, and lettuce is as easy as it gets. I tried squash but won't be doing it again. Next year I will grow masses of strawberries as I bought them all through this summer and on TV last night Rachel du Thame was doing the healthy food thing and it turns out the best two things to eat from a health point of view are blackberries and strawberries (this was from an expert dietitician). You can make a teepee arrangement for growing green beans. Important to get the best type of beans. It's just a circle of tall bamboo sticks, brought together and tied at the top. Sweetpeas are good this way too. I just can't wait to start. I am surrounded by gardening books in the Winter.

Watch out for Wilkinson's selling their seeds off. I got a huge pile last year for 75% off the original price.

Alexandria

I just got loads of onion bulbs (japenese onion it says good for pot growing!) from wilkies for 90p. I need to go locate more containers now!!

mandy_moo_1

hi
i'm pretty new to this board, and i've been reading the threads for a couple of days now
i'd just like to pick your brains if i can.....;)

i don't have a great deal of space to plant veg, so i wanted to do it in containers outside. i've bought carrots, spring onions,leeks,lettuce and mixed peppers seeds

Can i plant these in tubs?if so, what sort of size/shape would i need?? do i put the seeds straight into the tub or do i start them off in little seedling trays? and then plant them in tubs?

you can probably gather i'm a complete novice when it comes to this, but i REALLY wanna give it a go, so all advice welcome

thanks in advance, mand

alanobrien

With the exception of the leeks, i grow all those in containers.
Parsnips and carrots i sow directly into the biggest container available and then leave well alone. Lettuce and Rocket i tend to do in 2L containers with successive planting.
Peppers i do in trays and then pot up as they get bigger into 1L pots. same with tomatoes but with bigger pots.