growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

EagerLearner

Hi davesnave and competitionscafe, thanks so much - only just saw your message but we already went to B&Q and got compost, 3 trays (with holes) etc.

Bought lettuce and small/chubby carrot seeds, as well as chilli and some herb seeds (in this mixed pack only the dill could be planted now apparently).

1) I was brave enough to plant the lettuce in one tray, and carrots in the second and third we got. But is it a problem if I have put a few seeds in each little hole, as they were so small I could barely separate them? Same q for the dill, although this was in an old strawberry plastic supermarket container.

2) I have not been brave enough to do anything with the red chilli as just noticed that needs a 3" pot and then transferring etc... any hints? I feel useless but that one stumped me! I do have a supermarket nectarine tray but that isn't sounding nursery-like enough...

3) I gently watered them all and will generally each morning before work try to keep them moist. They are fairly protected outside and not tooooo sunny a spot, so fingers crossed. Anything else on care / watering?

4) In addition, I saw a pepper plant near work, which I had never seen before and was so excited I bought it, as it's too late for us to plant ours from scratch now. It's amazing - it has several red peppers already, around 4 green ones and then some baby green ones - all in we counted the possibility of 13 red peppers! As it was £10.50, if we get 10 peppers, it will have paid for itself and after that we hope to get free peppers - so excited! It says keep moist and in warm area, so this is near all the other bits outside.

I know these are really beginner questions, but I sit here typing with hope, and wondering if 3 seeds in each tiny hole will be a problem!

twinklie

I shall wait on the replies to EagerLearners questions as they'd probably benefit me.

I've been side tracked by the death of my poor wee rattie. I loved her she was my baby. But it kinda put me off the veg growing quest again. However, I'll listen to this and try and use it as a substitute for my time.

Freebs2008

A great place to look for bargain plants like the pepper one is in Homebase. They have had a lot of fruit and veg plants in this year and often sell them off. There was a tom plant in there for £2.50 the other day with lots of toms on. I didn't buy it is have a few already but they also have peppers, chillis and all sorts really. Also they seemed to have a load of blueberry plants that I am waiting for them to reduce. They will pay for themselves a load of times over.

Have a look around for other gardening forums too. I'm a huge fan of the It's not easy being green forum. It's got so much information on and the people on there are not at all snobby to beginners as some other boards appear to be.

Other good tricks are go to shops like th 99p store or poundland. They often have biggesh garden pots in for not much money. You can also buy split bags of compost from some places at a discount rate.

I also buy the large bedroom storage tubs from good old Wilko's for about £3.49. They are great for all sorts of things.

EagerLearner

Hi all just wondered if there were any answers really, on day 2 of my newbie gardening adventure?

Twinklie sorry to hear about your rat hun ;o(

Freebs2008 thanks for that - I actually have a Homebase near work so may check it out tomorrow. The B&Q we went to last night had no potted fruit/veg...

Davesnave

Eagerlearner, there's no problem planting multiple seeds, as you're supposed to do that. Later on you can pull out the surplus plants. It is too late for chillies, but you can be really early next year! They need a 9 month season.

Your pepper will have come in a pot, but it may not be big enough (transport costs.) Peppers are gross feeders and need weekly feeds of tomato fertilizer plus a pot of at least 4 litres (better with 7.5l or even 10l) when fully
established. They will grow in smaller pots but the cropping will be reduced.

Sorry to hear about your rat, Twinklie. We have two ferrets which are 5 years old. They usually live to about 7 or 8, but we hope they might make 10 as they've had it easy.

twinklie

Thanks folks for the thoughts and best wishes. My OH went and bought a super cage for his hamster tonight so we spent most of the evening constructing that...lol. Cheered me up watching her running round anyway.

But because of that I missed the gardening show on BBC 2 about growing potatoes....might try BBC Iplayer and see if I can find it.

Good news however is that my parents said that they have some pots and troughs they inherited when my grandma moved that I can have....yey. They also agreed that if I get it all up and running then they'll water all my stuff etc when I go on any holidays. Which was encouraging. Yey.

babyblooz

This thread has really got me inspired. I think I might have a go at the potatoes in the grow bag. It might help eke out the money a bit, I can save what I would have spent to go towards the winter gas bill.:eek:

EagerLearner

Davesnave wrote: »

Eagerlearner, there's no problem planting multiple seeds, as you're supposed to do that. Later on you can pull out the surplus plants. It is too late for chillies, but you can be really early next year! They need a 9 month season.

Your pepper will have come in a pot, but it may not be big enough (transport costs.) Peppers are gross feeders and need weekly feeds of tomato fertilizer plus a pot of at least 4 litres (better with 7.5l or even 10l) when fully
established. They will grow in smaller pots but the cropping will be reduced.

Sorry to hear about your rat, Twinklie. We have two ferrets which are 5 years old. They usually live to about 7 or 8, but we hope they might make 10 as they've had it easy.

Thanks Davesnave - good to know about the seeds. You are right about the pepper pot, it's just normal size (no idea how many litres...:o ) - and also I need to get some tomato fertilizer - is this the tomato plant liquid food?

Also is it a good idea to buy the ready grown strawberry plants on ebay, or in store if Homebase have any? If so, what would your recommendations be for the type to buy and the care needed?

Davesnave

EagerLearner wrote: »

Thanks Davesnave - good to know about the seeds. You are right about the pepper pot, it's just normal size (no idea how many litres...:o ) - and also I need to get some tomato fertilizer - is this the tomato plant liquid food?

Also is it a good idea to buy the ready grown strawberry plants on ebay, or in store if Homebase have any? If so, what would your recommendations be for the type to buy and the care needed?

Liquid tomato food is just the thing. Pots usually have sizes on the bottom. Any big, deepish container will do as long as it has drainage.

I don't know much about strawberries. I've only ever grown them in the ground. At this time of year they start to make new plants (runners) so you might even get some free on Freecycle. When I last grew them, everyone was recommending the variety 'Elsanta,' which is still the commonest one seen on supermarket shelves.

EagerLearner

Thanks Davesnave, I got some tomato food at lunch for the pepper...

Oooh, I will use my big purple plastic box for the potatoes then, must remember the holes...

At Homebase I also bought a grown strawberry plant, coudn't resist, was only £3.99 and it had a cute little green strawberry on it, so it had to come home and live with us - although I justiced it is an 'Albion' variety... North American apparently.

I will have to get a bigger pot for the peppers (as it has 13 peppers on, say 6 of reasonable ready-in-a-while size, when should I repot? I will get 7.5 pot as you said soon, presume it won't get too traumatised by us repotting

Should I also get one for the strawberries as the pot is only small-medium - does that need a 7.5 as well?