growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

competitionscafe

This bbc series sounds interesting:

Grow Your Own Veg: Series 1: Salad Days
Carol Klein proves how easy it is to grow your own vegetables.

In this programme, Carol gets to know her onions and tries to put fresh salads on the menu every day of the year. Harvesting steams ahead in the small plot at the Royal Horticultural Society's Harlow Carr garden, in Yorkshire. Carol and her daughter Annie find out how, even without a garden, you can grow your own baby salad leaves.

If (like me) you missed it, you can download it free with bbc iplayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b007956s/

Mellika

Hey guys, is there any fool-proof stuff I could start growing in September?

I'm a complete beginner and am skint, so anything I can start growing cheaply would be great.

Hope somebody can help me!

BigMummaF

Can't help with the advice on planting Mellika--I'm in the same predicament as you as far as horticultural knowledge is concerned That's why I'd like a bit more info on the TV programme please Competionscafe if you wouldn't mind....I'm assuming either BBC2 or the ones on Sky? TIA.

Oooh--there's some sign of my little lettuce seeds poking thru their growbag :j With the very nippy air around, I've left the mini greenhouse in place--or should I still open it up till dusk so they get some air? Don't want to suffocate them even if there's a weenie gap around the bottom of the plastic....they are my babies & I read the notice on the packaging when we put the greenhouse together :rotfl:

richyrich7

Depends on how much room you have got, I'm just sowing cauliflower and will be planting garlic within the next month and overwintering onions. If you want to grow garlic it's important to get them in before the winter they need the cold to help them form cloves rather than just 1 big bulb.

Dunno if I'm allowed to say as I know the author, but can I recommend "vegetable growing month by month" by John Harrison. It's a great little book on down to basics veg growing. It's available from http://www.allotment.org.uk or Amazon.

competitionscafe

BigMummaF wrote: »

That's why I'd like a bit more info on the TV programme please Competionscafe if you wouldn't mind....I'm assuming either BBC2 or the ones on Sky? TIA.

Hi, I don''t have a TV guide but according to iplayer it's on BBC Two, 7:00pm on Wednesdays. Not sure when it started as I just stumbled across it on the iplayer website yesterday but bbc website says next Wednesday is the last one of the series. :-(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/listings/programme.shtml?day=wednesday&service_id=4224&filename=20080903/20080903_1900_4224_24697_30

Edit: update: apparently it is a repeat of the original series (6 episodes) and the first one was (re)broadcast at the end of July so I have missed all but 2 of them (this weeks on iplayer and next weeks):
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/general-chitchat/carol-ks-grow-your-own-veg-repeated-30th-july_20696.html

Maybe they will re-repeat it at some stage?

competitionscafe

Mellika wrote: »

Hey guys, is there any fool-proof stuff I could start growing in September?

I'm a complete beginner and am skint, so anything I can start growing cheaply would be great.

Oriental greens are easy and fine to sow in September - for cheap seeds try Woolworths, Wilkos etc for sale offers or buy a packet of mixed leaves (although I prefer to sow seperately as they grow at different speeds).
I like mizuna, mustard red giant, green in snow, tatsoi, saisai leaf radish, rocket, green oak leaf and cocarde lettuce etc...depends what you like to eat but salad leaves are quite easy to grow and fast growing although you may have a constant battle against slugs and snails. :mad:

More ideas of what to sow in September here: (pages 5,6 and 7):
http://www.sarahraven.com/srechannel/static/PDFs/SEEDS_2008.pdf

Mellika

Is it OK if I grow them in a small trough pot on my windowsill? It gets lovely sunlight in the mornings... But would my cats eat the salad before I get to??? :rolleyes:

Mellika

Hello, again, I have another question

I've read through the thread and you all mention adding compost as the potatoes grow... Would that be adding compost over the leaves? Isn't that bad for the plant?

I'm sorry I'm so ignorant, but I'm determined some day I WON'T be!

Still, ATM I need your help...

PS: Any idea how to put wholes on a bucket if you don't have a drill?

Lotus-eater

Find someone with a drill. And you put holes "in" a bucket

No the compost won't damage a potato plant if it covers the leaves, its called earthing up, you can find more about it on google.

The only way you will find out if your cats will eat the salad leaves is to grow them, yes you can grow them inside, but while the weather is nice, do it outside (and the growing)

Mellika

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Find someone with a drill. And you put holes "in" a bucket

Sorry, English is not my first language and I always get those two wrong

Lotus-eater wrote: »

No the compost won't damage a potato plant if it covers the leaves, its called earthing up, you can find more about it on google.

Oh so you just keep dumping it in. Thanks!

Lotus-eater wrote: »

The only way you will find out if your cats will eat the salad leaves is to grow them, yes you can grow them inside, but while the weather is nice, do it outside (and the growing)

Weather nice? In Hartlepool? Pffff :rotfl: You know, I think they probably wouldn't eat them, they don't like healthy food

Thanks Lotus-eater!