growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

BeenieCat

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Beeniecat, you can sow any types of the things you want about now. Carrots should be just about be able to go in now, onion sets can go in, potatoes I am still holding off until the beginning of next month, but some gardeners have already got them in.

Thanks. I have been to the shop and bought various things but couldn't find onions

What i ended up buying was:

De Ree Kitchen Herb growing kit - chives, basil, coriander, parsley.

This says to sow the seeds then store in an airing cupboard but it doen't say how long for, before moving to somewhere light?

De Ree Vegetable seed growing kit - Broccoli, Carrot, Cauliflower and Cabbage.

It tells me the harvesting date but not when i should sow them. Like the herbs they start in a plastic tray which i didn't know - what kind of container should i transfer them to once they're strong enough?

Also it doesn't say how far apart i should plant them once i move them outside, i suppose this will be clear by the size of the plant?

I also bought some seed potatoes, 'Nicola' "best for salads" so will these be small salad potatoes no matter how long i leave them to grow?

nozzy6

Speaking of seed potatoes - what size tub would you recommend for them? I've just seen some biggies in wilkos, think the label said 64l, probably the best part of 50-60cm diameter. How many pots do you think could go in one that size? I'd rather be have one or 2 big pots than loads of little ones if that makes sense.

thanks

Mrs.Metallica

ok so i live in a middle floor flat and i wanna grow some fruit n veg ect on my resonably sized balcony.... anyone got any ideas how i can go about this without spending to much..

..good tip for initial planting i know is using an old shoe box and putting the bottomg of a bin liner in it and then the compost, seeds and more compost.. thats as far as my skills go..

anyone ... SOMEONE...help ...

dragon47

If you don't have any large plant pots or other planting containers I would start off with a few grow bags since you will need to buy some compost anyway.

Some fruit and veg are not best suited for container growing though.

Do you have any idea what you would like to grow?

elliep_2

The direction of your balcony will have some effect on what will hapily grow there too. Do you know if it north or south facing or in between? Does it get sunshine or is it facing the wrong direction or affected by shaddow?

RAS

if you go out on your balcony facing the long front wall, away from the flat, where is the sun at midday?

do you have any Thai, eastern type restaurants near you?

They get things like lemon grass and chillies air freighted in contained in large polystyene boxes. The biggest have (found wandering round the streets in a gale) is about 80cm by 40 cm by 30 cm. if your balcony has space, you might get one of two of these against each of the short sides?

Large pots are easier to watered, polystrene is light and quite durable.

if you can get them, make drainage holes about an inch above the inner base level and you have an integral water reservoir as well as decent drainage.

Mrs.Metallica

i should have plenty of sunlight, as in the morning til about 5pm i have sunlight on my balcony, i wanna grow carrots and potatoes ect.. ur standard veg ect.. mibby some strawberries.. but only simple stuff at first, plus some herbs but there easily done indoors..

balloo_2

Mrs.Metallica wrote: »

i should have plenty of sunlight, as in the morning til about 5pm i have sunlight on my balcony, i wanna grow carrots and potatoes ect.. ur standard veg ect.. mibby some strawberries.. but only simple stuff at first, plus some herbs but there easily done indoors..

Now theres a thought a carrot fly with a blooming big extension ladder :rotfl:
Sorry just ignore me I'm having a silly Saturday :beer:

Naomim

Hi guys,

Sorry I'm going to hi-jack this thread a bit as I also am a complete novice and want to grow some veg in containers. I was thinking carrotts and potatoes and I have no idea where to start.

I usually get some sun in the mornings until about 2pm.

Thanks

Naomi

arkonite_babe

We have a thread similar to this already, I'll add your query to it so all the replies are together. Posts are listed in date order so you'll need to read from the beginning to catch up