growing own veggies in bags and pots (Merged)

MORPH3US

@ Eager Learner....


"!!!!! out" is the automated swear filter... it should say "p r i c k out"

Plasticman

Well, I've planted out lettuce, spuds and beetroot. By the time I'd bought the compost, pots and seed I'm not sure that I will make any savings this year though

Davesnave

Cat72 wrote: »

Hi .
The chips in my garden are heavy red stone ones,not bark and I tried lifting them ,even in small patches ,however the person before made a total mess of the garden.
The whole garden is covered with a really unattractive thick blue membrane and it would take a huge amount of work and cost to get it all sorted.I had it priced up and it wasnt feasable.My friend said what it under the membrane is unsuitable at the moment and would need a rotevator and then top soil.
I understand about what you are saying to tackle part of it.
However I am also disabled and am not physically able to do the work involved.I am also hoping to move early next year.
So for these reasons I thought pots would be best for me and why I was intereasted in this thread.

In that case, your garden does seem well-adapted to your needs and, as you're planning to move on, it makes perfect sense to use containers. At least the membrane will prevent serious weed growth.

I wish this garden I'm renting temporarily was covered in membrane, or even concrete. I go out every week with my glyphosate sponge to zap all the lovely new convolvulus and bramble shoots as they poke through the soil so expectantly.....Oh the wonders of nature!

Teresita_2

MORPH3US wrote: »

Believe me i'm no expert, in fact i'm a total novice....

However I think the seeds need to be warm to germinate and eventually the greenhouse will warm up, but at the moment I think it might be a bit too cold in there for them.... suppose it depends on how much sun your greenhouse gets at the moment.

Thanks very much for the help. The babies as the boys call them are safely back inside hopefully see some movement soon with them. The strawberries and tomato plants were outside at the garden centre so will suck it and see with them they seem ok although the weather is pretty pants at the min so fingers crossed x

Are there any veg that are well suited to tubs? I found some stubby round looking carrot seeds yesterday to try out.

Teresita_2

Well thanks for the tip of taking them back in to the house. Seems to be working but I seem to have so many lettuce seedlings lol. Oh well will always help with the diet lol.

You all seem to have gone quiet!!!:eek: :eek:

MORPH3US

Was just going to post back to update...

My pak choi, ice-berg, mixed leaves, little gem and rocket all sprouted in about 3 days from being in the airing cupboard.

My french beans, courgette, onion and raddish still haven't after 2 weeks...

My aubergine and cauliflower have just poked through yesterday after 2 weeks so just goes to show some are very quick, others slow....

BTW does anyone know how long before I should !!!!! out and transfer my pak choi and rocket etc...

The pak choi shouldn't be too difficult but the rocket looks really really delicate

butterfly72

EagerLearner wrote: »

Daft question but why do I need to start seeds off in tiny trays/pots and then re-pot - why not start in a medium pot if it's the same compost?

I was wondering this too:o . Last year I killed most of my seedlings during the transfer... they are sooo fragile and they just flopped over never to rise again. Anyone?

smartandshrewd

I'm looking for a bit of advice.

I have been growing daffs and primrose in my window boxes but the daffs have died off. Primroses are still flowering though so I wondered whether it would be safe enough to plant lettuces in the soil where the daffs were and leave the primroses for the time being? I've heard that daffodil bulbs are poisonous so want to be sure I'll be ok...

Thanks

stilernin

butterfly72 wrote: »

I was wondering this too:o . Last year I killed most of my seedlings during the transfer... they are sooo fragile and they just flopped over never to rise again. Anyone?

I think it is probably due to space at the beginning of the sowing season.

I use modules (trays that have separate compartments) or small fromage frais pots etc. Sow just two seeds in each and then once they have two proper leaves (not the first two you see) sacrifice one seedling by cutting at ground level with scissors. If you pull you may disturb the compost too much. Once the plants have decent rootballs ( look to see if they are coming out of the holes at the bottom) you will be able to remove the plant with all of the compost attached and pot into larger pots.

This way the plants almost don't notice the move. Trust me I asked them

Some plants like lettuce, I plant straight into the ground from the modules.

Remember with lettuce, beetroot etc to sow another set of modules when you plant the first ones out, just a dozen or so will do, and you should have crops through out the season.

butterfly72

Thanks stilernin, I was picking the seedling itself rather than taking the whole compost:o Seems a much more logical thing to do.


This year I'll be growing from seed again. I had kept all my pots and compost from last year but from reading here I know that I should use fresh compost each year. My questions are:

1. Will a multipuropse compost see me through from seedlings to planting out/growing to maturity in containers. Can anyone recommend a compost that will be good for cherry toms, spring onions, mixed salad and rocket (all from seed).

2. I have a pots on the patio that are still growing bay, rosemary, sage, mint from last spring. Should I be changing the compost and to which one?

thanks!