Patio Produce

Plasticman

katholicos wrote: »

I'm so pleased the OP asked this as i am going to use my patio to grow fruit and veg this year. The responses are really interesting. What kind of containers do you all use?

I've used:

Normal garden pots / troughs
Compost bags
Specially made veg bags
Grow bags
Hanging baskets
Home made planter
Plastic boxes

Other people have used a wide range of containers - including car tyres and dustbins!

stardrops42

Thankyou so much for all the responses so far:T this is really helpful

shykins

we have a little low wall round our patio which is double skinned so in the gap isa planting area approx 8inches wide. we planted runner beans in that and grew them up over an arch to the other side. also have lots of herbs in the 'gap'

dancingfairy

Hi -I'm a beginner but last year did well with tomatoes. This year I think I fancy trying courgettes, tomatoes again and we've also got some strawberry plants which didn't do very well last year but now they have massive root bits so I'm hoping they'll do well, also I think we might try potatoes - although haven't worked out how yet.
I think most things you can grow in pots/containers - I did try carrots but they were planted late and didn't have time to grow big enough really, also tried peppers but overwatered them and they died - but also a posibility.
What sort of thing do you think you fancy? what do you like eating?
df

Greatgimp

Are there efficient ways of keeping slugs/snails off (without using chemicals)? Being a patio I assume it would be easier to do.

Any ideas anybody?

shykins

aah we tried everything last year and iin the end had to resort to the slug pellets and hubby going out on a murdering spree in the evening

anyone else got any new ideas ?

vennypenny

I read in a magazine that if you ae planting in pots then a ring of Vaseline will at least discourage slugs. Make sure that they can't get into the pot another way, though (like plant leaves touching a wall). sheet copper is apparently another way, if you put a strip around the pot. I haven't tried it yet, but hope to this year.

LJM

well we are planting veg in my raised bed and in a variety of mix and match pots and containers this year we are planting potatoes/beans/peas/tomatos/leeks/onions and spring onions maybe more if i can get hold of some more pots really looking forward to it and my girls aged 9 and 5 love helping too i think its important for them to see where it starts and the end results

Greatgimp

Greatgimp wrote: »

Are there efficient ways of keeping slugs/snails off (without using chemicals)? Being a patio I assume it would be easier to do.

Any ideas anybody?

Has anybody tried raising the pots (if not too big) and making them an 'island' in a pot dish (saucer shape) of water? At least the cursed things would have to swim or hire a slugmarine to get a meal!

katholicos

Have bit the financial bullet and purchased this, this evening. I ordered the raised bed with the extension. I would like to place this on the patio as it gets a lot of sun there. It's a paved patio, would any knowledgeable person kindly advise me how i would fill my raised bed...i know i need to put soil/compost in, but will it need some stoney drainage base or something. I haven't got a clue about such things and would appreciate any help (i'm not trying to take the thread over,honest - I hope the OP doesn't mind my questions here, it ust seemed appropriate to this thread )

Thanks!