Newbie - growing in pots.. some advice please

Chimera

Hi, complete newbie to growing your own. Have some strawberry plants in hanging baskets I did last year and some herbs in pots, but that's about it.

went to wilkos today and had a panic on what to get.

I have a tiny garden and need to grow in pots or the dog will dig them up!!
Today I bought:

2 x round planters 48cm diameter
2 x round planters 39 cm across

2 x 35cm hanging baskets and brackets
3 x trough style baskets (intended for fence)

2 x salad planter bags

1 x rasberry cane
1 x gooseberry plant


Various salad seeds, spring onions, radishes and garlic sets


So.... questions are?

Are the large planters way to big for gooseberry and raspberry - bought one for each and I was thinking I want roots to ahve enough space but looking at the planters now I'm thinking they are HUUUGE!
SHould I plant in smaller ones? Or buy some more canes and plant with a stake in middle? or plant at back with some other veg in front of pot?

Also want to grow some tomatoes, but bit worried as been told I need a greenhouse. I've seen that you can grow in hanging baskets? what's the score? and good?

I have many more questions, but head buzzing... wish I knew more about gardening.

ANY advice on what to do with my purchases or ideas would be gratefully received.

I am also planning on getting some more seeds - mostly herbs and salad stuff me thinks as this will be well used

dorisday

Tomatoes do need to be grown in a greenhouse or even in a house. But I know there is one outdoor tomato that may grow well but cant think of the name. Salad leaves are so easy to grow just remember to keep them from the frost.
Raspberry cane generally you need 2 and as they spread their roots outwards instead of downwards grow better in the garden but im trying for one in a pot this year. Try it in the big pot but remember it will need some kind of support when it starts growing not just a stake.

Hope this has helped

Chimera

dorisday wrote: »

Raspberry cane generally you need 2 and as they spread their roots outwards instead of downwards grow better in the garden but im trying for one in a pot this year. Try it in the big pot but remember it will need some kind of support when it starts growing not just a stake.

Thanks for the reply - sorry to sound thick but what kind of support does it need?

paybacktime2008

I have always grown tomatoes outside. Make sure its a sunny spot and they will be fine. (seeds need to be sown inside then young palnts transpalnted later)

I'd say the salad leaves in the troughs, bushes in the pots...you can always grow stuff around them this year until they bush out.

The bigger the pot the less you'll need to water. I never have hanging baskets cos they need so much tlc but each to their own.


Have fun!

dorisday

Chimera wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - sorry to sound thick but what kind of support does it need?

Well as the bushes grow (they are not too sturdy so they need supporting I have mine next to a fence with some wiring running along and they grow them that. Try and use something that you can put in your tub (something that flowers grow up) and train it up the support. If you can imagine a wild blackberry bush it is something like that so just needs some training. Even if you put it against a wall with some large netting this will do.

dorisday

Best thing to do if you are new to gardening is take it easy, grow only what you will eat and start with the easy stuff ie salad leaves/herbs/strawberries. The first year I started I had all sorts of fruit and veg in tubs, but because I didnt put drainage holes in the bottoms of the tubs I lost the whole lot because that year it never stopped raining. I bought plastic sheeting to cover the pots but put it on far too late the pots where just full of rainwater and very soggy compost.

maybe1

My only advice is think about water consumption. Last year I grew some veg in pots and had some success but I also had my largest water bill.

Chimera

maybe1 wrote: »

My only advice is think about water consumption. Last year I grew some veg in pots and had some success but I also had my largest water bill.

Yes, I'd thought about this.. was going to get a water butt today but wilko were out of stock. Don't suppose anyone knows of any reasonably priced ones?

dorisday

maybe1 wrote: »

My only advice is think about water consumption. Last year I grew some veg in pots and had some success but I also had my largest water bill.

The answer to that is dont use a water meter!! Arent the government wanting everyone to have a wm - well I for one wouldnt have one at all bet you when we all do water charges will go sky high.

Or another way is to use watwr butts, it will soon be filled up in this country

dorisday

Chimera wrote: »

Yes, I'd thought about this.. was going to get a water butt today but wilko were out of stock. Don't suppose anyone knows of any reasonably priced ones?

Found it best to use small tubs as water butts need cleaning inside on a regular basis, small tubs are so easy to clean. even use buckets anything that will hold water, why spend your money

Chimera

dorisday wrote: »

Best thing to do if you are new to gardening is take it easy, grow only what you will eat and start with the easy stuff ie salad leaves/herbs/strawberries. The first year I started I had all sorts of fruit and veg in tubs, but because I didnt put drainage holes in the bottoms of the tubs I lost the whole lot because that year it never stopped raining. I bought plastic sheeting to cover the pots but put it on far too late the pots where just full of rainwater and very soggy compost.

Thanks.. that;'s kinda what I was thinking..

Want to grow salad stuff so can just pick fresh as needed, and fruit bushes as I wouldn't justify buying raspberries etc.

Was going to try cucumbers but think I need a lot more space..