which container for leaf lettuce?

morg_monster

Hi
I'm busy planning the garden in our new house and this weekend, weather permitting, i'll be off to buy some supplies and start off some of the seeds I've bought (tumbling toms, alicante toms, amsterdam carrots, runner beans, lettuce, pepper, and some potatoes that have been chitting away) . I'm so excited! We previously lived in a flat and although I had some success with tomatoes I'm hugely excited about having more space now.

Although we have space for raised beds etc, as we only moved into the house in December I have decided to leave things as they are this year and see what grows before I start hacking things down for veg space! So anyway I can't wait to grow some veg but they will mostly be in containers this year.

So onto my question: I have some looseleaf salad bowl lettuce seed from Wilkos and was just wondering what would be better to grow it in: I've narrowed down to either: gro-bags, long window boxes, or the "salad grow bags" from wilkos (tarp bags with handles, about 2ft diameter, 1ft deep). Are they all much of a muchness or do any have particular benefits? I'd like to try and have a fairly continuous crop over the summer; there are only 2 of us in the house but we'll probably eat quite a lot! I'm planning to sow in peat pots and then move them to their final place rather than sow direct (mainly because I'm too impatient!)

I'm so excited! I just hope the weather forecast improves for tomorrow...

Lotus-eater

You say you want to sow in peat pots and then move to their final position ,which would sound like you plan to put them in the ground, which you say you don't want to do?
If you grow in containers, just sow direct in them.

Salad leaves will grow in anything, but if you want whole lettuces, they need more space.

If it was me, I'd find enough space to put the potatoes, beans and some lettuces in the ground. Also some of the tomatoes if you have a nice warm sheltered space, it would be interesting for you to see the differences in the toms, between the ones grown in the ground and the ones in pots.


The main problems you may have in an uncultivated patch are slugs and snails esp on the salads. So take precautions.

morg_monster

Lotus - the peat pots is only because I wanted to get a headstart, start off the plants now and not wait til it is warm enough to start them outside. (don't have enough room to have such big containers inside)
although having said that, when is it warm enough to plant the lettuce directly outside (in containers)? I assumed it would be a while yet. I'm just outside london.

I have morrison's florist buckets for the potatoes; the runner beans will be going in the ground actually; I have found a good space where I can make a smallish bed without digging anything up, and am planning to have sweet peas and the beans there. Good idea about the tomatoes!

Lotus-eater

Well I'm about to sow some lettuce directly outside, your pots may be a bit colder than the ground, or they might be warmer, depends on your weather, they will warm up quickly that's for sure.
You could put them in a slightly warmer place, porch?

Lettuce don't like being too hot, cooler is much better.

morg_monster

Hm well maybe I will give it a try sowing directly outside. it's all about experimenting isn't it! My DH will certainly be pleased if there are less small dirty things on the windowsills.
Weather for the next couple of weeks looks to be fairly mild, sadly no porch but by the back door seems quite sheltered. Thanks!