new to this :)

junior_j

I decided to save some money and be home grown organic all that kind of stuff

The only trouble is... our garden is pure concrete and gravel..

I brought these starter kits from Wilkinson which contained 4pots some seeds and compost to grown red onions , what else can i do like this and can i grow fruit and veg when i do not have a lawn?

sorry for the messy post.. i choose red onions because we use them lots and i like the idea of eating what i have grow and knowing where it come from ect x

midnightraven3

there isnt many things you cannot grow in pots tubs troughs etc
tomatoes you can grow hanging upside down if space is a problem but dont buy these expensive tumble things:( easy to make
but if space isnt a problem, grow bags are ideal, also for corn cucumbers & peppers etc
i have 3 raised beds, but grow everything else in pots etc and manage to feed a family of 5

lettuce or salad mix will grow anywhere
radish beetroot carrots onions garlic will all grow happily in pots
i hang most of my strawberries up so the slugs dont get them
i have potted blueberry bushes, apple, pear & fig trees, even my goji berries and grapes are in pots

i grow roughly 45 different things in pots
and dont forget herbs, i grow approx 25 different kinds, all in pots & window boxes, easy pickings!!!

eco

Just remember with pots to water well, I grow potatoes in grow bags, turn the bag inside out, put some holes in the bottom and roll the top down, a the potatoes grow roll the bag up and add more compost, I also have strawberries in hanging baskets, I have some with a tray fitted to the bottom, try to recycle stuff to grow in rather than buy, or you'll start to see it as an expensive hobby.

midnightraven3

eco makes a good point
buying a kit like you did will work out expensive if you do that for everything
we have a re use thread on the gardening bit
lots of good tips there for free pots/growing methods

junior_j

The pots seem small for the onions will they get too big if so what do i do then? Whens the best season for growing strawberries and where is the best place to get cheap but good gardening stuff?? thanks for all this information x

midnightraven3

there is a link here for cheap strawb plants
i shall have a look and come back

most major supermarkets give away the flower buckets, or sell them for like 10 for £1
they are good

what you need to decide is
do you want a pretty garden
or do you want a cheap high producing one
i go for somewhere in the middle, some use these bags for life for potatoes, but looking at that would drive me bonkers, so i opted for old vegboxes (HFW stylie) and an old black bin, for mine

growing in pots is low maintainance so you wont need many tools
poundland is great for cheap pots, and the netting i bought there 3 years ago i am still using
they have good packets of 6 different varieties of seeds in one pack for £1 obv

grow your own salsa for instance, you get all you need to do this, toms, coriander, chillies onions etc, not bad for £1

midnightraven3

12 strawberry plants for £2.95
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2377211

i have strawberries everywhere
hanging baskets, those hanging growbag thingys and even in pots screwed directly into the fence
last year i grew 6 tomato plants, and got almost (annoying close but not quite) 100kg of tomatoes, not including the ones we ate as we walked past! 2 grow bags for those 6 plants

gardening is like any hobby it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want to make it

Kay_Peel

Welcome, Junior.

Get some free seeds from the BIG DIG project, aimed at grow-your-own gardeners new and old. Just fill in your details and receive mixed salad, courgette, french beans, basil and carrot:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/apply_for_seeds/

There's a really good part of the Dig In site about what to grow if you've only got a window sill, balcony, pots, patch etc.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/your_space/

It's worth having a good look around the whole site. It's been put together by the BBC, Allotment societies and other major gardening organisations to encourage people like you and me. The tips and advice are really good.

junior_j

Wow thanks for all your replies! :j

I looked at the recycling thread and already I am excited about what I can re-use.

I have 2 dogs , one who wont even notice food growing but one who may get peakish.. What can I do/buy/repel them with.

Also stupid question -When you plant seeds like for my red onions do you just sprinkle the seeds on top or push them in the compost?

And whats this about putting clingfilm over them?

midnightraven3

cling film acts like a mini greenhouse

and seeds should be under the compost
i fill a pot, water, sprinkle seeds sparingly, too may will just strangle each other, and be hard to !!!!! out, then cover with compost and water again

how quickly does your dog learn?
my friend had this trouble
she sprinkled a tub of black pepper, not freshly ground stuff, the powder
he sniffed once, and never went back!!!

midnightraven3

:eek:i didnt realize it would blank out that word in relation to seeds

stupid me

if you have too many seedlings in one pot, when you come to transfer them to their proper growing place, you wont be able to de tangle them, you will tear the roots