Growing Veg etc in planters

fizzyfeet_2

Herbaholic wrote: »

I've been experimenting with copper tape from the garden centre you put it round your pot and when the slug slides up it, the slug gets his doodahs zapped. Seen no slug damage on the copper taped pots so far after 3 weeks!

I've looked at this too, it's just that I've got lots of pots and I'll end up spending a smal fortune, would this work with ordinary copper wire? Dh has an abunance of this, so wouldn't have to spend any money!

Herbaholic

fizzyfeet wrote: »

I've looked at this too, it's just that I've got lots of pots and I'll end up spending a smal fortune, would this work with ordinary copper wire? Dh has an abunance of this, so wouldn't have to spend any money!

Hi Fizzy

It may, but you'd need to make sure you cover all the way round and the copper must be at least 2" thick to work, which means winding it round and round, until you have a strip 2" high which could take a while. I actually hadn't thought of using copper wire, although I've just had a wicked idea for making a plant support to protect my delphiniums and lupins (which the slugs normally devour!) copper pipe as supports with a mesh of copper wire for the plants to grow through, thanks for the inspiration

Apparently copper works because when slugs make contact with copper, a toxic reaction occurs between the copper and the slugs naturally secreted 'slime' creating an electric current, and they get an electric shock which repels them.

The copper tape is really paper thin and tears really easily if you're not careful when putting it on. My hubby suggested cutting up some copper pipe he has and giving some of my pots copper legs to see if it will have the same effect so wire may do. I've just found some rather expensive circles of copper tube that you put round plants like a collar, so any copper will do it looks like? If you try the copperwire let me know if it works?

daleyd

Seen a thing on telly (The Big Dig I think it was called) in which a woman grew carrots in old barrels - apparently carrot fly can be a real pain if grown in the ground, but they can't fly above 30 inches, so put them in a barrel (Or like we have done, put them in shallower containers and up on a bench of some sorts) and hey presto you should have great pest free carrots.

Can't vouch for the results for myself, but they did interview a couple of old stagers who had been growing carrots for years, and they were amazed by how they turned out!:j

Will keep you posted

Daleyd

Herbaholic

daleyd wrote: »

Seen a thing on telly (The Big Dig I think it was called) in which a woman grew carrots in old barrels - apparently carrot fly can be a real pain if grown in the ground, but they can't fly above 30 inches, so put them in a barrel (Or like we have done, put them in shallower containers and up on a bench of some sorts) and hey presto you should have great pest free carrots.

Can't vouch for the results for myself, but they did interview a couple of old stagers who had been growing carrots for years, and they were amazed by how they turned out!:j

Will keep you posted

Daleyd

We saw this prog to DaleyD and I've sown some carrots in large old beer making buckets that we've put up on a chairs to make them over 30" high. Never tried it before but will see if it makes a difference. From all I've read Nante's 2 are the best carrots to grow, there is also a variety that is supposed to be resistant to carrot fly but whether the taste will still be any good I'll wait and see what others think.

daleyd

Herbaholic wrote: »

We saw this prog to DaleyD and I've sown some carrots in large old beer making buckets that we've put up on a chairs to make them over 30" high. Never tried it before but will see if it makes a difference. From all I've read Nante's 2 are the best carrots to grow, there is also a variety that is supposed to be resistant to carrot fly but whether the taste will still be any good I'll wait and see what others think.

We got a pack of 3 (Oooer!) fabric type buckets from the garden centre which were for growing potatoes in.

Got carrots in one (I think they are some kind of late variety) and parsnips in the other. Had some spare plastic shelving from the garage , so we plonked them on top of this.

When the guy on telly was pulling them out of the barrel they looked fab, so we thought we've got to give this a go - it looked like he had loads of them in there!

And I don't even like carrots (Luckily Mrs D does)!

mags68

so far we have grown,peas,runner beans, cucumbers,toms and potatoes in pots also grown pumpkin just in a grow bag, anything is worth a try.

CathChat

I saw a tip on gardeners world regarding carrots.

If you plant chives around them the carrot fly dont like the smell or something and wont go near your carrots. I havent tried this myself but it might be worth a go.

renard_rouge

Have been looking for some old GRP baths being slung as may prove useful for container/deepbed use. Thinks.... drill holes in side overhang and put canes in for plant supports and wigwams or bean sticks. Anyone tried this yet?

brogusblue

Hello

I am growing my veg in car tyres, troughs,dustbins even a old freezer so most things wil make planters the best one i have found is poundstrechers they have a trug which flexable with 2 handles i think it holds round 30ltr of compost drill holes in bottom my beans & pot's are in them i think they where 2.99 each.

Cheers
Brogusblue

spender

Inspired by this thread I have gone out and bought some veggies to grow in planters. I am so excited about this. However it is stupid question time. I have bought some small round carrotts and have planted them, they look just like a white root at the moment. When will I know when they are ready? Also I have bought some leeks as well, when will they be ready? Thanks so much for all your help.