Garden produce

Curry_Queen

scared-i-jellyfish wrote:

Last year my seven year old son grew vegetables of his own - IN BUCKETS!!!!

We bought six big black buckets (99p each from diy stores or cheaper from wickes) put holes in the bases and filled with compost. Planted them up with pumpkins, runner beans on canes, and carrots. Watered the plants and gave them plant food as they grew, and they cropped heavily. Whopping carrots!!!! and very little space was needed. This year the number of buckets has increased and we are growing carrots, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, runnerbeans, rocket and much more. My boy loves it!

Hope this helps.

Thanks! ... great idea :T ... but unfortunately I don't have any outdoor space whatsoever, and I don't think they'd grow indoors

andham2000

Curry_Queen wrote:

Thanks! ... great idea :T ... but unfortunately I don't have any outdoor space whatsoever, and I don't think they'd grow indoors

I am growing all sorts of things indoors on my windowsills. Many plants do not need that much room. I have herbs on my kitchen windowsil, l am also growing radishes, baby beetroots, cherry tomatoes, lettuces and will later plant some rocket and spring onions. If you have space for a window box you could try the same. They have to idealy be about 1 foot (30cm) deep.

The same principle can be used to grow all sorts of other edable food, I would guess that plants that grow in partical shade would do ok indoors as long as they can get a bit of sun. Hanging baskets could also be an idea.

Curry_Queen

Another great idea, thankyou, but you're not gonna believe this ... I don't have any windowsills either

My flat is an old-style property which has sash windows and the "windowsill" is a 3" strip of wood. Believe me, I've pondered every conceivable way of trying to grow anything, even if it's just a few pots of herbs, but it's just not practical. I've even thought about trying to secure some pots to the outer ledge (again only about 6" deep) or even getting someone to put a hanging basket within reach of my window, but all the windows face onto a busy high street and if the traffic fumes didn't kill everything off then the local yobs would no doubt use them as target practice and try knock them off

andham2000

What about putting a table on the inside of your window that comes up to your window and growing plants indoors? I start off many of my seedlings on the inside of my flat. The only other ideas I can think of is to either get an allotment or ask a friend if you could cultivate their garden in exchange for some of the produce that you grow.

Katgoddess

If you are after cheap buckets, Morrisons sell 6 (8?) for 99p. They are basically what the flowers come in, and sell them cheap to get rid of them. If there are none on display in the plants and flowers section, ask one of the flower girls to get some for you as there are normally loads out back.

Curry_Queen

My computer desk is in front of the window so I guess I could shove the cat out of her favourite space (next to my monitor) and put a couple of pots there ... think I have some packets of seeds somewhere so it won't hurt to give it a try, thankyou!

As for allotments, friend's gardens etc that's another big negative I'm afraid ... although an excellent idea, but I'm agoraphobic and rarely, if ever, leave my flat and don't have any friends locally. My ex would be about the nearest, and only person I really have any contact with, but he's 20 odd miles away and somehow I don't think his new partner would allow him to grow any veggies in her garden for me

mink35

My tomatoes seem to have stopped commiting suicide :rolleyes: so thanks for all the help.


My early peas are doing lovely, red onions seem to be doing well and my garlic's gone haywire. I *think* my chard is coming up but not having grown it before I'm not sure :rolleyes: .

I'm waiting for my lettuce, celery and mini leeks to start appearing.

Still got runner beans, carrots, winter leeks, radishes to put in (I'm sure there's something else but can't quite remember!)

My raspberries are growing, blackcurrants are growing, I think the blackberry has died but not sure. I finally got some rhubarb and that's now appearing as well - mmmm to rhubarb crumble!

My plum trees are blossoming and my apple tree is just starting to bud.

All in all I'm happy with my veggies at the moment!

scared-i-jellyfish

andham2000 wrote:

Buckets, cool I like the sound of that. What sort of distances are the crops apart?

usually three runner bean plants to one bucket, a good pinch of carrot seeds - you can harvest them throughout the season -, two pumpkin seeds to a bucket,
The trick is to water regularly and feed twice a week.


hope this is of some help

nicki_2

Yesterday my daughter planted some cress (she's only just turned 4 and got a "Bill and Ben Seed Growing Kit" for her birthday so she's over excited ATM) and promptly asked this morning if it has grown yet :rotfl:

I also planted some tomato seeds, but I doubt they will grow the way my luck is going. Need to get some more seeds (and a potato or two while I think on) and pots then I'm going to try some carrots, lettuce and herbs. Later I'm going to try and plant some garlic but I need to make holes in the bottom of the pots first.

MrsMW

Curry-Queen. Definitely try some plants on your computer desk, I've resorted to moving the printer and have some tomatoes growing merrily by my side. I used to use all the window sills but I can't now because we have blinds.