The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2026!

Makingabobor2

Another silly newbie question. What do you all put in the bottom of large planters, so as to not use too much compost and help drainage. I read that cardboard isn't recommended unless its straight on the garden to stop weeds, and that gravel is not so ideal these days. Someone said broken china/pots etc? I've got DH to drill holes in the bottom of the planters, but don't want to fill them with just compost as they are quite big.

greenbee

I generally put crocks or large stones at the bottom of pots. There's usually some broken terracotta pots around. For flowers and shrubs you can also use polystyrene packing, but I wouldn't use it for food.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81896605#Comment_81896605

Yes its for veg in the huge raised planters I was wondering about. I used cardboard for the carrots & courgettes last year, after seeing it on FB. .. no wonder they were a failure last year.…Lol. The 1st year doing them I just put compost, but it used far too much

Farway

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81896605#Comment_81896605

As above, but I use for food crops as well, like tomatoes, depends on your general feelings about plastics I guess. And if only shallow rooted,say radish, lettuce etc then no where near the root system

If you use lightweight bulk you would be wise to chuck some heavy items in, like old bricks, just for stability in wind.

You could just bung bog standard garden soil, old turves etc in the base if only looking for cheap bulk

-taff

You make a lasagna bed, with wood at the bottom, [ small logs, twigs, branches, but pick something suitable for the size of your planter, or some already rotting wood, like small sleepers] When it starts rotting down it will act like a giant sponge to keep your planters moister but it takes time for them to do that. Then leaves, wood chip, shavings, straw, whatever you can get your hands on. Then your compost.

All of the above under the compost will start to rot down, so the levels of your compost in your planter will drop and need to be topped up. It's a long term thing to do this, not a quick fix but most vegetables are not going to need a very deep root run, except maybe parsnips, and you can get shortie carrots etc.

It's the cheapest way to fill a bed if you can womble the bottom part.

The cheapest way to do the top part is to find an allotment association, join it, and buy their discounted compost.

Everything you would normally put in compost will rot down eventually, it's just a question of how long, so you can literally fill it with whatever you like [ except weeds like bindweed root and dandelion root, nettle root etc] Those can go in a compost bag in the back of the garden somewhere to rot down by themselves.

My current large bed in the garden has the above including a layer of spent hops, wood packaging shavings, cardboard, cat poo [ I have to rake out their 'litter tray' every now and again, and I'm growing flowers not veg in there] , logs, clumps of grass, kitchen waste, spent compost from pots, dead plants that went to Norway etc…It's a real mish mash, but it will all rot down.

Makingabobor2

Thanks for the replies everyone

bantamlady

I have an allotment that was my Brother in law's. He made it organic and it has been for over 30 years. We took it over when he could no longer manage. There were 16 beds in total, he managed 1! We took over and cleared the lot, I bought 12 of red currant, black and white currant bushes, then took an old poly tunnel frame that has no plastic and covered it with netting from our local golf range, instant walk in fruit cage, we then bought some pallet collars at a very reduced rate, giving us raised beds so that i could carry on even with disability. we now have a large fruit cage covering one side of the plot. I now grow enough fruit to make organic jams jellies chutneys and cordials. It has been fun watching the plot develop over the years.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899016#Comment_81899016

Wow that's pretty amazing, Well done.

rtandon27

@bantamlady - What a fabulous acheivement!

droopsnoot

I planted some tomato seeds just over a week ago, in trays with clear covers, and put them on the front window sill where they get the sun for a bit. I've got seven showing at the moment, which seems pretty quick. I didn't mark which were which, so it'll just have to be a surprise. Only one of my chilli seeds has done anything, I might take them out of the airing cupboard and put them next to the tomatoes as the window sill seems to be where it's all happening.