Im a novice to veg (except Tomatoes) and am thinking of growing some in pots for the first time. I am thinking about some brussel sprouts in a large pot I have, some spring onions carrots mixed together in another pot, some radishes succesionally sown in another pot. These varieties plus the usual Cut and come again lettuce as we eat LOADS of it! Do you think these will be ok in pots? Many Thanks, Dan :-)
Not sure about the Brussel Sprouts. None of the others should be a problem.
Great! cheers! ;D
The way I see it try anything you like. Sprouts would probably do okay it would just be the wind blowing them over that could cause problems so if you can sort that then you'll probably be fine. Try it and see after all whats the worst that can happen ;)
Try this thread Dan
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16918.msg174161#msg174161
If you did a search on 'container' in the forum you might find more - lots of peeps seem to do amazing things with veg or herbs in pots.
Agree with previous posts, something short-ish will be less trub. I have seen runner beans grown successfully in pots, but they did fall over from time to time. How about a pot-grown A4a champion pumpkin? ;D ;D
Certainly something (anything) shortish. I have grown dwarf runner beans in pots with great success.
So far I've grown Runner beans, potatoes, french beans, cucumbers, broccoli (calibrese and purple spouting), carrots, spinich, strawberries, peppers, lettuce, radishes and garlic in containers as well as a number of herbs at least that's all I can remember. I'll be trying a few other thing this year aswell.
Quote from: Dan 2 on March 04, 2006, 09:37:55
plus the usual Cut and come again lettuce as we eat LOADS of it!
Dan, how are you off for lettuce seeds? I've got loads going spare if you want them. PM me if you want the list, or look back in Swap Shop. All varieties I'm not growing any more. Cheers!
I`m not sure about sprouts-but if you rammed the soil/compost down hard it should work-but it would be for fun rather than economics
Thansk for the advice everyone! VERY mcuh appreciated! I think I've got too much lettuce actually Alishka, so i'll think it'll be alright, thanks for the offer though, very kind.
These are my final items I have decided to go for, im going to risk the brussels!
Broad Bean
The Sutton
Carrot
'Amini'
Radish
Cherry Belle (organic)
Spring Onions
North Holland Blood Red Redmate (non-organic)
Mizuna (organic)
Brussels Sprout
Red Rubine
Hopefully they'll be ok! Dan :-)
Dan
I grow a selection of my veg in my back yard in containers due to space constraints. I found D G Hessayon's book called "The vegetable and herb expert" really useful (not the pocket version). There is a swhole chapter dedicated to container planting.
My backyard harvest last year comprised the following: carrots, dwarf french beans, runner beans, strawberries, spring onions, radishes, lettuce, beetroot, tomotoes, cucumber, melon, aubergine & capsicums.
I know there are varieties of fruit and veg which are bred for container growing. The biggest problem I found was keeping the plants well-watered without overwatering them, but this can be cured by using water-retaining crystal.s
Good luck with your endeavour & remember - practice makes perfect
CC
Useful info all,
I have been buying big tubs ( 20" square) for my back yard to supplement my much reduced veg space, so it's heartening to hear I should have a good crop - I'm hoping to use the micro climate theory to help with general conditions.
This year I shall mostly be pot growing:
Runner beans ( with wall support) - cantare ( dwarf ) & yin yang
carrots - nantes variant
pak choi
lettuce - lobjoits green cos & salad bowl
radish - various
spring onions - rossa lunga di firenze & white lisbon
potatoes
basil
beetroot
and anything oh's dad has too many of!
Because of continued low back probs. am finding coping with my allotment very difficult (& have now got a nice person to share it with) I'd like to try growing in some tubs - I live in a flat & only have a tiny patio which at the moment measures 6' deep x 7'6" wide & a lot of that is taken up with a small round table & 2 chairs but have been given permission (by my housing association) to extend it by another 3ft. I know that's not a lot but every little helps! ;) just waiting for weather to improve so 'handyman' can come & do the work!...Beyond the patio is grass and various pretty communal beds & pathways.
I Like the sound of the 20" square tubs (think maybe they'd be too big for my small area tho but would grow a lot of veggies :P) and I wonder where you got them from froglets?
Also, to one side of my patio, I have a strong 6' high trellis & 7'6" in depth (that at present has 4 different hanging baskets on & was a picture last year) but wonder if the trellis would be suitable for beans to grow up if I placed a planter right against the trellis or do they actually need the supports in the tub?...maybe it's a long way for a plant to 'lean over' to reach the trellis & they'd become a funny shape!...
perhaps a grow bag would be better for beans?....would have to get help when I bought them tho cos I can no longer pick them up altho I believe most Nurseries or stores will help?...then have a fair distance to get them from my car park to my patio (again would need help)...
Would mention also that I don't get any sun at all on this patio area until much later in the season and then only partially - it just about creeps over to it at the height of Summer, which is a swings & roundabouts sort of situation, means I can sit in comfort on the patio, as I can't take the full sun but not the best environment maybe for some plants.
The trellis would be fine for beans and pots would be just as good as grow bags for the purpose you'll just have to encourage the plants in the right direction and when they are long enough they'll start climbing.
The main problem will be the lack of sunlight but I would say still give it a try what have you got to lose. ;)
Cheers everyone! have put my order in with The organic Gardening catalogue and will be expecting it any day soon! Ye! ;D
Hi Hot Potato,
The big square tubs are fibre clay so I can just about move them when they're empty, but when they're full - not even with help. I get them from my local garden centre & are £60 each. I'm investing long terrm with these and see them every day as I access my house via the paved over back yard so they're decorative as well as practical.
I have also just ordered 3 spud tubs for...... spud growing. Far less decorative, but can be behind the bench seat.
Cheers