container gardening

[benji26]

  :-\ sorry for all the questions

I was just wondering what the best things to grow in containers are??
Like i said id like to try carrots, but was also hoping to try growing some variety of onion (as well as herbs) and maybe potatoes (are these poisonous if they grow above the soil though?)

i really am a bit of a dunce but like ive said im here and willing to learn!! :)

[benji26]

[cornykev]

Hi Benji I take it space is limited if not try to plant carrots in the ground if not containers are fine make them big ones thou. Onions need spacing so you wouldn't get many in a container, potatoes would be buried in the soil as the plant grows you earth up which means you pull the earth up around the plant so don't fill the container to the top any potatoes that poke through the soil will go green that bit is poisonous so keep them covered up with the soil (earthing up). Ask away any questions lots of helpful people on this site ready to help you.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :P

[Barnowl]

If the spuds themselves (rather than the green leafy bit above the surface) are exposed to sun they will turn green and in this case green = poisonous! Never eat a green potato.

There are two ways to prevent it:  you can keep adding more soil round the potato plant by banking up earth around it as it grows, or cover the ground with something light excluding like mulch or membrane (in the latter case plant through cut holes)so that just the stalks and leaves of the plant are exposed to the sun.

With containers, from what I've read, I think you pretty much have to follow the adding extra earth approach. You also have to water from time to time.

I'm trying them in containers for the first time this year as well. I understand that you don't completely fill the container to begin with but then keep adding more soil as the plant gets bigger.

Check this out...
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0506/potatoespots.asp

[cornykev]

Also you could use growbags, check out Amazon.co.uk for some books that could help you out, by the way is it still sunny south wales. ;D ;D ;D

[supersprout]

We lurve questions here! ;D

What you can grow in containers is only limited by
a) the size, shape and position of container
b) the extent to which you're prepared to look after the plant e.g. watering and feeding
c) your imagination!

What veg would you and your family like to eat fresh from the garden (especially the little one)?
Make a list - get the family involved (does the wee 'un like strawberries?) :)

I'd love to see your list - bet there aren't many on there that you can't grow in containers? :)

It might be worth keeping up with this thread too:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,27272.0/topicseen,topicseen

[shirlton]

Thomson and morgan doa container range of veg. I got an email this mornin advertising them

[saddad]

Presumably the e-mail I haven't opened yet...
;D

[benji26]

hi all - thanks for the replies


cornykev - no it hasnt been sunny south wales since new years eve i think - we are getting the really bad winds though and im a bit nervous because there is a very old decrepid tree right next to our flat but bf loving reassured me last night ' dont worry we are on the ground floor so it will hit upstairs flat first!'  ::)  was to the point that i considered bringing little one in to our room because it was so bad last night.

supersprout - mainly i think me and my family are all agreed that we eat mainly/mostly eat alot of carrots - we eat lots for some unknown reason, broccolli, cucumber (also onions and potatoes) but thinking fruit wise yeah we do eat alot of thinks and little one especially likes strawberries, grapes and banana's (but theres no way near enough space for a banana tree in my garden!),
might try strawberries though. Little one (almsot 3years now!) will eat pretty much any fruit or veg you put in front of him

Ive managed to get hold of a few smaller tubs too which were lovingly donated by my mil because they were gettign in the way in her shed - and i have a few over fence pot holders (the 3 holders will hold 6 pots in total - 2 each) so im thinking i might put flowers or hanging things in these because i live on a main road and would like the privacy a bit more but dont want to block the fence up totally (slatted fence) any ideas???

Also im pickign up a window box today so am going to plan to put some herbs in there and going to get cooking with them a bit more this year - anyone any advice on the best herbs?? chives and mint are all ive got (im allergic to parsley btw!)

thanks again for the advice

[manicscousers]

don't forget, grapes will grow in a pot, provided they're watered enough in dry(ha ha) spells, and grow up so won't get in the way , sounds like you're well organised,  ;D

[sally_cinnamon]

Carrots will grow fine in pots, certain varieties proabably more suitable than others - I grew Chantenay Red Cored last year in pots, they are nice stubby ones, and this year I will be trying Parmex, they are like little balls so both those types don't need too much depth.  Lots of other types that are short enough roots to go in pots.  Suttons do one (...see here http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_184259_Carrot_Ideal_Speedy_Seeds.htm...) that is fast growing (6-12 weeks) and short rooted so ideal for pots!

I have to grow all my stuff in pots as no lottie yet and not allowed to dig garden up (grumpy OH!) and managed lots of things - herbs (great on the windowsill inside), chillis, sweet peppers, tomatoes, spring onions... even managed an aubergine!

If you want to try the carrots I have some spare Chantenay lurking in my seed box if you'd like some?  PM me...  ;)

[Biscombe]

Any determinate tomatoes will do well :)

[froglets]

I do all sorts of salad stuff in pots & it makes it both accessible & a quick turnaround.  Lettuce & radish ar also a good way of getting the little one interested & involved.

I usually do lolla rosso lettuce, cos lettuce, radishes - various, pak choi, runner beans, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, coriander, spring onions.  Will whack in some shallotts this year.  Hadn't thought about broccoli, thanks for the thought.

oh, and plenty germinated bird seed   :)

[benji26]

sally - cinnamon - that would be grat thank you - i have no idea what varieties to buy of what!!!

i sat down the other day and have made a definate decision to grow

- carrots
- strawberries - what variety would i need? i read about Elsanta strawberries - are they ok in pots?
- peas - can but attempt right! was thinking a container with a support next to the front door - will get early sun in the morning but be shaded in the day though - is that ok for them?? or do they prefer lots of sun??
- herbs
- might try some small tomatoes in a tub - try and get little one and us interested in them as we dont like them but always use them in pasta dishes etc - strange huh?

[froglets]

Personal opinion, avoid Elsanta like the plague.  They have no flavour and are found everywhere in supermarkets because they grow to be a nice shape & colour, are consistent ( but bland) and travel well in packaging.

I think I have some Royal Sovereign & lots of others, the names of which are lost in the mists of time.  Personally I'd ask anyone who grows them if they have some with great taste and then beg a few runners from them. 

Strawberries are like potatoes & other fruits, different varieties are ready at different times through the season so if you can get some early, mid and late plants, you will have a longer munching season.

Can't remember conditions for peas, but put them where you can easily keep them watered - they need regular water & it's a pain if you have to haul it too far.

Good luck.

[STHLMgreen]

I grew eleven leeks on my balcony in a growbox. Just to see if I could. They were huge and very leafy and delicious. The parsley went well as did the basil in pots. Other herbs did okay. Upside down tomatoes were also fun in containers. 

[Baccy Man]

If you want potatoes the easiest containers are car tyres any garage will have a huge pile of scrapped tyres & will give you as many as you want because they have to pay to get rid of them. Just earth up the potatoes as they grow & add extra tyres as needed to increase the height of the container.

[sally_cinnamon]

sally - cinnamon - that would be grat thank you - i have no idea what varieties to buy of what!!!

Send me a PM with your address and I pop some in the post for you!
;)