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Posted by jools (U14474476) on Friday, 28th May 2010
just been watching chelsea flower show.i really want to grow my strawberries in a tower like the one on the display.at the moment i have them in tubs all over the garden, and they are a pain to keep watered,they take up to much space,and i have also had problems with vine weevils,which i guess will still be a problem in a tower.ive tried hanging baskets,but that was a waste of time an effort,and i dont have a great deal of ground space to spare,besides,the slugs would get to them first.i recall seeing these plant towers several years ago,but i havent seen them since.has anyone tried them,and what were the results like?does anyone know where i can buy some,i am in the uk.i googled it,and i found stack-a-pot,(australian)and agro-tower(american),no where to get them here it seems,(not even on ebay).at the moment i have about 60 plants,but in previous years i have had better results from my little alpine strawberry,and i only have one small pot of those.i want to be able to cram as many strawberry plants in as possible.i would be grateful for any advice on growing them,or for any clever ideas too.thanks.
I haven't grown in a tower, but I do grow them in lots of pots. I tried something out last year which worked really well and I am doing the same this year. I filled one large pot (a flower bucket) with compost and put 3 plants around the edge. I then put another same size pot on top, filled with compost and with 3 more plants around the edge. I finally put one smaller pot on top of that with one plant in it. The plants are much bigger and happier than the ones if the official strawberry pot and it is much easier to water.
Hi jools. I don't know about the availability of the towers - but you could consider building a pot pyramid.
Take a large pot, fill with compost and plant around the edges. Place a slightly smaller pot on top, and again plant round the edges.
Keep going, layer by layer, until you run out of pots or plants!
It can be effective, and has a small "footprint" which is important when space is limited.
PHJ
Great minds think alike
The cynical amongst us would say that "fools seldom differ" koala-girl
PHJ
How about trying some capitals and correct interpunction to make your message comprehensible?
IMO it is risky criticizing people about their "interpunction" when we know nothing of their history. I, for one would hate it if anyone was/were discouraged and didn't ask for help because they lacked that skill. Most people understood the message.
Well said Honeysuckle. Some people! I remember now why I prefer other gardening sites.
Thankyou all for suggestions,I will certainly give it a go.
Its such a shame that some people feel the need to be so rude.
On another site people were buying tower type things for strawberries from Poundstretcher.
, in reply to message 10.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Saturday, 29th May 2010
Before
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during
[IMG]/IMG]
after
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this is a heavy duty cardboard tube that we get at work with rolls of vinyl in, they always get thrown out so I thought I could utilise them, I have 3 now, the other 2 have been painted black but at this moment in time they are in the shed as I don't have any plants to go in them, but give me time, maybe next year they will come to life.
Rain
Re message 6, to quote 'Thumper' from the film 'Bambi'
"If you cant say anything nice don't say nothing at all"
Rain
That's brilliant, Rain! Re-cycling, too. And I bet it's an idea that can be copied - there must be lots of carpet shops etc that want to get rid of those cardboard tubes.
PHJ
PS re punctuation: It ill behoves any of us to be too critical of others. It can sometimes take a certain amount of courage to post on the board, and, unless the meaning is really unclear, then we don't need to sit in judgement on others' grammar imo.
Pleas Rain - will you keep us updated on your towers?
How the plants do (very well I'm sure) with a photo please when all full of fruit and how the rolls survive over the coming year?
Best recycle idea I've seen for a long while!
The 'pot pyramid' is a super idea!
I have a few in hanging baskets and the others in hollow planter bricks at the moment. So far, so good! They have a few autumn/winter berries on now but I'm hoping for a much bigger crop in spring and summer.
[IMG]/IMG]
I love those hollow bricks. Where did you get them?
Koalagirl - you can get info on the hollow bricks at www.terraforce.com
I have just been to Chelsea and picked up a "flyer" for polanter.co.uk They have a type of strawberry planter in various colours but don't remember seeing a price. They look like fat plastic tubes with holes around the sides. Maybe they are what you are looking for.
Kathy
Poundland sell triple and quad stacking pots which make excellent strawberry towers and are also good for herbs
, in reply to message 19.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010
Not strawberry planters as such, but here's an update, took almost a 70ltr bag of compost to do them and I still have a small one to do but need to drill the holes.
[IMG]/IMG]
Rain
Your planters Rain are just the ticket. How do you keep the bottom ones watered though.
Now i am spoilt for ideas...thankyou.Have been to Poundland,they are a bit on the flimsy side,but they seem ok,hoping to buy some this week.Rain,your home made planters are fantastic,I am very impressed.Are they carpet tubes?What kind of paint have you used?how do you water them,and how do you stop the soil falling out?.They look similar to the Polanters mentioned by Kathy.I really want to buy some,they dont seem to expensive,but i think they are designed to fix to the wall,rather than freestanding.Thanks again.
, in reply to message 21.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Wednesday, 2nd June 2010
Zoomer, I have to stand with a watering can and let the water fall in very slowly, thing is they don't dry out to much as they are lined with vinyl so that retains a lot of water also there's vermiculite in which retains water as well.
Jools, they are heavy duty tubes that we get at work that hold rolls of vinyl that we print onto, they had a coating of 50/50 mix of pva and water then 2 coats of black matt paint then a coat of external varnish, lot of painting but I enjoy that, that should see them through for a couple of years, they have a circle of mdf in the bottom that has a hole in and they're stood on gravel.
Rain
I have some mini tomato plants (100s and 1000s, I think they are called). Has anyone any ingenious way to grow them? Could I use the plant pot stacking idea, does anyone think? I only have four plants.
Hello all! I'm coming in on this conversation a bit late, sorry
Just thought I'd share my strawb pyramid pics with you; these plants were bareroot stock I received in the post last week, so they are slowly perking / greening up. I couldn't find any traditional planters locally so I bought budget plastic planters from Focus, and a little wheeled stand thing so I can chase the sun around the patio!
[IMG]/IMG]
[IMG]/IMG]
I think all the 3 pots and stand came to about 15.00
, in reply to message 25.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Monday, 7th June 2010
What a cracking idea Niblet, have seen that done before, you can grow anything you like that way not just strawberries.
Rain
Thanks Rain! I really hadn't thought of growing other stuff like that... seems obvious now! I suppose it would be a really good way to go about companion planting in a small space by alternating the crop by tier. Might buy some more and experiment with chantenay carrots in the bottom, basil or salad around the middle and a tomato on top or marigolds around the middle and some other combination top and bottom. You've got me thinking now!
, in reply to message 27.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Tuesday, 8th June 2010
Niblet, marigolds are a good idea as they keep the dreaded greenfly at bay, they don't like the smell of them.
Rain
, in reply to message 28.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Sunday, 13th June 2010
Update on the tubes, the tall black one collapsed yesterday, it's bottom had gone on soft and I guess with 3 inches of rain that we've had it was too much, it landed on a tray of lettuce and smashed them also load of fuchsia's so a bit pd off at that, will have to empty it now and find a home for the plants, can do without this, but what the heck, moral is next time have the shorter ones, I have one on the go at the moment which is getting done a different way, so watch this space.
Rain
Hard lines with your towers, perhaps you could use plastic drain pipes, that's if you could make holes in them.
Bad luck Rain. What a shame that it look out the lettuce and fuchsias too. Did you manage to salvage the strawberry plants?
, in reply to message 31.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Sunday, 13th June 2010
Fortunately the tube that hit the deck just had bizzie lizzies in, the strawberry one is no where as tall, so the moral is I guess not to have them over 5 feet tall which that one was, not to worry nothing ventured gained, I will get a few more but shall do them different with painting this time, I think the best height is no more than 4 feet, I have one on the go now but has been to wet to get it outside, could be mid week before the weather picks up.
Rain
Rain,
They're just fabulous, I love them. Such a good idea. I bet they'll look great when the flowers come.
OK, admittedly, I had only read to the end of page one when I wrote the above. It's a shame it fell.
Is there nothing you could attach the top to to secure it a bit more? I think they're just fab! Combining growing and sculpture
I'm still going to have a go. I might concrete mine in as I don't have anything to secure them to.
, in reply to message 34.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Monday, 14th June 2010
The problem with the tube was it was over 5 feet tall and when it got wet it was just too much, so the next ones are going to be 3 1/2 - 4 feet no more, I had to try it, nothing is lost except my time in painting them, the plants and compost are safe just the hassle of emptying is daunting. not to worry, give me something to do when the gets better.
Rain
[IMG]/IMG]
Here is a photo I took this evening of strawberries growing in my "pot pyramid". They are definitely far happier than the ones growing in my traditional strawberry planter.
, in reply to message 36.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Monday, 28th June 2010
Koala Girl, please can I have a bowl full with some ice cream on, what variety are they, they look sooooo juicy.
Rain
I'll just squeeze some down the internet for you
They are a variety called "irrisistable" and they are!
, in reply to message 38.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Tuesday, 29th June 2010
Boy do they look it as well, must get some for next year, I have Elsanta first time for me this year and they are lovely and juicy as well.
Rain
Thats agreat idea koala_girl gona try that next year. AL
The planter and the strawberrys i mean not the internet? AL.
, in reply to message 39.
Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010
Rain I have Elsanta and swear by them, thy're like heaven in a pot! Their sweetness will make up for the collapsing pipe. Did you get it fixed up?
, in reply to message 42.
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Wednesday, 30th June 2010
No Vixxihibiscus, it went limp all over and crumpled at the bottom, I think really it was too tall, it was nearly 5 feet, so I emptied it and have another one on the go now, it was one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time but now having doubts about them, we'll see how they last, they do stay very moist inside but I think thats the problem, when cardboard gets warm and wet it goes limp.
Rain
Never mind Rain,
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. That's the whole idea with Gardening, trial and error and sometimes you triumph and sometimes you don't. It's the trying that's fun!
Best of luck with your garden
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