Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú

Grow your own  permalink

What to put in my containers?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by James (U15179289) on Friday, 9th March 2012

  Hi all, I've just got some containers (reasonable size) and was hoping to grow some veg in them, I wanted to grow ; onions, Carrots, Leeks, potatoes and lettuce of some variety in them, Is there any reason why these would not work in containers and anyone got any handy hints?
  Thanks
  James

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by cool_breeze_uk (U14359426) on Friday, 9th March 2012

  Hi James. I used containers the first time I tried growing my own. Carrots did well in a container with a bit of depth to it, more of a large tub really. You want space for the tap root to go down which will ultimately become your carrot. I've heard barrel of sand watered from the bottom is very effective though not tried this myself. Potatoes in containers I think are largely a waste of time due to the yield you'll likely get despite lots of time spent watering. Lettuce should be fine. Your best use for containers in terms of yield would be to grow things that climb eg tomatoes, beans, cucumbers etc. Hope this helps Phil

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Inajam (U14850695) on Saturday, 10th March 2012

  I've grown ruby chard very successfully in old recycling boxes. Sown late last spring, picking by August and still cropping,
  
  I've also found that the little cut and come again salad leaf mixtures work well in containers.
  
  Chantenay carrots work well in containers as they don't require the depth of soil of some varieties, and the flavour is very good.
  
  Spring onions also work well in containers, but I wouldn't have thought it worth while trying to grow maincrop onions this way because of the space needed.
  
  I used large-ish chunks of broken polystyrene in the bottom of the recycling boxes, this aided drainage without increasing the weight of the boxes as in my previous shady garden I had to move them about to chase the sunshine.

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by windmill19 (U14444596) on Saturday, 10th March 2012

  I am going to grow garlic in containers this year what size pots do you think that I should use for each clove to form into a lovely big bulb please?

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Inajam (U14850695) on Saturday, 10th March 2012

  Plant each clove in at least a 6" diameter deep pot, in a free draining compost with some sharp sand in it. They hate being waterlogged. Place them in a sheltered sunny position.
  
  Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day (22nd Dec) but if you want to get really big fat bulbs you'll do better to start them off in October.

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Saturday, 10th March 2012

  Hi, James,
  
  I started off growing in tubs and now have three veg beds, a GH and fruit bushes. Once bitten by the grow your own bug, you'll find theres no stopping you.
  
  Can't see you having any problems growing things like lettuce leaves, spring onions, spinach, chad or radishes. Leeks isn't a crop I'd choose to grow in a tub but each to their own. There is quite alot more you can grow in tubs though...
  
  I grow spuds in bags, providing the bag is deep enough (recycling boxes are ok too) choose a blight and scab resistant variety if possible and go for a 1st or 2nd early variety and you could be harvesting as early as July.
  
  Dwarf peas do well in tubs although not a huge crop and you may find you eat them before they get to the kitchen. Cherry tomatoes (outdoor varieties) do well in tubs, my brother grows them very succesfully in hanging baskets.
  
  I grew Courgettes in flower buckets last year which did really well. Herbs do well in pots.
  
  I also tried parsnips and carrots last year. Parsnips didn't do well and the carrots were only baby sized, they could have been better if thinned out more.
  
  Strawberries do well in troughs and blueberries can be grown in tubs providing they are in the correct compost and covered with netting when the flowers show, this stops the birds eating all the berries.
  
  If it's your first time at growing your own choosing a few quick growing vegs is a good idea as you see early results. Leeks and onions have a longish growing season. Look forward to hearing what you decide to grow
  
  

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by angela (U15087698) on Saturday, 10th March 2012

  Hi james,
  
  I have also started to grow my own this year....although think i might be a little ambitious. I have 4 bags of potatoes on the go already.
  
  I have already started to grow seedlings indoors for my onions, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, leeks and peas, all i plan to plant in a very small spot....ooops.
  
  For potting i have got peas, climbing beans, tomatoes, cucumber, runner beans.
  
  I have a selection of herbs and lettuce which i will plant in a planter.
  
  I also have carrots to plant somewhere in the ground i think.
  
  I have a strawberry plant which some how has lived through the frost and is looking really healthy and i have just planted a grape and 3 raspberry plants.
  
  I hope your fruit and veg take off....be nice to see how things progress. xxx
  

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ouramma (U14447512) on Monday, 12th March 2012

  Hi james,
  I have no garden only a balcony so I grow all my veg in containers.
  Cut and come again lettuce is great if you sew little and often, you can buy packets of mixed seeds in any garden centre. I also grow pea shoots for salad using dried peas bought from a supermarket. Nastutiums also do well in pots.
  I have had great success with beetroot and courgettes. My Carrots are always a bit small but very tasty.
  Dwarf french beans and spring onions did really well last year. I have lots of herbs too- thyme, rosemary, mint and bay all do well in pots.
  
  I always use a good quality compost and add some slow release fertiliser, I also add liquid fertiliser from time to time. Try not to let the containers dry out as once this happens it is difficult to hydrate them again.

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message8

• Message 9

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Pounky (U15075060) on Monday, 12th March 2012

  Thank you for posting this James - I found a lot of useful advice within the answers you received.

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message9

• Message 10

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by James (U15179289) on Monday, 12th March 2012

  Thanks for all your help guys, Some great advice, (And I'm sure i'll be back to ask more daft questions before the years out)
  
  I've got a few containers so I'm definately going to go for lettuce/Salads, Spuds, and carrots.
  'Zoomer44' I definately think I'll get into it, I remember gardening as a little kid with my gran so hopefully I can still remember bits and peices.
  Any advice on the soil/compost mix I should be using, i.e. Should I use a mix of compost/manure/fertiliser/soil or sand etc?
  Thanks again for the advice.

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message10

• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 12th March 2012

  I started off using compost from grow bags in my pots.
  
  There should be sufficient fertiliser in them to feed your plants for at least 6 weeks. Then a general purpose liquid feed can be watered in. I'd also advise getting a good book covering growing veg.
  
  

  Link to this forum: What to put in my containers?

  Report message11

Back to top