Veggies in containers

Hi all
I would like to have a go at growing some vegetables in containers as I don't have a vegetable patch.
Does anyone have experience of this and is there any I shouldn't attempt.

Also do I use multi purpose compost in them?

Thank you
Pained Lady

 

Hi,
I grew a lot of stuff in containers this year:

lettuce
radish
spring onion
rocket
land cress
chilis
tomatoes
corgettes
summer squash
pak choi
carrots
climbing french beans
beetroot
+ numerous herbs

I had a great harvest from everythign except the summer squash, which I don't think liked being in a pot. I chose miniature corgettes and they were ok. They beetroot were a bit patchy too.

I used an all purpose compost and mixed in some organic tomato food, then fed the toms, corgettes and squash once a week. I also gave the beans an extra feed which extended the crop.

The biggest problem I had was keeping everything watered in the hot weather. Next year I will use 10+L pots for the corgettes and 5L pots for the toms - I used smaller ones and they dried out way too fast.

I found window boxes ideal for growing salad crops.

I got a book about growing veg in containers which suggests some varieties - I will find the link.

hope that helps.

 

Here's that book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Harvest-Growing-Vegetables-Containers/dp/1571457607/sr=8-23/qid=1157036678/ref=sr_1_23/202-6285579-5025467?ie=UTF8&s=gateway

 

Sparkle (slightly off-topic here) seen as you seem v. knowledgable about veggies, in an attempt to get my son off the playstation and out in the garden was wondering if I can grow things like sweetcorn in amongst the shrubs and flowers? Thinking maybe just a couple of spuds, carrots, corn and maybe a few lettuce. Would I have to do anything different to the soil or can I just bung them in and let the kids watch them grow? Obviously, I'm talking about next year as my garden looks like a building site at the mo!

 

Hi all
Thank you for your help.
Sparkle I shall send for that book you recommended.
Shiney I may even try some runner beans at the back of a border.
I did actually try sweetcorn 2 years ago in a plot where I now house a camellia. They grew really quickly but then just got covered all over in ants. It was horrible and I don't like using chemicals on things so I cut them down and havn't tried since. Ants seem to be a problem in my garden thats why I thought if I put things in pots I may be able to keep them away.
Thanks again
Painted Lady

 

Hi Windy,
I'm very flattered I come across as knowledgable - in truth this is my first year of growing veg properly (and when I say properly, I mean in pots becuase I'm waiting for an allotment). My Dad was as market gardener though so I picked up a few things along the way.

My dad tells me it's not worth growing sweetcorn in a small garden. They are wind pollinated so you need to grow them in a block of at least 1m square otherwise they wont do much.

I would really recommend things like chilis to get your son started because they look really cool and crop well. Radishes are also a good one because they're fairly fool-proof. Squashes, pumpkins and corgettes are also fun if you've got the space. I am always amazed at how fast they grow.

 

Thanks Shiney and Sparkle,
will try runner beans (again!) but now I've got a small sheltered bit thrown up by the fencing round the oil tank hopefully they won't blow into the field this time! :rolleyes:
Sparkle - don't suppose your Dad said how many sweetcorn plants in a 1m square? As my gardens all new, everythings really small yet, so could probably manage it next year til things grow bigger. the kids love corn on the cob and the plants are quite funky to look at. Will do the chillis as I love eating them, but after seeing Shineys giant squash plants, not sure I have space for them :eek:
Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll get the boy out in the fresh air if it kills me :D :D

 

Sweetcorn has to be planted in blocks for wind pollination.1 - 2ft apart. I have a block that is 6ft by 4ft. My runner beans are on the edge of the block and my sweetcorn gets some wind, but protection from the gales (living on the coast!).

In this block, I have 16 plants, I probably planted them too close together actually and would have been better with 12. But I have a wonderful crop of them.

If any of you decide to grow sweetcorn though, a litle tip, as it is getting bigger earth up the lower stem, this will offer stability as it gets larger and also when you water, it will not soak the stem and make it soft.

On containers.. I grow stuff in piled up tyres, like they did on gardeners world. Put a bit of carpet in the bottom tyre so your soil stays in but you have drainage. plant almost anything, carrots may need two tyres deep and potatoes, add the tyres as the plant grows and requires earthing up.

You can get tyres from any garage that sells them because they have to pay for their disposal, they would be glad to get rid of them..

 

Thanks for the info about the book....I was trying to save money by growing my own veg!!!
I have been very fortunate with tomatoes this year, and also had some delicious courgettes. Always get lots of lovely rocket and chard...does anyone else grow chard, I love the colours! :D

 

We grew swiss chard for the first time this year Leonora and have been really pleased with it. As you say the colour is great.
Even if you don't save a lot of money growing your own veg there's a lot of satisfaction and nutrition to be gained from eating your own fresh stuff.

 

We grew "rainbow" a couple of years ago - red, green, yellow, orange - the boys loved it!!!! This year, I can't remember where, I had a baby leaf salad, and there were tiny weeny baby milti coloured chard leaves in the salad - they were delicious!!!!

If your pots were drying out too quickly - try putting in some swell-gel next year - it really does help with water retention!!!! (and stand your pots in saucers so the water doesn't run off).

Windy - I can highly reccomend chillis for the kiddies to grow - my two love their chilli plants - and if you have too many - just freeze them whole and use as and when!!!! I'll take some cutting from mine and you are welcome to any that grow......

 

Hi

I grow lots of things in hydro systems (they are growing containers that don't use soil and that feed your plants automatically) on my patio and in my conservatory because I don't have a garden.

This year I grew
Tomatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, chillies, butternut squash, ginger,strawberries and cucumbers, peppers, lots of herbs and rocket.

I have five hydro systems. You just fill up the bottom part of the system with water and nutrient and put the plants on the top and plug it in. The system pumps a really shallow flow of water and nutrient over the plant roots.

You don't use compost just water and a nutrient that you get from the company who provides the hydro system.

Beacuse there is no soil, just water and nutrients you can see the roots - which my five year old nephew loves!

 

This sounds like an expensive system to me.

as for me I like the more naturaly grown stuff.

 

heard a great idea the other day - grow runner beans in baskets!