Tips Required For Container Growing

[AliClarke87]

Hi everyone,

The other half and I have a raised bed at hers which we planted in for the first time last year - this year I've made a bit of space for some pots and want to sort everything out over the bank holiday weekend.

I'd like to grow peppers, onions, carrots, tomatos and butternut squash (I read here the plants are really fun!!) and have a grow bag for some tatties; although I know it really depends on space.

So - first couple of questions:

1. Regarding the above plants - how many seeds should I sow per pot? Also, what size would you recommend for each type of plant?

2. Is it best to buy one of the greenhouse-esque covers (i.e. Homebase/Tesco) for some of the plants? There are a lot of birds living in our evergreens and I'm a bit worried they may get peckish (pun not intended).

Ideally I'd look at the peppers/onions and tatties - anything more than that would be fabulous but it all depends on if I can find the space for them.

What are the requirements to mix soil/fertilizer/feed/compost? The cows are not yet in the field near my house so I can't steal any cow-pats yet

Is there anything I need to be aware of as a first time container grower? I was going to purchase some plastic tubs from Homebase/B&Q and cross my fingers.

Links to useful articles/threads would also be appreciated - I already saw the blog post in Lesley's signature!!

Thanks in advance

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Ali and welcome to our forum!!

With butternut squash, tomatoes and peppers I sow one seed per 4 inch pot (those jiffy pots are fine) then plant the squash and the tomatoes outside when the plants are big enough and pot the peppers up and grow them on in the greenhouse. Just sprinkle the carrot seeds direct onto the container filled with compost that you are going to grow them in, then lightly cover with a little compost. Then water. Really it is getting rather too late to start growing onions from seed. Best save the seeds for next year and sow at the start of the year. Salad / spring onions are okay though.

Good luck! - I hope you liked my article!

[AliClarke87]

Would they be ok outside in the flexi-greenhouse from Jeny's thread?

Definitely excited about the Peppers and the Squash&Toms are for a bit of fun. What else would you recommend at this time of year?

Thanks!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Ali, there is quite a bit really. You could grow pak choi, which is easy, a late season pea such as Balmoral, swedes, a late seaon spinach, mange tout, swiss chard, salad leaves, beetroot, french beans, florence fennel, dwarf french beans and see if you can buy a courgette plant from the garden centre.

Here are a few links to some varieties - enjoy!!

http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/pak...s-pid3077.html

Pea : Garden : Balmoral (Seeds)

Spinach : Picasso F1 Hybrid (Seeds)

Swiss Chard : Bright Lights (Seeds)

Swede : Magres (Seeds)

Pea : Norli (Mangetout) - Duchy Originals (Seeds)

Fennel : Victoria F1 Hybrid (Seeds)

Dwarf Bean : Golden Teepee (Seeds)

Beetroot : Globe : Boltardy (Seeds)

[AliClarke87]

Oohh mange tout there's an idea!

Start the seeds off in a small tray then move them into larger pots, or would they be ok watered into a larger pot straight away?

[Lesley Jay]

For mange tout, peas and french beans (which are gorgeous!) I use 'cells' which are in every garden centre and cheap. They are green plastic the size of a seed tray and divided up into squares. I sow one pea or bean per cell. In a seed tray the roots get tangled up but in cells they don't. You can sow peas and beans direct outside into their final container but field mice do pinch them so it's better to start them off in your new mini greenhouse when you buy it! Here's a link to those cells:-

Wilko Seed Tray Inserts 24 Cell Green x 5 at Wilkinson Plus

I've added a link for pak choi to my other post - these are just to give you an idea!!

[AliClarke87]

Hiya,

Looked round Homebase today and have some great ideas. I think I might try onions from sets & get a couple of part grown pepper/tomato plants but stick around here to prepare for next season and get in there early!!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Ali, good idea to get sets and those plants but you still have time to grow some other veggies from seeds this year!!