3 stupid questions but im not sure!!

[JenniCog]

Hi all

As im new these are gonna sound like the most stupid questions but its kinda essential in my quest for a successful container garden!

1 - when books refer to pots like 8inch or 12 inch pots - does that mean width or depth??

2 - when filling my pots do i mix soil with compost or just fill them with compost?

3 - how soon should i prepare my pots/planters? i was thinking of doing them over the next week or two, getting them filled with soil/compost (depending on the answer to the above ha ha!!) and adding some manure before planting in the spring?

Thanks all!!

Love the amateur!! Jen x

[JustGrowVeg]

Hi Jen,

No question is a stupid question when you don't know the answers!

1, When books refer to the size of a pot this is the diameter of the pot.

2, When filling your pots adding soil can be benifical if the compost isn't good at retaining water. Soil has better water holding properties but if you want to use just compost that is also fine. Make sure the pots have holes in the bootom for drainage in wet weather, and to aid drainage you could put stones in the bottoms of your pots.

3, It is best to prepare them as and when you're ready to plant. If you do it in advance nutrients get wash out of the soil/compost as compost normally contains enough nutrients for about six weeks max. Manure probably wouldn'y be the best thing to use at this time of year as it can be too strong and cause the plants to die. I usually mix in a good helping of Fish, Blood and Bone (which is readily available from garden centres), this is a slow releasing source of nitrogen and is especially good for root veg!

Hope this helps

[Pacey]

Hey Jenni welcome
Exactly the same as what Just said

I always just use compost for my seed pots but use a mixture of compost/soil for raised beds and other larger more permanent stuff.
I use blood fish and bone with pretty much everything lol

Good luck

[JustGrowVeg]

Can't go wrong with fish, blood and bone Pacey! Quite a few people I have spoken to down my allotment don't use it, but i swear by it

[JenniCog]

thanks guys! as ever you are an untapped source of knowledge!! will hold off the planter/tub preparation for a while yet then.

Have got seeds for big red peppers, royal chanternay carrots, little gems, blue lake climbing beans and bunching spring onions - any tips for when to start them off??

Jen x

[Pacey]

I had two boxes kinda wasted a pipe in my outhouse broke over winter and soaked everything fish, blood and bone, seeds, bbq coals, compost just everything that was in there just had to throw it everywhere and anywhere as the boxes pretty much fell apart as i picked them up
Think i should claim it on my home insurance? lol

[Pacey]

Originally Posted by JenniCog

thanks guys! as ever you are an untapped source of knowledge!! will hold off the planter/tub preparation for a while yet then.

Have got seeds for big red peppers, royal chanternay carrots, little gems, blue lake climbing beans and bunching spring onions - any tips for when to start them off??

Jen x

Do the packs not have the planting indoors/outdoors advice on? It varies from type of veg and even varieties of the same veg

[Nicola_D]

be careful with the carrots, they don't like compost that is too rich, just garden soil or a mixture of soil and compost might be best, also don't feed them with fertiliser or tomato food as it can make the carrots split.

I started mine off last year in seed trays but then realised that I hadn't got a container for them when they were ready for planting on. So I put them into those biodegradable pots for a few weeks until I'd had chance to go the garden centre again. then I tore the pots off from around the roots and put them into the container. They all grew into funny shapes and were quite short (the picture on the seed packet showed normal looking longish carrots. So this year I think I will be planting the seeds straight into the container.

[GMB27]

I tried using just compost exclusively and it didnt work well at all as the water retention properties were poor and the plants seemed to dry out in no time at all! Now i mix it 60/40 with some standard garden variety soil and its such a huge improvement!