Hello - a bit late...

[Helgalush]

Welcome to the vine Helgalush.........I think the main thing when growing in containers is watering, In my pots I tend to put broken pieces of Oasis to absorb the water, they tend to dry out quicker than in the ground.

Thats a good idea. Will make sure I check them everyday for watering... I will look in Hobbycraft to see if I can get some oasis...unless B&Q do it?

Can anyone please tell me if there is a glossary anywhere on the site? Some of the terms like 'bolting', 'going to seed' etc I am not sure what it means or how to look out for it.

Or can anyone recommend good books for beginners? I have Crops in Pots and an RHS one but it was all types of gardening not specific to veg/fruit growing.

Thanks.

[Bigmallly]

Have a look through this thread, it may have some answers for you.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ogy_45138.html

[Helgalush]

Thank you BigMally.

[Flummery]

Hello Flummery,

Thank you for the suggestion - I havent got any french beans, no. I have a packet of dwarf beans....are they different to french beans? I feel I ought to know but I dont!!! I hopefully have some broad beans seeds coming soon too.

I wouldnt even know how to dry them out, do you just put them on kitchen towel in a cool place for a few days?

Very novice....

We all started out very novice!

Dwarf french are the same - just shorter. If you send me a Private Message with your address I'll post you some dwarf and climbing beans which you can dry for winter use. Leave them on the plant to dry and they will start to go leathery, then crispy. If the weather at the leathery stage if typical, it'll be belting down so pick them and let them finish drying on some newspaper, preferably on a sunny window ledge. When the pods are really hard and crisp, they'll start to pop open and you can collect and save the bean. Save a few for next year's harvest!

[binley100]

As in the Ernesford ???????

[Two_Sheds]

Since adopting four bunnies and becoming vegetarian ...

you must plant some swiss chard, bunnies love it. I'm a veggie too, and I have guinea pigs (they're much nicer than wabbits). They eat all kinds of weeds: dandelions, chickweed, sow thistle as well as grass

have you thought of growing french beans? ... great for protein!

Just what I was going to say

Some of the terms like 'bolting', 'going to seed' etc I am not sure what it means

Google is your online dictionary Just type in "define bolting" or even just "bolting"

can anyone recommend good books for beginners?

If you only get one book, make it the Vegetable Expert

[taff]

Since adopting four bunnies and becoming vegetarian again I have decided that I would like to extend my dabbling to growing some proper veggies in containers (as this is all my garden will allow).

be warned, you may have to move house or get an allotment, in any order, because you will become addicted [horror movie music, dah dah DAHHHH!!!] and have to attend special workshops on vegetables and their pernicious influence

[Bigmallly]

This is my bible, I have it sat at the side of the PC.

Practical Gardener's Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs: A Complete How-to Handbook for Gardening for the Table, from Planning and ... Photographs Practical Guide to Growing: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Bird: Books

[Helgalush]

This is my bible, I have it sat at the side of the PC.

Practical Gardener's Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruit and Herbs: A Complete How-to Handbook for Gardening for the Table, from Planning and ... Photographs Practical Guide to Growing: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Bird: Books

Thank you, I will have a look at the link in a mo.

be warned, you may have to move house or get an allotment, in any order, because you will become addicted [horror movie music, dah dah DAHHHH!!!] and have to attend special workshops on vegetables and their pernicious influence

Hee hee, looking forward to it!!

you must plant some swiss chard, bunnies love it. I'm a veggie too, and I have guinea pigs (they're much nicer than wabbits). They eat all kinds of weeds: dandelions, chickweed, sow thistle as well as grass

If you only get one book, make it the Vegetable Expert

Thanks for the recommendation, I shall see if I can do swiss chard then. I think I have a few dandelions in the cracks of the patio/path. I sowed some grass in seed trays last year but it has all died over the cold winter, I am not sure if it will grow back or if I should just get some more grass seed and start again.

Thank you also for the book recommendation.

As in the Ernesford ???????

Yes

We all started out very novice!

Dwarf french are the same - just shorter. If you send me a Private Message with your address I'll post you some dwarf and climbing beans which you can dry for winter use. Leave them on the plant to dry and they will start to go leathery, then crispy. If the weather at the leathery stage if typical, it'll be belting down so pick them and let them finish drying on some newspaper, preferably on a sunny window ledge. When the pods are really hard and crisp, they'll start to pop open and you can collect and save the bean. Save a few for next year's harvest!

Thank you Flummery - I just realised that I have both dwarf french beans and climbing french beans. As I dont have a lot of space I think that will be fine for now, but thank you so much for the offer of seeds, very kind of you.

[Helgalush]

Two Sheds and BigMally: do you know if the books you recommend will give me much information specifically about container gardening? Even if not, I am guessing they will still be useful for techniques, planting and sowing, terminology etc?

[binley100]

I used to live there in my youf.

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and Welcome, I'm a bit late with the welcome too!

[Fernw]

Welcome. You've made a great start with your growing. I mostly grow in raised beds and containers. I use the Vegetable and Herb Expert too.