Flower pots

[kleinerp]

Hi,

Being a complete novice to growing your own food I'd appreciate some tips. My plan is to grow vegetables in containers initially, and once I have my garden sorted in a few raised beds as well.

Whilst at my local Morrisons today I picked up 8 black plastic flower buckets for 99p. They are 10in in diameter and 10in deep. I understand that they will be ideal for growing tomatoes in. Are there any other vegetables/herbs for which they make ideal containers?

I've bought a mini greenhouse from Lidl as well (approx 1m high, 70cm wide and 50cm deep) and am planning on putting the tomato plants in that. Do I have to wait until summer before putting the greenhouse outside?

I was in my local garden centre today and they had for sale individual tomato plants for sale. Is it to early to buy them and pot into my flower buckets? Would I be better sowing tomatoe seeds now rather than buying plants?

Many thanks
Andy.

[Geordie]

Andy,

A lot depends on the weather....if you buy the plants and put them in the greenhouse a frost can kill them. You would need to keep the plants indoors untill all risk of frost has passed...do you have the room? About now is the right time to sow tomato seeds if they will go into a greenhouse or similar without heat.

As for growing in pots....most vegetables can be tried just think about how big the end result will be in relation to how many you can plant per pot. You can try runner beans, french beans, cabbage, cauli, carrot (stump rooted), peppers, chilis, salad veg, peas, courgette, strawberry.....the list goes on!

As far as pots go....make sure drainage holes in the bottom are sufficient and use something to help with drainage in the bottom, eg pea gravel, shredded polystyrene etc. Try and stand the pots on bricks or feet as this will stop anything getting into the pot via the holes in the bottom.....some of them make a very good job of eating the root system.

[andrewo]

I know the plastic pot you're going on about. Suggest for tomatoes that you make on hole in the bottom for the cane to go through, so you can drive it down into the ground to secure it - trust me, when the wind comes they will fly otherwise. Then 1" from the bottom on the pot sides make holes all the way round, this creates a reservoir for the toms, they are greedy. If you use terracota, they are heavier and more stable but dry out easier but you can seal the insides with pva outside glue. You can grow stubby carrots in window boxes with lettuce mix (cut and come again). I grow in pots mainly, so if you need any advice, feel free to PM me or ask any of us here.

[nick the grief]

Early Spud work OK in these as well if you can still get hold of some try Swift as the tops dont get too big, failing that stick 3 canes around the sides & tie some string round and tick the tops inside this to stop them flopping over the paths.

As Geordie says put them on bricks and this will help with the drainage aswell as you can get the bottoms sealing themselves with all the compost that wasses through and may stop excess water getting out.

If you don't want to put the cane through the bottom you could fix a straining wire to two posts & tie the cane to this - Old chrysanthemum growing trick

[andrewo]

Pink Fur Apple Potatoes do well in pots and buckets.

[sewer rat]

I'm going to grow Foremost (a first early spud) and also Pink Fir Apple (late maincrop / salad) as Andrewo suggests in buckets - have read in more than one article that these particular varieties perform well in buckets.
Rat

[andrewo]

They do well, don't be afraid to but 5-8 tubers in them, depending on bucket size to get a bumper crop, keep them well watered, if the bucket dries out, the root run is impeded.

[bramble]

They do well, don't be afraid to but 5-8 tubers in them, depending on bucket size to get a bumper crop, keep them well watered, if the bucket dries out, the root run is impeded.

Hi Andrewo,
Is it really ok to put that many potatoes in large pots. I bought some builders buckets but only put three seed potatoes in them. Should i have put in a few more.
Regards, bramble.

[blossom]

Ahhh, I have only been putting one potatoe in each bucket. Maybe I will try more in the next ones.

[andrewo]

Buckets are different and depends on the potato, salad, such as pink fur, I put in three, main crop, just one. I work with big barrels as well, so put in a few tubers between 3-4 in them.