Rescued water tanks.. How much soil?

[allyspark]

Hi again everyone

Was lucky (or unlucky my neighbours might be saying) to get 5 plastic water tanks before the were skipped.

I was just wondering what depth do I need to make the soil or compost in them as they are 2ft deep ?

As it is the front of my garden that gets all the sun and it is mostly paved i will be planting all sorts in them.

Also is 2ft high enough to stop carrot fly or should I raise them just a bit more?

Thanks for any advice

Alan

[nick the grief]

Deends what you want to grow in them Alan. Exhibition Parsnips - about 5ft Paris Market carrots - 6"

They say thes carrot fly doesn't get above 2ft ( I think it suffers with vertigo) you need some drainaige holes in the bottom ( I would put them about 1" up the sides that way you have a bit of a reservoir for the summer)2ft of good compost will grow pretty well anything. If you can afford it use JI No1 or 2 as you won;t have so much trouble with vine weevils.

Feed after about 4 weeks with what ever you fancy ( i'd recommend 1/4 strength at every watering rather than full strength once a week - it would be like you trying to eat 7 dinners on a sunday rather than 1 a day ) but not where you've got carrots or parsnips. ( roots)

[Norm]

Forget avoiding carrot fly, The University of Bristol (I think) did a study and found them over wintering in the top branches of a tree 60 feet up.

[Alice]

Hello Allan, it depends what you want to grow in there. 8" is enough for most things and 2' will grow about anything.
As for carrot fly, I've never had a problem. I grow them in quite small containers - rose pots. I plant the seeds 1" apart each way so no thinning and tip out the whole pot when ready, so there's nothing to attract the fly.
I'm growing some in a raised bed for the first time this year, so I'll see what the result is there. Any problems and I'll just go back to the pots as that works perfectly well.

[allyspark]

Thanks to everyone for the advice

Hopefully once i work out how to get photos on the correct size will start a record of my attempts

Cheers

Alan

[Alice]

Alan have a look at the thread I posted - Techy question about pics. Geo tells you how to do it there.