Complete beginner

[ed_in_kent]

Hi everyone,

I am a complete beginner when it comes to growing veg. I tried a couple of years ago but it was a bit of a disaster (think I was trying to do too much too soon).

So I've just bought a 1.8 / 0.7 metre veg planter



The veg we would like to grow are radishes / garlic / courgettes / chillis.

I have literally no idea what to do but have some very basic questions:

1) Do I need to buy a liner for the planter and what is its purpose?
2) What do I put in the planter (compost/soil) etc and what is the difference.

Apologies for basic questions but we really want to give it a go for the kids this year.

Many thanks.

Ed

[veggiechicken]

Hi Ed and welcome to the Grapevine
I've not used a planter like the one you've bought but the questions you've asked have been answered on their website!

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

Using a liner is personal choice. Some reasons to use it are stops any nasties from the wood leaching in to soil, supposedly helps prolong life span of wood, help retain more moisture (but don't forget drainage holes)

If you use multi purpose compost I would suggest adding extra nutrients like slow realease fertilizer or you could just regularly feed with liquid feed (I am a bit rubbish at the latter)

[Bigmallly]

Hello Ed & welcome to the Jungle, you will only get 2 Courgette plants in a 6ft planter, they can be beasts but very productive. Chillis ideally should be grown in a greenhouse. Enjoy the vine as it is a wealth of information.

[21up]

Hi mate welcome read posts and some will be ok some differ from others just keep asking .
People on here do not mind what you ask if they can help you they will.
Just keep listening and do what you think best ,i can assure you you will not be on your own (when you make mistakes ) .
we all do and will continue to do so stick with it and listen and read
once again WELCOME

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Ed welcome to the Madhouse..........

I wouldn't waste valuable planter space on radish they just don't require that amount of room. I prefer to use four pots so I can set seed every 3 weeks or so this gives a season long supply. Pics below.

Courgettes would be better in individual 25ltr pots, you will only need two plants as BM says they are beasts once they get growing.

As its a new planter don't worry about nasties in the wood there won't be any.

Finally feel free to ask any questions we all had to learn.

[cristalfiona]

That's a good idea for radishes. I have a v-shaped planter so last year used the shallower sides for radishes. This year I'm using it for a couple of courgettes instead, having emptied it out and refilled with plenty of manure and MPC. I hadn't really thought out where I was going to plant my radishes. I may do something similar to the carrot challenge and do a different variety each week in pots now though

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^ They are actually flower buckets, when they eventually split I cut them down to about 7" and reuse them for radishes and other small plants.

Me tight .........................nooooooooooo

[ed_in_kent]

Great - many thanks all. I will get going on it!!

[lolie]

Check out the square foot gardening thread.

Put aside any pre-conceived notions you have of what's "easy" to grow and what's "difficult". We've all had "easy" vegetables fail and "difficult" ones thrive.

As mentioned, for an ongoing supply of things like radishes you need to plant frequently so you'll be planting again before you harvest the last lot sown. Think about how long each vegetable takes from sowing to harvest when planning your plantings so that you're not wasting a lot of space for little rewards.

Also think about whether the vegies you put in the planter have similar needs in terms of soil, sun and water. I probably wouldn't put any of the ones you've listed in a planter, although all root vegetables would work if you filled it with sandy soil - the radishes would be ready to harvest first and then your other root crops would mature a bit later.

[AkionTotocha]

It looks like it would be good for lettuces actually. Not in terms of planter dimensions, but because you could put a line of copper tape on the legs so slugs and snails can't access it.

I guess any "dangerous" crops like that!