1st year growing - some questions

[lolanpeg]

Hey,

This year is going to be my first time growing vegetables. I wondered if it's possible to plant a dwarf apple tree in a container & put it into my greenhouse? My greenhouse is 8x12ft, if this is possible does anyone know roughly how much space this would take up and how many apples a dwarf plant usually produces?

My second question is, I plan to grow broccoli, is a 15ltr pot enough to plant one broccoli plant or could I get two in there?

I also wondered, once harvest comes around for potatoes, is it ok to peel & chop them and freeze them, does anyone else do this?

Thank you in advanced

[lolanpeg]

My last question is, as a brand new grower, is it best to buy seed potatoes from somewhere or is it ok to use supermarket potatoes and chit them. I'm not sure how safe it is to use supermarket ones?

[damian1225]

Can't comment re the pots but better off with proper seed potatoes

[Mitzi]

Apples are hardy and would be better off outside than in a greenhouse. You might have trouble getting the blossoms pollinated in the greenhouse and if the temperature goes sky high in summer the apple won't like it. Save your greenhouse space for things that really need it!

I believe that the main risk with supermarket potatoes is that they might carry blight etc. so you are better off getting proper seed potatoes. Having said that, I accidentally grew some from supermarket potatoes one year and they were absolutely lovely! Other people more expert than I can probably advise you better.

[Mitzi]

Oh and welcome to the vine! Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you want; people are very helpful.

[Bacchus]

It might be an idea to check out your local farm shop - if that is feasible. The owners will have a very good idea of what the potato varieties grow well for them - and if they are growing them locally the chances are your soil will grow them well too.

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine lolanpeg.
Where abouts are you?
I agree with Mitzi Apple tree outside. Definitely only one broccoli to a 15lt pot, to be honest an even bigger pot would be better if you can't plant in the ground. Seed potatoes are better and there are more varieties to try. But if you're cash flow is limited, mine is regularly. You can have a harvest from shop brought ones. I've done it several times.
As for freezing spuds I can't help, I don't grow enough to consider storing for more than a couple of weeks.

[Chestnut]

Hi, and welcome to the vine lolanpeg,

I am afraid I cannot help with the pots.
However, I did grow some potatoes for the first time last year. We used seed potatoes from our local garden centre. I found that undamaged potatoes stored fine in a cool garage for a few months- you need to keep them away from light but with air circulation- we used supermarket banana boxes which they give away for free, then made a kind of indoor tent with an old curtain to keep them in the dark (I believe paper or hessian sacks work well too!)

For the potatoes which were damaged when digging them up, we did freeze some: The potatoes we boiled and froze came out with a rather strange texture when we reheated them. The frozen mashed potato was much better eating, so we made a massive cottage pie and froze it in individual portions - perfect for those nights you get home from work too late to want to cook

[bramble]

My OH froze some potatoes but they went mushy when they were cooked.
You can store them in brown paper sacks and keep them cool in a dark place.

[geepee]

Welcome to the vine Lolandpeg,

as previously said, Apples will enjoy outdoor more than a greenhouse IMO , Broccoli will need all of 15 lts per plant (25/30 ltr) even better as long as you give it 'Sustenance' through its growing period.

Potatoes ,Uncooked, generally DO NOT freeze well and keep their properties, cooked as in Mash or Par Fried (as in chips, Roast etc). Oven baked , ie jackets are ok Frozen, but would suggest you research best methods.

If Potatoes drop in temperature during storage below 7* C the starch becomes imbalanced and turns to sugars, this results in potatoes turning Brown or at least Copper colour when fried as chips ,wedges etc,and gives them a Sweet sugary taste.
It also affects the dry matter content so when boiled they tend to be 'Flaky and/ or Floury.
So the lower the temperature the darker the Fry colour, ie 1= white and 7= Dark Brown

. As a matter of interest McCain test every sample off farm and have a 'Fry Colour chart' to compare, they then pay the farmer accordingly......every individual lorry load is tested this way before unloading.

Enjoy many happy hours in your new interest and feel free to ask away.
Gp

[Aunty Social]

Oh and welcome to the vine! Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you want; people are very helpful.

Have to second that, this is the best site online I've EVER found for generosity and patience. Also a good laugh. Good luck with your ventures - I wish I'd seen this thread on potatoes before I twigged you can't freeze them, now I always hook em out when freezing a homemade curry - and hope you enjoy the Vine as much as I do.

[1Bee]

Another good way to freeze potatoes that won't store is in dauphinoise potatoes. I always make batches of this with any slug-bitten or damaged potatoes and it's divine.

[TrixC]

When growing in containers or anywhere else with limited space it’s important to think about value to space ratio - how much space do the plants take up and for how long, and what size harvest do you get from each plant. Broccoli (calabrese or sprouting) would not be top of my list for container growing because the plants are huge, take months to produce a crop, and you need several plants to get a decent harvest. It is also available readily and cheaply in the supermarket. You could alternatively consider cimi de rapa (also known as rapini) which is a quick cropping broccoli relative which can be planted at close densities - or one of the Asian broccoli relatives.