Veg in pots

[Doggler]

OK, so I've got the spuds in and a few onions in buckets. Anyone got any tips for other veg that can be grown in containers? I really fancy some parsnips but not sure how deep I need the pot to be.

Cheers!

[sewer rat]

Hi Doggler
You can grow just about anything you want in pots.
Carrots are a good bet as the height of the pot can help you to avoid problems with carrot fly as these little bugg*rs are low flying.
Any salad crop, especially CCA salad leaves (see this months GYO 20 minute allotment section for suggested varieties)
Runner Beans / Climbing French Beans - I'm growing these in half whisky barrels (Glenmorangie Distillery only a stones throw from me), and this year will try them up inverted cane wigwams, so I can plant some Little Gem lettuce around the edge of the barrels
Parsnips - don't need to be too deep - just choose a variety that doesn't grow too long - a container about 12" deep would be enough. Just remember how long they take to mature.
Spring Onions & Pickling Onions
Huge variety of Herbs
Really, the list is only confined by your imagination, the size and the number of pots you have- if you have specific veg in mind, post a question and we shall endeavour to answer you

[Alice]

Doggler, go with Sewer Rat (would you not lke to change that name) on this one. I'm growing all of the above in containers and all going great. Also potatoes looking wonderful.Loads on this site about how to do it - just search the site. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Squirrel]

I like the idea of an inverted wigwam! Never thought of that! Is it just the sides of the pot that keep the wigwam from collapsing with the weight of the plants?

[Lesley Jay]

Squirrel it was an idea given to us by Geordie. You can read how he does it in the thread Help! Newbie Looking For A Little Advice Please in Vegging Out. It is on page 5 and it is reply #13.

[vicki]

Hi Doggler,
I did all of my veg in pots last year - had great success with potatoes, tomatoes (did most of those in hangng baskets), courgettes, salad leaves and peppers. I've done carrots in big pots this year too. It makes weeding almost non-existent which must be a plus, and if slugs are a problem, copper tape around the pot usually does the trick.
good luck

[Doggler]

Great. I just popped into the garden centre at lunch and stood gazing thoughtfully at carrots and the huge range of other veg seeds but then got overwhelmed and left merely with a seed tray! Think I'll have to write a list.

[Janette]

carrots are great. The taller the pot the longer the carrot

[SueA]

I grow nearly everything in pots, swiss chard, toms, courgettes, runner beans, cucumbers, salad leaves, potatoes, carrots, broad beans, strawberries & am trying asparagus peas & butternut squash this year. Most things are O.K. in pots as long as you keep on top of watering them.

[Doggler]

Wow, I am impressed. I thought Asparagus was well out of my league pot-wise. I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I might give it a go next year.

Popped into B&Q on my way home and grabbed a couple of 98p buckets that should be ideal. OK, they're orange but on the brightside will add a bit of colour to the garden! Just need to drill some holes in the bottom. I'm really getting into this gardening lark, think the OH is getting a bit worried about me!

[blossom]

Asparagus PEAS.

[blackkitty]

I've got some tomatillos this year, they're in pots in the greenhouse at the moment and about a foot high. I'm going to put three in the raised bed and two in bigger pots and see what happens. They're already getting buds so hopefully I'll get some fruit. Has anyone else grown these?

[Gryfon]

What are tomatillos?

And never thought of using buckets!!! I seem to use everything else and then moan at the price of pots!

[Doggler]

Asparagus PEAS! Makes much more sense now!

[blackkitty]

Tomatillos are a Mexican vegetable (I think), they're supposedly good for salsas and chutney. They grow in little paper lantern like physallis. The ones I've got are violet so should look very striking if nothing else.