Swede in pots?

[Doggler]

Anyone tried growing swede in pots? How deep/wide would the pot have to be?

[Alice]

Doggler, I think to grow swede you would need pretty big pots. Might not be worthwhile. But you could grow the litle purple top milans. I'm planning to try them myself in a breadbasket lined with porous membrane. Sure it will be successful.

[Doggler]

Great. Am definitely going to give it a go and will let you know how I get on. Looks like another trip to B&Q for more 98p buckets!

[mandyballantyne]

Hi,

I put some swede into my plot, have never grown them before and I am a little concerned. They are almost 4' high and have started to flower. Is this normal? Or have I some lovley weeds that have taken over!

Thanks,

[Alice]

Hello Mandy, I'm sorry but it sounds as if yur swedes have bolted with all this warm dry weather we have had. What a shame. Hovever it's not too late to start again.Good luck and let's know how it goes.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Alice,

Thanks for your reply, should I just dig them up and plant something else? Or can they be cut back and hope for the best...

This is the first year I have had a garden to plant in and I think I may have got ahead of myself.

Oh well broc, cabage, onion and tatties seem to be surviving!

Thanks,

[Alice]

Glad to hear your other veg are doing well Mandy. I would be inclined to have them out and you're not too late to replant swedes. My husband seemed to think maybe you could cut them down and see what happens but thought the swedes might be wooden. Hold on and see what other peope think.

[sewer rat]

If your swedes have bolted I'd lift them and resow - still plenty of time.

[Jaxom]

Loads of things seem to be bolting in my garden. Today I pulled up one or two carrots going to seed. They were all stalks but no root.
As it is the first year of trying to grow vegetables on a small scale I am not quite sure of all the reasons for the various types of bolting?

[Doggler]

Okay, someone is going to have to explain bolting to me! How do I tell when something has bolted? I really am a complete novice at this

[Jaxom]

Bolting is another name for going to seed. But only when it happens too soon.
Some vegetables are annuals and only eaten as fruit or seeds. i.e. beans, peas, tomatoes.
Other vegetables are biennials which we only eat the roots or leaves of in their first year. i.e. Carrots, Parsnips. In the second year they produce flowers and seeds.
If a vegetable that we are supposed to eat before it goes to seed such as lettuce or beetroot goes to seed really quickly before we get a chance to grow it to full size and eat it, we call that bolting.

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks to you all for your help, I thought it was to good to be true that my first every veg would grow properly.

Never mind I will start again and at least the swede flowers were pretty and the bee's enjoyed them.

Thanks,

Mandy

[Croila]

Hello, sorry, I know this is a really ancient thread, but I wonder if anyone can tell me if swedes ever do grow successfully in pots? I've got loads of pots and patio space, and not quite so much soil, and I LOVE neeps ... So ... I'd love to try them in containers.

I've googled this and not got very far, so am hoping has personal experience of it?

Many thanks
C

[Snadger]

Hello, sorry, I know this is a really ancient thread, but I wonder if anyone can tell me if swedes ever do grow successfully in pots? I've got loads of pots and patio space, and not quite so much soil, and I LOVE neeps ... So ... I'd love to try them in containers.

I've googled this and not got very far, so am hoping has personal experience of it?

Many thanks
C

Crikey Croila............where did you drag this one from? A bit of a blast from the past with some grapes who never seem to post anymore.
In answer to your question, I have grown spring cabbage succesfully in pots and as swedes are just another brassica, I see no reason why not!

[Croila]

Thank you snadger! Just searched for swedes in pots

Will give it a go .... Have got 8 spring cabbages in pots now so I see your point!