Pot Growing Newbie

[New_Bud]

I've never grown anything before but I've recently been thinking of starting a new project growing vegetables in pots (I was thinking Carrots, Potatos and Peppers (in an indoor pot)).
Does anybody have any tips as to alternative vegetables to grow and any techniques for growing them?
It would be really appreciated!

[TrulyGreen]

Hi New Bud.....Welcome to the Grapevine.

I bought a fab book called Window Box Allotment A Beginners Guide to Container Gardening by Penelope Bennett, you can find it on Amazon. It really is good and tells you how to start growing in pots, window boxes etc. She reckons anyone can have a vegetable plot, with or without a garden.

Good luck and happy vegging Christine

[Demeter]

Hi New Bud, welcome to the vine!
How much space do you have? You can grow most things in pots, it seems. What do you like?

[New_Bud]

Thanks for the welcome guys!
I have lots of patio space and if it was up to me, the unused lawn we have would have a dug up patch by now. However I am only 17 and live at home and my mother won't let me dig her lawn up - no matter how brown it is!
So I have a really large pot which I have filled half way with soil, in which I have planted a few chitted potatos (which I will earth up in intervals) so that's sorted.
I also have three mid sized pots about 40cm across and have no idea what to do with them! I have a few baby carrots in one but apart from that only have one small pot (30cm across) containing coriander seeds.
Do you think it would be possible to grow peas in the 40cm ones, if I placed the seeds in the middle?
Also I like root vegetables but of course that's out of the question until i purchase some more large pots. Do you know of any hardy vegetables that dont deep root?

Sorry that was a huge mouthful!
x

[Demeter]

Thanks for the welcome guys!
I have lots of patio space and if it was up to me, the unused lawn we have would have a dug up patch by now. However I am only 17 and live at home and my mother won't let me dig her lawn up - no matter how brown it is!
So I have a really large pot which I have filled half way with soil, in which I have planted a few chitted potatos (which I will earth up in intervals) so that's sorted.
I also have three mid sized pots about 40cm across and have no idea what to do with them! I have a few baby carrots in one but apart from that only have one small pot (30cm across) containing coriander seeds.
Do you think it would be possible to grow peas in the 40cm ones, if I placed the seeds in the middle?
Also I like root vegetables but of course that's out of the question until i purchase some more large pots. Do you know of any hardy vegetables that dont deep root?

Sorry that was a huge mouthful!
x

Your mum might change her tune when she's scoffing home-grown spuds, though - you can always hope

If I read you right, you have 2 spare 40cm pots that are currently empty? I reckon you could grow peas in one - get 3-4 canes or peasticks, stick them in at the edges and use them to make a wigwam, then sow peas at the base of each cane. If it were me, I'd sow 3-4 peas on each cane but if they all germinate you might have to thin them to maybe 2 per cane as I'm not sure how many plants the pot could support (you'll also have to water a lot).

For the other one - tomatoes, pepper, courgette (bush type) all spring to mind, or maybe a block of 4 sweetcorn. You could try any kind of salad leaves - I'm growing lettuce, rocket, land cress, baby spinach in my containers - or other salad veg like spring onions, radish, maybe beetroot? Or if you like root veg, grow more carrots! By sowing a second pot later on, you will get a crop over a period rather than all at once.

I'm not sure if you can still sow all of those - for tomatoes / pepper at least you are probably looking at buying in young plants rather than starting from seed, but many of the other suggestions can still be sown now.

Isn't it exciting, deciding what to grow! Good luck!

[gojiberry]

Many of the seed catalogues have mini/patio sections. E.G. pea half pint, sweetcorn minipop, baby cabbage and cauliflower climbing courgette. The list goes on. They will need extra care and attention as pots soon dry out if you don't. You may also need to feed more often.

Ian

[New_Bud]

okay thanks to you both!
I like the pea idea! Hurstgreen shaft peas are okay for sowing around now I think?
I may try that!

[lynda66]

i thought about digging my lawns up, and my 18 year old son said NO WAY it'll look crap ........ i think you and he were swapped at birth lol