Various Questions

[rainbox]

I already posted this in the "introduce youself" section but I realize it probably belongs in this category instead so here we are..

I'm planning a container garden on the roof of the barge I live on, but I have limited experience with growing things in general, and no experience with growing in containers. So I have some questions!

I have got some seed potatoes (Anya) but I'm not sure when to start chitting them, although I think it must be soon? On the packet it says to wait until after the last frost to plant them out but I'm not sure how long chitting takes anyway so maybe it's time to do that already.. Hmmm.

I'm also thinking of growing Onions and garlic from sets, is there anything I need to do to those before planting them?

What I'm planning to grow:
Tomatoes - Red Robin, Gardeners Delight & Millefleur
Cucumber - Crystal Lemon
Sweet Peppers - Sunnybrook
Aubergines - Diamond
Alpine Strawberries
Carrots - Paris Market
Rainbow Chard
Pea - Sugar Bon
Lettuce
Potatoes - Anya
Onions
Garlic
Various herbs

and flowers:

Nasturtiums
Brugmansia Arborea

Oh, I'm also looking for suitable containers to but all this in, does anyone have any suggestions other that garden centre pots?
I was thinking of wooden or plastic crates maybe, but I'm really looking for somewhere I can get stuff cheap or free. Any thoughts?

[Capsid]

Welcome!

Chit the spuds now and they will be ready to plant end of March. I'd put 2-3 spuds per large bucket.

Onions and garlic from sets couldn't be easier, just push them up to their tops in the soil and wait.

What you plan to grow looks great. The aubergines prefer a warm season, so let's hope for a good summer.

As for containers, go for deep ones so that they give plenty of root growth especially important for the carrots (unless your variety is short rooted; sorry don't know my veg varieties very well).

In some supermarkets they sell off black buckets cheap that the cut flowers stand in. They aren't that big but are relatively cheap, or try freecycle.

[selfraising]

Hello again!
I've got anya pots chitting now. Normally it's about 6 weeks before planting but I got mine early so they're chitting whether they like it or not. My first year for onions too but have just put them in pots mixed with some vermiculite and put them in unheated greenhouse. There is a thread for onions, shallots etc that might be of use. As to containers I've used a metal dustbin, wooden veg crates (thrown out by local garden cente, also try grocers), existing flower pots, an old watering can and a metal collander!
All of which I spray painted

[selfraising]

You could also grow some veg in hanging baskets.

[TonyF]

Tip for the spuds and aubergines. Was reading yesterday in a French gardening mag - they have a slightly different take on veggie gardening here, different climate zones etc - that it's good to plant aubergines on the edges of potato beds, apparently deters potato varmints.

As for boxes etc, look on the freebie sites to see whether you can get some old floorboards, great for making boxes, use them double depth if you need to for carrots, parsnips etc.

If you use the veggie trays from supermarkets, they wont take the weight usually of soil, the wood is too flimsy and the soil escapes from the sides.

If your living on a barge, I'd make sure that the peas are a dwarf variety, there are some that are heavy croppers that may be worth looking for, same with toms, look for the small, pear shaped perhaps, like Ildi.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm planning a container garden on the roof of the barge I live on, but I have limited experience with growing things in general, and no experience with growing in containers.

If anyone is in the Brighton area, try and make a trip out to the Shoreham houseboats... they are amazing, breathtaking. There's a footpath that takes you right past them.

Many of them have wonderful gardens - you couldn't even tell that they weren't on land.

[Gwen11ian]

I also container garden in a small space outside my front door.. as for containers I'd suggest using plastic storage crates (with clear lids if you can find them). The larger the better, because that will mean less watering.

Drill a line of holes around the bottom about half an inch up the side. This will create a reservoir for water. Fill the bottom with gravel or foam packing peanuts (if you want to save weight), cover with a single sheet of newspaper then fill with soil. In the spring you can put the clear plastic lid on top to act as a cloche, giving you an early start on things like radishes, carrots, peas, and anything else that responds well to an early start but needs frost protection.

I started out using a range of B&Q and Woolworth large cheap pots, but I found plastic storage crates are the most effective use of space. The sides go straight down (so no wasted space), plenty of depth and rootspace for most anything you want to grow, and they don't blow over in a strong wind.

[JamesA]

Storage crates! What a great idea! Was going to buy some more large pots but these are much better use of space with the flat sides. Hadn't thought of using the packing peanuts either so thanks for both those ideas Gwen!

[selfraising]

Hi Tony I hear what you're saying about the veggie trays and soil escaping etc. but I put them where I want them first, line them with old plastic/binliners. Pierce the plastic several times for drainage and then fill with compost. Has done the trick nicely so far!

[rainbox]

Thanks for all your replies, they are all very helpful! I've got the potatoes chitting now and just got hold of some nice containers, although they may be a tiny bit shallow. They're wooden wine boxes!
Maybe I can knock the bottom out of some of them and stack them on top of each other.

Oh, by the way, is there a simple way of lining pots with plastic without the plastic actually showing on the outside? I guess I stapler would work but I haven't got one.

And is it too early to sow herbs?

Thanks again!

[HayleyB]

I'm growing stuff in anything I get my hands on, I have polystyrene boxes (large and small) with garlics in, some chimney inner tubes left over from building our living room holding strawberries, a wheelbarrow that died and is now heathily producing garlics as a front garden objet d'art
I have loads of plastic trugs some with garlics but will grow carrots in later, buckets galore, an old cat litter tray will have radishes in at some point, got some rocket, mizuna and lambs lettuce growing in the conservatory in a large tinfoil roasting tray. And of course I do have normal garden pots as well

[Eyren]

Oh, by the way, is there a simple way of lining pots with plastic without the plastic actually showing on the outside? I guess I stapler would work but I haven't got one.

Drawing pins? I'm thinking the big heavy duty brass ones from proper stationers shops, not the tiddly multicoloured ones with the heads that fall off

[rainbox]

Thanks for the tip! So I've got some of the boxes lined with plastic, and I'm now wondering where to make the drainage holes? In the bottom or on the sides?

[snakeshack]

I reckon in the sides just up from the bottom as this gives a small reservoir but does not allow waterlogging

[Funky Mum]

I also container garden in a small space outside my front door.. as for containers I'd suggest using plastic storage crates (with clear lids if you can find them). The larger the better, because that will mean less watering.

Drill a line of holes around the bottom about half an inch up the side. This will create a reservoir for water. Fill the bottom with gravel or foam packing peanuts (if you want to save weight), cover with a single sheet of newspaper then fill with soil. In the spring you can put the clear plastic lid on top to act as a cloche, giving you an early start on things like radishes, carrots, peas, and anything else that responds well to an early start but needs frost protection.

I started out using a range of B&Q and Woolworth large cheap pots, but I found plastic storage crates are the most effective use of space. The sides go straight down (so no wasted space), plenty of depth and rootspace for most anything you want to grow, and they don't blow over in a strong wind.

When you say storage crates do you mean like the toy boxes you can get from Wilkos and Morrisons??

Like these?