New and confused

[sarahh]

Hi,
Would love some advice on what to grow and how.
I have applied for an allotment but have decided to grow some veg in the garden for now as the waiting list is over a year. The only problem is that i rent and the garden is really nicely landscaped so don't think the landlord would appreciate me digging it up.
So my plan is to grow most things in pots. i have however managed to dig up a small plot (50" by 27") and turned it into a mini raised bed.
I have seeds for carrots, beetroot, mixed mini squash/courgettes, lettuce and tomatoes.
The tomatoes i plan to grow in a hanging basket. can you give me some advice on which to plant in the raised bed and which to plant in pots please? Also how does spacing out the veg work? If i can only plant 1 or two courgettes can i plant for example beetroot inbetween? How much do you reckon i can fit into my mini raised bed? Any input on how to plan it would be great.
Also the seed instructions say that carrots, beetroot and courgette can all be planted straight into the ground. Isn't it better to grow them in little pots first?
Sorry theres so many questions. hope someone can help
Sarah

[roadkill]

if you are growing courgettes you will get away with growing some fast growing veg with them but once they are fully grown they take up lots of space

[springchick7]

New and Confused

I would grow tomatoes in pots.
Carrots ar probably best in the ground - depends on your soil but if you are growing them in pots I would grow a round variety.
Beetroot will probably prefer the ground.
Lettuce and corgettes will grow in either.

I have good sucess growing corgettes in a grow bag.
Plants in grow bags and pots will need regular watering and feeding though, you cant just nip off on holiday and expect them to be OK.

Unless the tomatoes are bush varieties they will need a stake to support them. Good luck!

[springchick7]

Sorry, I would grow the corgettes in little pots first - no more than 3 or you and your neighbours and work collegues and the people down the pub and your family and the paper boy and the dustbin men will be sick of them. They produce a lot of corgettes.

Carrots and beetroot will be fine in the ground. It is easiest to plant in rows so you can see which are meant to be there and which are weeds. Do not space too close else your carrots and beet will be too small. Just follow the packet instructions.

Lettuce keep away from slugs snails and chickens. Otherwise easy.

Plant 6 tomatoes in a vending machine cup with holes in the bottom. Cover with a plastic bag and leave on a window sill above a radiator. When they germinate move them some where cooler but not outside yet. When they have their first true leaves (more jagged than the seed leaves) pot on one to a cup. Handle by the leaves only. Don't touch the stem and water from the bottom. Did you ask for an essay? Sorry.

[sarahh]

Thanks for all the advice. Appreicate the essay. Think ill alternate lines of carrots and beetroot in the mini raised bed. would this be ok? How many seeds should i plant at one time? Do you get one carrot/ beet per seed?
Thanks for tomato advice, didn't know any of that - when i eventually plant out will i need one plant per hanging basket or compost bag?
Was just reading about planting courgettes in a pot and training it round sticks. what do you think of this idea?
thanks

[Alice]

Yes Sarah, you'll get one carrot etc from each seed so don't go planting the whole packet.
Courgettes and squash take up a lot of space so I would grow them in pots and keep the bed for your other veg. Definitely plant the carrots straight into the ground. They don't transplant well. You can sow the seeds very thinly, they're quite easy to handle, and if they are a bit thick in places the carrots just push each other out of the way.
All the rest I would start in pots and plant out once they've grown a bit. But do get them used to living outside before planting out. Put them outdoors during the day to start with then after a few days start leaving them out at night. They need about 10 days of this before planting.
Good luck.

[TracyP]

If you have so little space and this being your first year, personally, my criteria would not do carrots but do stuff that costs more (in the supermarket) and is less trouble and more gardening satisfaction (lots of issues with carrots, but if you want to do them, then do them in a deep pot/planter). I think it would be better do do lots of salad (there's a fortune to be saved not buying those bags in the supermarket), spinach in your raised bed; bush toms in hanging baskets - easy and so worthwhile; find a sunny corner- plant the courgettes and replace with grass seed/with plant afterwards (ooo, am I bad?). Also, can't you plant beetroot between what is already there?
Tracy

[selfraising]

Beetroot seeds often contain more than 1 plant, so thin these out once they have germinated.

[Jillyreeves]

How about growing vertically as well, do you have a wall that your could put some trellis against to grown climbing courgettes "Black Forest" up or may be some beans

[Teeny]

I,m Experimenting, growing a trailing courgette from a hanging flower pouch, 99P for two from wilkingson's.
Its just an experiment but think it will take up a lot less room, as I only have a small garden.

Any one else doing any similar experiments??????

Teeny.

[Spiderling]

Hi Sarah. Try growing carrots in a bucket. Use general purpose compost and don't sow lots of seeds or they will be too crowded. Supermarkets like Morrisons sell off the buckets their fresh flowers are delivered in, 99p for 8. You just need to put drainage holes in the bottom. Works a treat! Cheers!

[sarahh]

Thanks for all the advice everyone really appreciate it. I have some morrison flower buckets, got them on freecycle Have used some for potatoes, carrots in these is a good idea. Was planning on growing salad in pots, wouldn't htis be more slug proof than a raised bed? Spinach does sound nice, think i'll get some this week. Planting inbetween other stuff sounds like a good idea. so would it be ok to put beetroot inbetween some of the other bushes in the garden? there is quite a bit of space between some of them. Or maybe a courgette/Sqaush?
feel a bit guilty about digging up more grass as have already done this for the raised bed. I was planning on putting tumbling tomatoes in a hanging basket only one hook attached to the house though. Read an interetsing article about growing regular tomatoes upside down by hanging them out of buckets. But would need to put hooks in the walls to do this, same problem with trellis. don't want to cause any damage i can't undo??

[Gwyndy]

Loads of good advice above. Unless you really like courgettes one plant will be plenty. Beetroot usually produce two seedlings per seed - just remove one from each pair when they germinate. Planting in between other plants in the garden is a good idea if you are stuck for space. Remember if you grow carrots to protect them from the dreaded carrot root fly. Use a fleece screen around the carrot area about 15" high.

[lyndap]

Some beetroot is multiseeded others produce only one so check packet.I have never thinned my beetroot(and been growing them for many years!) I just pull a few when big enough to eat then let the others get a bit bigger.Also I always grow my carrots in buckets now.My favs are early nantes,and autumn king.

[sarahh]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm gonna plant the time time we get a fine day. Will let you know how i get on.