Growing out of Containers

[Rhona]

Morning. Until we moved and got lottie, I did all of our growing out of worse containers than that! I think it would work a treat (obv with drainage). As someone said above - tomatoes would work well in it, maybe sticking a few things around the plants to maximise growing space. The beauty of containers, as long as you keep on top of the watering, is that you can sometimes create 'perfect' conditions for success, if not a huge harvest.

[teakdesk]

For many years I had excellent crops of runner beans grown in a black bin-liner shoved inside a normal cardboard box.

Just put some slashes in the bin-liner bottom and fold the bag over the box sides to keep the worst of the rain off.

I'd advise making sure you site it in its final position as later in the season the bottom will have rotted making it difficult to move.


PS... I can't claim it as my idea - I think it was probably a tip from Geoff Hamilton.

[Mac]

Hiya, I used storage boxes like that last year for salad crops and popped the lids closed at night to save them from the frost. Worked a treat! will be cleaning them out shortly ready for this year!

[RoadCar]

Thank you all for your advice. I shall go out and buy some tubs soon.

Thanks
Daniel
(RoadCar)

[annacruachan]

I grow everything in tubs, boxes and fishboxes; some thrive and some don't do so well. You will soon learn what works in your situation and, as Rhona says, you can create just the conditions to favour each plant.
Happy growing.

[RoadCar]

Thank you all for your comments also should I use soil from the ground or from the supermarkets?

Thanks
Daniel
(RoadCar)

[Bigmallly]

Thank you all for your comments also should I use soil from the ground or from the supermarkets?

Try & get some multi-purpose from the garden centre or B&Q, Homebase etc.

[FionaH]

Soldering irons come in handy for drainage holes btw

[ladylottie]

Hiya, I used storage boxes like that last year for salad crops and popped the lids closed at night to save them from the frost. Worked a treat! will be cleaning them out shortly ready for this year!

Lids closed? Did that manage to keep out the dreaded slugs as well?

[RoadCar]

Hi all
Just a quick question, should you pay any attention to the sell by date on the seeds?

Thanks
Daniel
(RoadCar)

[Sanjo]

Hi all
Just a quick question, should you pay any attention to the sell by date on the seeds?

Thanks
Daniel
(RoadCar)

Probably only parsnips as most people on here say fresh only. I have grown many veg from oldish seed. Big seeds like runners should be OK. Depends how out of date you are talking about really.
Sorry just realised you said "sell by".
Not necessarily the same as "use by"

[sarraceniac]

You can grow (nearly) anything in (nearly) anything at any time. I've bought seeds at 10p a packet because they are 2 years out of date and got up to 70% germination (except parsnips - that's 30% ).

Container growing - If it's deep enough and wide enough and you feed and water it enough then go for it.

[RoadCar]

Use by date made mistake.
I have got carrots, broccoli and runner beans. So would they be ok?

Thanks
Daniel
(RoadCar)

[Bren In Pots]

Give them a go then if they don't grow get fresh seed and set it in the same place, you've nothing to lose only time

[maypril]

Hi all
Just a quick question, should you pay any attention to the sell by date on the seeds?

Most seeds have a "sow by" date on the back. That's just the last date that the seed company will guarantee germination. The further past that date you go, the less seeds will germinate.

Sow some and see. If they don't grow then go out and buy some more. To me, it seems silly to buy more without seeing how well you "out of date" seeds do.