Square foot gardening container

[Bigmallly]

Put your location on your profile Sarico, you may get more accurate tips.

[Potstubsdustbins]

As SC says it is possible with care to grow almost anything in a container and get a good crop.

Looking at your list I can only see one problem at this time. Aubergine's can be difficult to grow in the best of conditions. So I would consider giving them a miss in your first year and concentrating on growing what you like and what has a reasonable chance of success.

Feel free to ask any questions you have some one on the forum will have the answer and asking early can save a lot of heartache.

Colin

[cazp]

.. i know that corn is not a great idea but i'll try anyway because only cost me 1 pound considered that i've already bought the pot. i'll put 2 maybe 3 plant per pot... is good have a try...

I grew corn in containers in 2010 - I had two kerbside recycling tub sized containers side by side with 8 corn plants closely spaced within in each. Having broken all the rules of spacing I was delighted (and surprised) to get about 12 cobs in total from these plants. They needed a lot of water though.

I hope you have success with your corn and other vegetables too!

[Sarico]

I grew corn in containers in 2010 - I had two kerbside recycling tub sized containers side by side with 8 corn plants closely spaced within in each. Having broken all the rules of spacing I was delighted (and surprised) to get about 12 cobs in total from these plants. They needed a lot of water though.

I hope you have success with your corn and other vegetables too!

that's it a good news.. so i'll keep an eye on every pot and make sure that they don't dry out...anyway can you tell me the size of your container ( sorry but i don't how big that kerbside are\0 my are 30cm by 30 cm and tall 28cm. thanks a lot

[Sarico]

As SC says it is possible with care to grow almost anything in a container and get a good crop.

Looking at your list I can only see one problem at this time. Aubergine's can be difficult to grow in the best of conditions. So I would consider giving them a miss in your first year and concentrating on growing what you like and what has a reasonable chance of success.

Feel free to ask any questions you have some one on the forum will have the answer and asking early can save a lot of heartache.

Colin

thank you colin for your advice.. i have a problem too... i miss the flavour of aubergine that i used to eat back in italy (i'm italian and i'm an italian chef) so i have only planed to plant one aubergine considering that i have no idea what to put in few pots because i don't want to grow a lot of one veg for my first time... so i want to see what i'll be able to do well in my garden and next year make more of some veg that grow well,and give up on the ones that don't (maybe aubergine lol) and try new veg...plus i forgot to say that i have 3 small plastic greenhouse so maybe you think that aubergine will grow better in there (please say yes lol)?

enrico

[Newton]

Caio sarico. The plan looks great.

I started off sq ft gardening before I go my allotment. It worked great. I used the soil mix described in the book. It was very light but worked quite well. The vermiculite helped with water retention. I used a variety of MPC to vary the nutrients.

I think that adding your own compost at before replanting would be a good idea. A wormery would also be a great idea to keep mulching the containers and adding more nutrient rich worm castings.

You could also use water butts and an irrigation system.........have a great growing season!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Enrico,

First I am no expert on Aub's there are far more knowledgeable people on the site, but yes it would be far better in one of your green house's.

Colin

[Matt94]

i think you can grow aubs outside, but you have to have a verry good summer, so it would be best to grow them in a greenhouse, when you say you have ' 3 small plastic greenhouse' do you mean you have three plastic greenhouses or a small three tiered greenhouse?

[Sarico]

i think you can grow aubs outside, but you have to have a verry good summer, so it would be best to grow them in a greenhouse, when you say you have ' 3 small plastic greenhouse' do you mean you have three plastic greenhouses or a small three tiered greenhouse?

i have three small green house each one with 4 shelf.... i can put it on the top shelf because there is more space....and if it will get bigger it will be summer outside so it can go back outside... i wil try and will see what appen...

[Sarico]

Caio sarico. The plan looks great.

I started off sq ft gardening before I go my allotment. It worked great. I used the soil mix described in the book. It was very light but worked quite well. The vermiculite helped with water retention. I used a variety of MPC to vary the nutrients.

I think that adding your own compost at before replanting would be a good idea. A wormery would also be a great idea to keep mulching the containers and adding more nutrient rich worm castings.

You could also use water butts and an irrigation system.........have a great growing season!

i just had a look on a webside call warmcity and i saw that is a good thing the wormery.... soon will be my bday and i request it as a gift :-)
i always thought that it is vary smelly but a lot people said that you don't smell anything that you can even have one inside the house.... i can't wait to start planting... now i've already started some tomatoes seed in the propagator and some are already seedling...

[susiewoosie]

Hi Sarico, you say that the border is poor quality soil, could you maybe bury the pots that you're using for sweetcorn. This would give it more stability, also if you've buried the pot you could use bamboo poles to tie the corn to.

[Sarico]

Hi Sarico, you say that the border is poor quality soil, could you maybe bury the pots that you're using for sweetcorn. This would give it more stability, also if you've buried the pot you could use bamboo poles to tie the corn to.

i already thought about that but the soil is full of rubbish that i had problem when i try last year to dig up a dead tree in the corner. plus there is a bit of cement somewhere in the soil that is bin left when they did the patio...i also thought to tie the container together and put some weigh to hold them. thanks

[Two_Sheds]

i have three small green house each one with 4 shelf.... i can put it on the top shelf because there is more space....and if it will get bigger

Ah. Just one thing: make sure you look up how big each of your plants will get. An aubergine will take over a small greenhouse, not just the top shelf.
Growing Aubergines (Egg Plant), National Vegetable Society

i always thought that it is vary smelly

If your compost is done properly, with enough carbon to nitrogen, it doesn't smell at all. I have a compost heap 5ft from my back door: you wouldn't know it's there: no smell at all

i also thought to tie the container together and put some weigh to hold them. thanks

Put the weight inside the bottom of the containers to stabilise them: rocks or bricks or something

[Sarico]

Ah. Just one thing: make sure you look up how big each of your plants will get. An aubergine will take over a small greenhouse, not just the top shelf.
Growing Aubergines (Egg Plant), National Vegetable Society


If your compost is done properly, with enough carbon to nitrogen, it doesn't smell at all. I have a compost heap 5ft from my back door: you wouldn't know it's there: no smell at all


Put the weight inside the bottom of the containers to stabilise them: rocks or bricks or something

Thanks a lot for your tips. I will put a weight inside as well. About the aubergine I read on the packet that they get big about 90cm so I thought that till June they can stay inside and after that I will put outside. I've got a lot to learn. Thanks a lot

[piskieinboots]

You seem to have it well sorted - but I thought I'd add this clip for anyone new coming along



1 – Mangetout peas x 12
2 – Mangetout peas x 12
3 – Vine-type tomatoes x 1
4 – Vine-type tomatoes x 1
5 – Leeks x 16
6 – Dwarf French beans x 4
7 – Perpetual spinach x 4
8 – Herb plants x 4
9 – Lettuces x 4
10 – Carrots x 16
11 – Lettuces x 4
12 – Mini-cabbages x 4
13 – Pot marigolds x 4
14 – Beetroots x 16
15 – Spring onions x 16
16 – Nasturtiums x 4

More can be found here