New Trough

[Jason Cartwright]

Hi,

Quite excited.
I built this trough to grow fruit trees and plants. I was late building and finishing it so too late for putting trees in and my strawberry plants aren't doing well so i put a polytunnel on and chucked in some carrot seeds and beetroot.

[rustylady]

To be honest, although it's a lovely trough, I don't think it would be big enough for fruit trees.

[Leeds_lad]

It would take a dwarf tree fine I reckon =). One that can grow full size would struggle though

[Florence Fennel]

It's a crackin' trough Jason, well done, but as the others have said, you might not be able to grow fruit trees in it. I think I'd go for strawberries.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Good job Jason, have to agree with the others about fruit tree though, just not deep enough.

I have something of a similar size and grow about 120 peas in it through the summer, followed by about 24 spring cabbage. The cabbage are obviously very close together when planted so harvest every other one as spring greens.

Colin

[Jason Cartwright]

Oh!
I did research and asked around and was told that, for the size of it, it would be ok for about 4 Dwarf/Patio trees, a couple of strawberry plants and a couple of framberry plants.

[Nicos]

What dimensions is it?
from here it looks about 1ft deep by 18" x 6ft long.

Very well built I have to say!

[MarkHackwell]

That could be some squeeze! I would imagine you could split it in half and put two dwarf fruit trees in and strawberries round the outside with framberries in the middle too split them up but 4 dwarf trees if they fitted I dont think they would fruit very well.

[Jason Cartwright]

1ft deep x 18" x 5ft long
Very good guess

[Nicos]

Why thank you kind sir!

I won't suggest it's just about big enough to squeeze/hide a MIL in then????

Fruit tree wise- i'm sure FB will recommend the best trees for you- what do you have in mind?

( personally I'd have thought 2 patio trees max- but I'm keen to see what other peeps suggest)

If the rule of thumb is not to let grass grow near the trunk of a fruit tree then I'd have thought the same would go with the other plants you are planning to put in with them.

Interesting thread!

[Llamas]

Could get four fruits in, depending on what type they were and if you're handy with the grafting. Dunno anything about if dwarfing rootstocks make any difference to supporting additional grafts but there are those who are wiser who could tell you and advise either a) where to get already grafted family trees or b) how to try and graft your own.

Very impressive handy skills I must say!

[Jason Cartwright]

Ok.
As i said in first post i've put in (about two thirds across) carrot and beetroot seeds and that i've put a polytunnel thing on (£1 from poundshop).
(Next questions)
When and how do i water?
When do i take it off?

The compost looked like it had dried out so, while it was raining i pulled it across to let rain get to it and to save on watering it. It was then i realised that i didn't know.

Thanks

[rustylady]

Ok.
As i said in first post i've put in (about two thirds across) carrot and beetroot seeds and that i've put a polytunnel thing on (£1 from poundshop).
(Next questions)
When and how do i water?
When do i take it off?

The compost looked like it had dried out so, while it was raining i pulled it across to let rain get to it and to save on watering it. It was then i realised that i didn't know.

Thanks

Right, if you have carrot and beetroot seed in you don't need a cloche unless frost is forecast. Second, I presume the trough is filled with Multipurpose compost, therefore you need to keep it evenly damp (I presume you have made drainage holes in the bottom)

[Jason Cartwright]

Hi rusty,

Trough is filled with mixture of miracle grow and asda multiporpose (More due to finace than anyting else) and it has 15 25mm spaced out and it is lined with a weed control sheet. Just don't know when to water without doing it too much or not enough and i thought the cloche was a must do.
Would i need to do something if it rained too much?

Thanks

[Potstubsdustbins]

Jason do you 15 25mm holes?

Colin