Containers & the weather.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Since no one else has mentioned it I will.

Whilst this weather is great, container growers must be aware that their pots etc will dry out very, very quickly.

Plants will put on a spurt of growth and this combined with the sun will suck the moisture from a container in hours.

Therefore check your pot at least once a day every day whilst the weather holds.

Potty

[jayjaybee]

Excellent advice Potty, many thanks. I am just finding it difficult to keep up with the watering. Ideally everything needs a dousing every day but not always possible to do this by hand.

[PyreneesPlot]

Good advice, thanks! I'm doing mine twice a day at the moment, even the ones in the shade.

[solway cropper]

I started the season with about 150 assorted containers but, after some of the early crops have finished, I'm now down to 120 or so. Still far too many in weather like this but I'm coping with the almost constant filling of watering cans. I find that a can is the only way to direct all of the water into the container, especially when they are dotted about all over the garden.

[kathyd]

I don't have many containers, but I think I'm going to mulch them all next year - don't know why I didn't think of it this year really!? I've also just ordered one of those bath water siphon's Two Sheds was talking about last year - will use the water for the flower tubs in front of the house.

[Bren In Pots]

I tipped out a flower bucket of Aaron pilots yesterday evening and even
the potatoes felt warm

[out in the cold]

Have just watered my tubs, even though it is sunny...

Also added a couple of 1litre sports water bottles upturned and pushed into the fruit bushes to see if it helps matters a bit

[KevinM67]

A curious question for potstubsdustbins - do you use containers through choice or lack of choice ??

[Two_Sheds]

I've been round and put saucers or gravel trays, or dinner plates, under all my containers to retain water

[Potstubsdustbins]

A curious question for potstubsdustbins - do you use containers through choice or lack of choice ??

It started through a lack of choice as you can see my back is either concrete or water.

Now I wouldn't have it any other way. It means that at 67 with a bad back I can still garden and with the right planning and a little care you can great crops.

Potty

[mothhawk]

the two self watering pots I made are brilliant, I top them up about once every 3 days. They're made of white buckets though, so a bit unsightly. May have a go next year with prettier tubs. Only use tubs where there isn't room to get another plant's feet in the ground, so I have 3 tubs of toms around a squash that's in the ground, and the tub water overflow gives the squash extra water. I also have two tubs with squash (bush) in, next to the beetroot and cabbages, so they get a bit of drainage water too.

Every year I vow no more flowers in tubs, every year I put some out of tubs into the ground, then of course, I have these empty tubs sitting around...shame not to use them, really....

[mothhawk]

I'm curious Potty, do you re-use the compost in your pots, adding more fertiliser, or do you start with fresh compost each year? What do you do with old compost, since you have no earth to spread it on?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I reuse over 90% of my compost to the extent I have no idea how old some of it is. I only throw/recycle compost where I have had a problem. I use well plus of a 1000ltrs of compost so would need the lottery win to renew it each year.

I used to add a good base fertilizer and other nutrients but this year I am trying something new, I am using Organic Extra as a base. This is dried concentrated farmyard manure and so far is proving very successful.

Then of course as the season progresses I use calcified seaweed for general plant health, Miracle Grow for nitrogen and Tomorite for potash though there are organic alternatives.

Potty

[kentishgal]

Im not finding it too bad at the moment, just the little pots that seem to dry out in the space of a day.
Oh, and the fruit trees! They take alot of watering in weather like this...