Water retaining gel crystals

[vron]

Hi there, can anyone tell me if Wilko's water retaining gel crystals can be used safely with vegetables.

We already use them for our flower container pots and wondered if they can be used with vegetables as well.

Only with the threat of an extremely hot summer once again, it might be worth adding it to not only our veg container pots but around our allotment veg as well.

[Snadger]

All gel chrystals are a polymer which as far as I know are inert!

I have put half a teaspoonfull in each hole when planting my tomatoes in the bedsoil of the greenhouse.
If for whatever reason I can't get to the lottie to do the watering, this should tide them over for a while!............. Probably!

[Earthbabe]

I've used some in all the pots except the balconnieres this year, especially the ones I've put the toms in.

[Flummery]

I'm mixing them in the compost for my potted veg too. I let those in the ground get on with it (with a little help from their friend!) but toms, cukes, peppers and aubergines are getting a little help from the crystals!

[Protea]

i use them with my tomatoes in pots, and this year i've put some in my potato bags. Mind you, with all the rain we're having at the moment they're probably drowned!

[libbyloulou]

this year, we have our first grandchild and iv'e saved some of her wet, disposable nappies, dried them out in the greenhouse, ripped them open and took the crystal out, and mixed it with soil into my pots, hoping the urine may help out as a fertilser, seems to be doing the job!

[Mrs Dobby]

What an excellent idea libbylou! Please let us all know how you get on with them!

[Flummery]

As long as they don't grow babies!