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Rather than resurrect the old container growing thread, I thought I'd start a new one on a slightly different tack. As I've probably moaned about before, our landlord has already paved over our garden, and I only have one bed that I can grow things in, so I want to make the most of it and use it for something that I can't grow in a container of some kind.

So, ideas please...

1) peas

2. carrots if it's too shallow a container
3. parsnips " " " " " "

hamster wrote: 1) peas

I have grown them in containers before!


Jerusalem artichokes?

Salsify?

6. children

7 - sunflowers... although again... it really does depend on the size of your container.

8. Oak tree (although you can start it off in one!)

Why can't you grow peas in one?

9. cash


Hamster , this might not sound like the prettiest of ideas but can you get a hold of a few old baths - then I reckon you could grow (almost) all the veg you would want...

My FIN was getting rid of one recently and we nearly took it just so as not to see it go to land fill. But we couldn't really justify it (sorry, but we have quite a big, garden, with very little patio) we thought it would make a great huge container.

Aha, only trouble is, you have to get compost/ topsoil to fill them all with

Shirlz wrote:7 - sunflowers... although again... it really does depend on the size of your container.

I've had a huge one a couple of years ago in a bucket...

Millymollymandy wrote:8. Oak tree (although you can start it off in one!)

Yep - I have an oak in a container!

I thought you couldn't grow peas very well in containers cos their roots needed too much space. Maybe I'll try some after all.

I'm peering out of the window trying to work out where I could put a bath, Annpan! Also wondering if it would come under the clause in our contract about 'maintaining the character of the garden'!!! (Its current character being 'unproductive wasteland'.) And thinking about how much compost I would need to fill it...

I've got lots of old wine boxes and keep scavenging stuff opportunistically from charity shops.

You could try any local tree-surgeon/arbiculturalist... we have accumulated a good few plant pots from one and he was also trying to get rid of HUGE pots (same size as the rubber tubs every where sells) He had recently done some planting for the council, and the big trees come in enormous plant pots, maybe your local council can point you in the right direction?

I don't imagine your landlord would be too happy with a bathtub, unless you could get one of those old fashioned tin ones It was just a thought

The bigger the container the more things you can grow in it.

8. pigs and other livestock baring escargot

ina wrote:

Millymollymandy wrote:8. Oak tree (although you can start it off in one!)

Yep - I have an oak in a container!

Nod nod my oak tree has just recently been re-housed into a dear friend's garden after her first ten or so years in a garden (from which she needed rescue due to being too close to an old Elm) and her next fifteen (or more) in a pot in my back yard

9. Illegal immigrants.

I know, VERY un-PC, and callous, but i couldn't resist.

You can't grow legal immigrants in them either (at least I didn't grow in one). Or indigenous population (legal or otherwise)!