Starting a vegetable patch

[njk_85]

I am wanting to start a vegetable patch, not to abitious and it would have to be in containers as we rent and can't just start digging up the garden.

I have no-idea where to start though, what to plant, how to plant it or when it should be planted. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appriciated. TIA.

[yvette]

I am a relative beginner too, but had quite a good year last year. I found cut and come again salad leaves and bush tomatoes (no staking required) very easy to grow in containers, and worth growing as we eat a lot of these. A good basic veg-growing book from the library was useful too, as it explained about what to plant when (I think you can get books specifically about container growing).
Lots of very experienced people on here, so I'm sure you will get loads of good advice. Good luck!

[Helsbells]

I have one basic principal for growing veg - Plant it and it will grow. It is pretty much as easy as that with a bit of care and water too.

Right now you can sow cauliflower, spinach (you can grow this all year round) and summer cabbage. When you go to buy your seeds look on the pack and it will say if they can be planted in Jan or feb, there are different types so you need to make sure you get the right one for planting in this time of year.

[homegrown]

hi NJK , container gardening can be as fruit ful as bed gardens and easier, weeds, feeding and watering is so much easier and you can grow in so many wonderful things. since joining Ish I have seen so many wonderous examples of recycled containers from wine bags to toilets. I'll attach some photos of container gardening ideas and I'm sure others will have great ideas too.

see attached link

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 29&t=19563

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Don't forget to include fruit tress in containers as well and tire stacks can be useful too

cheers

[okra]

Good luck and I predict that you will enjoy the taste so much that you will become hooked.

[oldjerry]

Hello,lucky you starting out.
Tons of books to tell you what to grow,how and when but here's a couple of thoughts:
1.Only grow what you and yours want to eat!....sadly it's easy to get carried away looking through seed catalogues,etc make a list of what you want to grow.(Broad beans are dead easy,but I'm the only person in shropshire who likes them!)
2.Sow simple stuff(i.e. most stuff that doesn't need transplanting) successionally, with some stuff,radish.salad leaves,carrot etc,the seed is tiny,and alittle goes along way.This is easier with containers in a way,one little bucket(or whatever) sown with say peas,every 3 weeks over a few months.
3.|Not everything will work straight away,but you'll be staggered how much you can grow.
4.|Improvise,be creative in your choice of container dont spend loads,it's about saving.
5.Enjoy yourself,you're getting the best veg possible,reconnecting with your humanity,and kicking the system all at the same time............happy days!... Good Luck, Best Wishes.

[njk_85]

Thanks for all the advice, i'm definatly going to check out the library for books. I love love love the creative ideas for containers. I'm still trying to get into the non-consumerist lifestyle, my first instinct would have been to run off to a garden centre to buy (no doubt very expensive) new containers for them. Thankfully i now have lots of inexpensive ideas of what to pot in and am now even more exited and inspired by finding some quirky simple and inexpensive containers. My ideas for what i want to grow so far are

Spuds
Carrots
Brocolli
Green Beans
Swede
Parsnips
Sweet Potatoes
Tomaotes
Rhubarb
Peppers
Would love Apples but a tree is pretty big
Strawberries but have heard their quite difficult
Blueberries
Herbs

This is just based on what we eat rather than any knowledge of anything. I don't even know if it's possible to grow these in this climate or soil are ect.

If i was to do these what would be the best thing to start with and when would i plant them?

[MKG]

Hi njk ... add courgettes to your list. They do exceptionally well in containers and provide a cropping ability which will make you sick of courgettes. Also, don't discount apples. You can get hold of apples on dwarfing root stock which do OK in containers. You won't be making a lot of cider, but you'll certainly have apples (and the same applies to just about any fruit tree which would normally grow where you are). Strawberries are not difficult - just a bit on the time-consuming side. Make sure the berries don't sit in a puddle of water and net them to keep the birds off - you'll get strawberries. Rhubarb is OK if all you want to do is allow the root to strengthen for a year - and you'll get a few sticks to eat. But that's much better in the open ground.

Sweet potatoes, though? Where are you?

Mike

[njk_85]

in the north west half way between Preston and Blackpool. Unfortunatly no-body here likes cougettes to begin with.

[Flo]

Thanks for all the advice, i'm definatly going to check out the library for books. I love love love the creative ideas for containers. I'm still trying to get into the non-consumerist lifestyle, my first instinct would have been to run off to a garden centre to buy (no doubt very expensive) new containers for them. Thankfully i now have lots of inexpensive ideas of what to pot in and am now even more exited and inspired by finding some quirky simple and inexpensive containers. My ideas for what i want to grow so far are

Spuds
Carrots
Brocolli Not the best choice for pots due to the size of roots and the stuff suffers very easily from wind rock in windy weather
Green Beans
Swede
Parsnips - you will need deep containers for these as they grow very long roots she says from experience
Sweet Potatoes These are blooming hard to grow in UK, try something easier
Tomaotes
Rhubarb Get a deep tub and be generous with feeding it
Peppers
Would love Apples but a tree is pretty big - you can get minature trees to grow in tubs
Strawberries but have heard their quite difficult - rubbish, all they need is good soil and regular feeding
Blueberries you must use ericaeous compost for these as they like acid soil and get a feed containing sequestered iron but otherwise easy
Herbs - many as you like, ideal for containers

This is just based on what we eat rather than any knowledge of anything. I don't even know if it's possible to grow these in this climate or soil are ect.

If i was to do these what would be the best thing to start with and when would i plant them?

The two books you need are The Container Expert and The Vegetable and Herb Expert. They are totally basic, have pictures and tell you all the things the beginners need to know. Many very good gardeners started their training with these two books. They are so cheap you should buy both - and are on offer on the links I've given you. Good luck.