Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: hiccup on February 01, 2015, 13:29

Title: what size pots
Post by: hiccup on February 01, 2015, 13:29

Hi All
      I now have a greenhouse and want to try to grow peppers, I have some really
        big pots, but can they be to big?, same thing with melons that I want to have a go at.
         So is there a correct sized pot or what. Any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: 3759allen on February 01, 2015, 14:28

bigger the better if you ask me.

you'll have to keep on top of the watering as they will dry out quickly. ideally need to be in a green house or similar (your locations not the warmest so you'll need all the heat you can get).

i've had limited success with melons, giving them a miss for this year as i could put the space to better use. most of us struggle to get a long enough season for melons, and they do take up a lot of space.

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: Kristen on February 01, 2015, 18:14

I suppose they could be too big in the sense that you would have to pay for the compost in the pots, and excess would not be used.

The other issue is over watering, most particularly when the plants are small.  A small plant put into a large pot, and then watered well, finds itself with a lot of water around the roots, which excludes oxygen.  That same plant in a smaller pot can drink enough of the water to let oxygen back into the soil structure.

If you pot on your plants, through pot sizes 9cm, 1L, 2L, 5L and then 12" or whatever final size you choose I reckon they will be fine, and not suffer from precision (or lack there of!) of watering.

Only other issue that occurs to me is how close together you can put the pots.  If the pots are huge you won't be able to get them close enough together for normal plant spacing, so you will have fewer plants - or you can, at that point, plant two, or more, plants in each container.

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: mumofstig on February 01, 2015, 18:21

I grow mine in supermarket flower buckets, some supermarkets give them away some make a minimal charge.
I stand the pots in shallow trays for watering.
Works for me  :D

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: compostqueen on February 01, 2015, 19:48

This is a good little clip on youtube  :)

URPPQi903ZY
Bear in mind the variety of pepper you are growing. You won't want a giant pot for a tiny variety  :)

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: Dave NE on February 02, 2015, 11:41

Many thanks for the heads up CQ, I have brought some compost indoors to warm up before potting on my plant, Dave

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: compostqueen on February 02, 2015, 16:18

Yep, so have I. No good sowing seeds in cold compost  :)

Title: Re: what size pots
Post by: hiccup on February 02, 2015, 19:06

Evening All

             Thanks everyone, you,ve come up trumps as usual, that you tube clip just
               answers it all really, a big thank you for that one compostie.