[Diggit]

Hi All,

I want to try growing some basic stuff this year. We do eat a lot of veg/salad/potatoes and it's something I have always wanted to have a go at. There isn't a suitable area of the garden for planting or room for a greenhouse but there is lots of room for grow bags/sacks.

Can anybody suggest things that are easier for a first timer. I'm thinking that if I have a go this year and it goes well then it will give me the encouragement to get more into it and try something bigger/better next year. I have always liked the idea of an allotment but before I don't want to jump straight in without giving it a go first. I am also thinking that if I can impress my other half this year then she'll be more happy with digging the garden next year or start thinking about an allotment space.

Any ideas at this stage and thoughts on the grow bag idea will be much appreciated as once I've decided on what to have a go at, I will write myself a list and mark on the calender when I need to start doing things.

Thanks in advance
Paul

[DD.]

Outdoor tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce/salad leaves/spring onions -world's your oyster as long as it's not deep rooted veg such as parsnips. You could even grow "Parmex" carrots which are a very stumpy one.

[JaK]

I use deep bags and plastic tubs to grow some things in and it always seems to work well. We grow potatoes, peas, runner beans, carrots (chantonay and purple haze), radish and salad leaves. The plastic window boxes are great for growing the chantonay carrots and can fit into narrow gaps you might have in the garden.

[JayG]

Use the deep growbags rather than the cheapo skinny ones if you can otherwise you will be a permanent slave to watering (and feeding) your plants. 

[Yorkie]

Definitely agree about the depth - it makes so much more difference.  Or you could cut them in half across the middle and stand them upright on their ends - making two bigger 'pots'.  Just make sure you make drainage holes

[Diggit]

Thanks everyone, we'll decide what we want to have a go at and then buy the bags to suit. I'll let you know how we get on. 

[solway cropper]

There's very little that can't be grown in containers. Even parsnips as long as you don't want exhibition length monsters. Keep in mind if you are using shop-bought compost it can get rather expensive and they will also need extra feeding once they get established.

Don't go for expensive planters either. Large 40litre polypots are much cheaper and just as effective.

[tallulah]

There's very little that can't be grown in containers. Even parsnips as long as you don't want exhibition length monsters. Keep in mind if you are using shop-bought compost it can get rather expensive and they will also need extra feeding once they get established.

Don't go for expensive planters either. Large 40litre polypots are much cheaper and just as effective.

'Scuse my ignorance - what are 40L polypots?

[DD.]

Polythene pots that hold 40 litres of compost.

Example:

http://www.highlandgardensupplies.co.uk/poly-pots-litre-p-519.html

[Diggit]

Thanks everyone, I bought a few bits to day to get ready. I have started a diary on the diary pages to help spur me on

[drmoonshine]

hi there

what about raised beds?

you can buy sacks for potatos there very good

you can grow anything with deep roots as long as you give them the soil depth. i used to stack pallet sides up as a cheap way of making a raised bed on my paving slabs works really well. if you dont have pallet sides then you can buy ''proper'' plastic sides from a garden center..

pots and grow bags dry out alot faster then the ground. so speaking from personal experience you will find watering everyday is a must but keep an eye on things and see how you go...

best use of space i find is using trellising up the side of a fence or wall for beans and so on anything that climbs up like beans,grapes ect

[compostqueen]

I use builders rubble sacks and have grown loads of crops very successfully in them. I start by filling with them with kitchen scraps, old compost, spent growbags, lawn mowings, chicken muck, straw out the hen house etc.  They're great for growing courgettes and spuds 

[Jono]

I've used builders sacks too. Not pretty, but they're massive and work a treat.

I also rang up my local council's waste department to see if they had any old recycle boxes they didn't want. Got a few for nothing, and they're the perfect size for growing.

[compostqueen]

The rubble sacks look ok once the foliage begins to spread down the sides