Newbie Advice Please

Yviestevie · July 2020

Although I've been growing flowers from seed for quite a few years I am contemplating turning over a number of large containers to veg/fruit next year. I have never grown any before so I've been doing a bit of research and have come up with a list of possibles.

I wonder if any of you

a) have any knowledge of growing these particular varieties

b) have better suggestions for varieties to grow in containers

c) think I am missing something that would do well

I have heated propogators in my conservatory

Grow lights

Small 6' x 4'ft frost free greenhouse

Coldframe.

The varieties I am looking at are

French Beans 'Maxi'

Beetroot 'Boltardy'

Baby Leaf 'Bright and Spicy' and 'California Mix'

Carrot ' Resistafly' or 'Flyaway'

Cucumber 'Marketmore'

Spring Onion 'White Lisbon'

Peas 'Early Onward' 'Hurst Greenshaft' or 'Kelvedon Wonder'

Radish ' French Breakfast'

Toms 'Gardeners Delight'

Strawberries -haven't looked at a variety would be glad of suggestions

Thanks in advance for any advice.

herbaceous · July 2020

That's a good list Yviestevie!

I grow Marketmore because it is OK outside and crops well but I use them mostly for soup or sandwiches as they have a thicker skin. If you have space in the greenhouse then Passandra is a really nice cucumber.

You absolutely can't go wrong with Boltardy, not fussy, good doer, lovely taste and pickles really well. I have tried others but always go back to Boltardy.

If you are growing in containers you might want to try a chantenay carrot as well, they are short so do well in tubs.

For peas I don't think you can beat Hurst Greenshaft, good crop and come good from saved peas.

I like Gardeners delight but I think Sweet Million are just as good and more reliable. Also Dove persuaded me to try Sungold and they are brilliant, I grow them in the greenhouse but they are OK outside apparently. Someone may help you with that.

I grow Sophie strawberries as I prefer a later variety and the taste is excellent. They were bred by the HRI at East Malling and have always performed well for me.

You may find other varieties are more suited to the Midlands as I am in the Heathrow micro-climate which might make a difference. Good luck anyway, its fun to experiment

Yviestevie · July 2020

Thanks for your help @herbaceous much appreciated.

Obelixx · July 2020

I think it's too late this year for tomatoes and borderline for beans but you could maybe find plugs or small pots in a good GC. I usually buy wee plants of heritage tomatoes at a plant fair in March but that was cancelled so I have some standard varieties bought in the SM and a GC. These include Sungold which is already fruiting and we have Green Zebra and some of the beef tomatoes fruiting now too.

I have taken to growing beetroot from plugs after several years of failure with seeds and, in the end, find it easier to do a successional planting of plugs than seeds.

herbaceous · July 2020

I think Yviestevie was planning for next year @Obelixx

wish I was that organised!

purplerallim · July 2020

Don't forget spring onions, they do really well in containers. I like Apache a red variety that is milder than the usual ones.
Also little gem lettuce my second sowing only took 3 days to germinate and will be ready to go in as we finish the first, it takes up very little room and can be picked as it grows.

Yviestevie · July 2020

Yes, I am planning for next year. The containers I will be using have been planted up with flowers and grasses this year. I'm going to decide what varieties to grow first and then I need to do quite a bit of research re container locations and soil types etc as I have never grown fruit or vegetables before. I am growing a couple of tomato plants this year in the greenhouse. They were late in but are doing well, I used the free seed from the mag and can't remember what variety they were.

Buttercupdays · July 2020

I haven't grown Maxi, but French beans come in different colours, which is nice for tubs. One of my favourites is Purple Teepee, with purple flowers and beans, very reliable and a 'good doer'. This year I am also trying Sonesta, with yellow beans. That one hasn't yet cropped here, very late cos of the weather, but its looking promising, with strong plants and lots of flowers.

I've always found Kelvedon Wonder a reliable pea, but apparently Hurst Green Shaft is sweeter.

If you are feeling even more adventurous, I'm already picking from Carouby de Maussane, which is a mangetout type with large pale green pods and purple/pink flowers, but it might be too tall, though you can also grow climbing beans in a large tub with some canes, and some runners have lovely flowers, though I know not everyone likes the beans

Fairygirl · July 2020

@Yviestevie - if you want some strawberry runners, I can send you some later in the year. I've just pegged some down.
Elsanta is the one I stick with as it suits the climate here. They've been cropping recently. Very easy. I grow mainly in containers and they're good in those.

Yviestevie · July 2020

Thats very kind of you @Fairygirl I'll send you my contact details.

Yviestevie · January 2021

Strawberries are still doing well @Fairygirl and I've now decided to get rid of the playhouse and have two raised beds on order. I'm using Veg in one Bed by Huw Richards to help plan out what I grow and have ordered all my seeds for the year. Excitement is growing here and I can't wait to get going.

I'd like to continue to post on this thread but change the title does anyone know if this is possible or whether I can start a new thread and move the posts onto it.

Newbie Advice Please

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