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Growing ideas - for shallow and winter - complete beginner

neilrob1neilrob1 Posts: 17
in Fruit & veg
Hi

I realise that there are different websites about these quesitons, but I thought I would ask them here too, as a completely new grower.

Does anyone have any ideas for a new grower who wants to :

  • starting growing vegetables in autumn/winter and only has two planters which have a shallow depth of approx 21cm?

I want to ask first, as otherwise i can see myself planting too much too soon, and I want to try and do it properly.

Thanks in advance.

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    What are you hoping to grow at this time of year and where are you?
  • neilrob1neilrob1 Posts: 17
    In in north west England, just hoping to start off growing vegetables. I have two planters 1.2 metres long but only 20 cm deep.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Will they fit along a sunny inside windowsill?  You can triple wrap the underside with aluminum foil, to catch the excess water.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I can't see very much growing in that depth, especially when you'd still need a gap at the top for watering. Things like lettuce would be fine, but they aren't going to do anything at this time of year without protection. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Surely you don't want to "catch excess water", you would rot seeds or seedlings. I'm not sure if the planters are inside or out.yes,also a lot depends on where abouts you live. Certainly,cut and come again salad leaves
     Anything else depends on whether you can grow on anything later outside. I start off tomatoes and peppers in the garden north facing kitchen window sill in January, quarter trays,gives me average of 10 plants. We need to know more about you to give ideas.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    North west of England @Nanny Beach. Starting anything in January there is unlikely to succeed without a heated greenhouse. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Sorry Fairy I missed that bit, got 2dogs sitting on me, mentioning their breakfast. Course,with a window sill,you could grow tomatoes and peppers inside.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    If you've only got 20cm depth of soil you're limited with what you can grow. 
    Root crops (parsnips, potatoes etc) need deeper soil to grow as does anything which develops a larger root.

    You might be able to grow beetroot if you harvest them at golf ball size and radishes should be ok. You might manage small chantanay carrots but not longer carrots. You could try garlic but not onions.

    You could also try spinach and rainbow chard. If you're happy to repeat sow through the season they might be ok grown as baby veg so the root doesn't get too big. 

    Other than that I think you're a bit restricted to growing salad leaves as suggested by @Fairygirl and maybe some herbs. Thyme would be ok if you can provide a sunny, well drained spot, and chives and coriander would also be ok. Parsley, mint, sage and rosemary do well in deeper pots if you have room for those.

    My best advice is to consider what you like to eat or use in cooking. No point growing salad leaves if you hate salad. I would be growing a maximum of 3 types of veg per planter and doing repeat sowing.

    Nearly everything I've suggested would be better sowed in late spring but you can start them off indoors in late winter. Sarah Raven's site has a useful guide of what to sow and when.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think there's anything much you can start now, but for next year spring onions and radishes (the small round ones not the long oriental mooli radish) might work. You can grow beet and chard to harvest as baby leaves as well as lettuce varieties. Possibly also rocket and the various kinds of mustard greens for salads. And maybe the types of tomatoes that are bred for hanging baskets, eg Tumbling Tom, if there's room for them to trail over the sides.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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