Courgette plants can be pretty big and need very fertile soil and plenty of water. I've never tried growing them in containers but i reckon you'd need a big one - maybe 18" each way? Beware though: if you get it right the plant can take over the world, and unless you're very fond of courgettes one plant should be enough - they can be very productive.
Good luck - and welcome to a hobby that'll keep you busy (and well-fed) for life!
Oh btw - basil is best in a greenhouse or a sunny windowsill, unless the summer turns out to be unusually hot and calm! Most other herbs are best outside.
I will not do courgettes for now, i went out and purchased some new pots which now are much deeper.
Although the ones i bought for the carrots ended up being only 10" deep so i miss judged them a little bit. Im tempted to go get two new ones for the carrots so they are definitely 12" deep at least!
Im still yet to buy some strawberry and raspberry plants. The two pots i have in mind for them are 38cm - 10" deep. Will these be big enough for 1 or 2 plants per a pot?
10" should be OK for carrots, though if you let a big variety grow to maturity they might push up out of the soil at the top. But I bet you can't leave them that long - they're yummier when they're smaller anyway. Amsterdam Forcing is a good variety if you haven't bought seed yet.
That pot size also sounds OK for strawbs Kassie; how many plants per pot depends on the diameter as well. I'd say 5" diam would grow one good plant, 7" two, 9" three etc. but someone can probably give you more info on that. Troughs might be good - I'm trying that this year. Raspberries need a lot more room in my opinion and I'm not sure about growing them in pots.
Now the bad news: you shouldn't let strawbs fruit in their first year if you want them to grow big and healthy (unless you plant them in September, the ideal time - which you haven't). Take the flowers off when they form and let them put all their energy into growing. Next year you'll get a bumper crop. Or you could take the fruit and put up with small yields in future. Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.
Autumn-fruiting raspberries can be harvested in their first year but not summer ones (as they fruit on last year's growth).
I grew a very happy courgette in a galvanised bucket last year; they normally go into large plastic troughs.
Would love to see some pics once you have got everything planted, as I grow some of my veg in containers; partly lack of space and partly to keep tomatoes and potatoes in fresh compost each year to avoid blight. Also, aubergines, cucumbers and some toms are all in containers in the green house. I have an old enamelled jam pan which gets new compost each year for a Tumbling Tom type tomato.
You can grow runner beans very well In containers, although dwarf varieties are much better suited for this. I have grown Hestia dwarf runner beans in cheap sacks from poundland and they have been wonderful. I have actually stopped growing climbing beans altogether- no expensive canes, earlier crops and just as much vigour. Just like the water but good mulch will help water retention. I planted 4 plants per bag.
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If I had to grow beans in sacks I'd grow dwarf beans use the compost that Dove said and add a bit of BFB or Growmore when you plant them.
If you want to grow climbing beans some French beans are climbers, not as tall growing or as leafy so less for wind to blow about.
What about some courgettes ?
Would 30cm pots be ok for the herbs then?
I have seen these on amazon, i have a nice sunny wall i can hang them onto.
Or these 24cm ones here which don't need screwing and just tie to drain pipe.
I may get some dwarf beans then, and see if these grow better.
Im not too sure about courgettes, my husband loves them though. What size container do they need for a plant?
Courgette plants can be pretty big and need very fertile soil and plenty of water. I've never tried growing them in containers but i reckon you'd need a big one - maybe 18" each way? Beware though: if you get it right the plant can take over the world, and unless you're very fond of courgettes one plant should be enough - they can be very productive.
Good luck - and welcome to a hobby that'll keep you busy (and well-fed) for life!
Oh btw - basil is best in a greenhouse or a sunny windowsill, unless the summer turns out to be unusually hot and calm! Most other herbs are best outside.
I will not do courgettes for now, i went out and purchased some new pots which now are much deeper.
Although the ones i bought for the carrots ended up being only 10" deep so i miss judged them a little bit. Im tempted to go get two new ones for the carrots so they are definitely 12" deep at least!
Im still yet to buy some strawberry and raspberry plants. The two pots i have in mind for them are 38cm - 10" deep. Will these be big enough for 1 or 2 plants per a pot?
thanks
kassie
10" should be OK for carrots, though if you let a big variety grow to maturity they might push up out of the soil at the top. But I bet you can't leave them that long - they're yummier when they're smaller anyway. Amsterdam Forcing is a good variety if you haven't bought seed yet.
That pot size also sounds OK for strawbs Kassie; how many plants per pot depends on the diameter as well. I'd say 5" diam would grow one good plant, 7" two, 9" three etc. but someone can probably give you more info on that. Troughs might be good - I'm trying that this year. Raspberries need a lot more room in my opinion and I'm not sure about growing them in pots.
Now the bad news: you shouldn't let strawbs fruit in their first year if you want them to grow big and healthy (unless you plant them in September, the ideal time - which you haven't). Take the flowers off when they form and let them put all their energy into growing. Next year you'll get a bumper crop. Or you could take the fruit and put up with small yields in future. Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.
Autumn-fruiting raspberries can be harvested in their first year but not summer ones (as they fruit on last year's growth).
Good luck
Thanks Steve
I grew a very happy courgette in a galvanised bucket last year; they normally go into large plastic troughs.
Would love to see some pics once you have got everything planted, as I grow some of my veg in containers; partly lack of space and partly to keep tomatoes and potatoes in fresh compost each year to avoid blight.
Also, aubergines, cucumbers and some toms are all in containers in the green house. I have an old enamelled jam pan which gets new compost each year for a Tumbling Tom type tomato.
Hi,
You can grow runner beans very well In containers, although dwarf varieties are much better suited for this. I have grown Hestia dwarf runner beans in cheap sacks from poundland and they have been wonderful. I have actually stopped growing climbing beans altogether
- no expensive canes, earlier crops and just as much vigour. Just like the water but good mulch will help water retention. I planted 4 plants per bag.
http://www.poundland.co.uk/home-and-garden/gardening/grow-your-own-fruit-vegetables/potato-grow-bag
Minibel tomatoes also another understated product. They can be grown in empty 4 pints milk containers!
Now there's a good idea. One of the few things I don't have a use for (now I'm too old for dinghy sailing).