Growing your own is one of the most fashionable and
rewarding activities that has swarmed the UK and it doesn’t matter if you have
a large garden or just a balcony. There is a lot that you can cultivate in a
few containers and below you will find advice on what pots you can grow in and
the compost that is required to ensure that you always harvest healthy yields.
Growing your own fruit and vegetables that are packed with
vitamins and minerals will not only be well received by your body, but also
that of your family. Having a supply of vegetables in containers allows you to
eat fresh and enjoy a variety of flavours.
So what containers
will I need?
It all depends on the yields you wish to cultivate. If salad
leaves are at the top of your priority list, these plants can be grown in quite
shallow containers. A 17cm deep and 30cm long container would suffice, but we
would recommend that you have a trough that is measured 20cm wide, 60cm long
and at least 17cm deep.
The amount of containers that you would need also depends on
the succession of crops you wish to obtain. For example, if you have two troughs
you can grow two rows in one and then a couple of weeks later another two rows,
ensuring that you’re never short of lettuce leaves over the course of the
summer.
Where do I place my
containers?
We recommend that you place your containers close to home as
you will be more likely to use them and also for convenience.
How often do I need
to water them?
A general rule of thumb is that the larger the container,
the less often you will need to water. An even and uninterrupted water supply
is one of the keys to growing you own veg.
What compost should I
use when growing veg in containers?
The growing medium that you need to use can depend slightly
on the size of your container, but if you’re not a perfectionist, this wouldn’t
really matter. For smaller containers that will become the home for your
lettuce and carrots for example, the cheapest compost you can find will
suffice.
For large containers or raised beds, a good multi-purpose
compost or a loam-based compost will work wonders. However, please do be aware
that these containers can take a lot to fill so to keep your container garden
cost effective it may be best to bulk buy or use top
soil.
Planning to become self sufficient is a big step and these
are some of the first steps to take when growing vegetables successfully. From
this point on all you need to do is plant up and ensure you follow the
instructions that are on the back of the seed packs.
Mr McGregor is a
popular writer for Notcutts, a specialist
garden centre who also enjoy meeting and lending a helping hand to their
customers. For more tips on how to get started with growing your own have a
look at their Garden Library and blog.
Wow there is loads of information on your blog and i've really enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your next post.
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