growing veg

[helliebobs]

The small house my husband and I rent has an enclosed paved area but no soil or grass.

How difficult would it be to grow vegetables, herbs etc? Can I grow them in large pots instead of the ground? Any advice appreciated as I'm not very green-fingered!

[Ethel]

Herbs will be easy and do will in window boxes, or in pots inside on the window sill. Pretty too.

Potatoes can be grown in 'buckets' and strawberries grow well in window boxes too.

Lettuces, radishes and onions will grow quickly in shallow troughs.

Go to the library and get some books on patio gardening.

Good luck!

[Lonnie]

You can grow quite a lot in pots, seed trys and growbags. Grow bags and pots can be used for Tomatoes, Button Carrots, Radishes and Lettuces can be grown in seed trays, pots also for certain Herbs.

In our Local Woolworths at the moment, thet are selling grow kits for Lettuces an Herbs, �2.99, everything you need, including the tray to grow them in, if you've got a Woollies near you, have a look. Maybe also, someone else can come up with some other ideas.

Hope this is of some help.

[Lonnie]

My apologies Ethel, we must have been writing at the same time.

[helliebobs]

Thanks for those ideas, I'll get my gardening gloves out!

[mullein3]

make sure you keep them well watered and feed with a plant food as they soon get hungry in containers...you can buy a collection of herbs allready grown from barwinnock herbs ..which will give you a fast start..they are quite cheap about �17 for 10 they have different collections and you can also buy them seperately...you could make a very lush courtyard area somewhere nice and tranquil to sit...and grow some tall vegetables like peas and runner beans to give height and interest..

[Plocket]

Last year I grew potatoes, carrots, parsnips, radishes, lettuce (cut & come again) and tomatoes. This year we are adding broad beans, runner beans, peas and cauliflowers to the list. All were grown in containers which is why I'm doing more this year. Look out for smaller varieties and you shouldn't have a problem.

[Thunderbird+]

By the looks of all those great answers, you have plenty of scope. Another good place for strawberries is in hanging baskets, this makes it pretty near impossible for slugs to reach too. Good Luck.

[helliebobs]

Wow! You've all been so helpful, thanks guys!!

[MJDale]

There are certain types of cherry tomato which do well in hanging baskets

[Manroc]

Invest in this month's "Kitchen Garden" magazine. It gives lots of tips.