Mumsnet Talk

Hi all, I'm a complete novice in the garden & say every year i would like to grow tomatoes, strawberries, herbs in containers. Not a very big garden so quite restricted. When should I be starting? Any words of wisdom welcome.

<watching avidly> although I think it's just as easy to buy tomato plants rather than grow them from pips.

I bought tomato, pepper and chilli plants last April/May I think - very cheap from supermarket. They did great but I have a greenhouse so they were in there rather than outside. I tried and failed to grow strawberry plants from seeds last year!

We've got an allotment association somewhere that sells cheap plants. I'd forgotten all about them.

If you have a greenhouse then have a go with seeds for tomatoes - if they fail you can buy some plants. If no greenhouse then just go straight to plants. Buy strawberry plants though, really don't bother with seed. Which herbs do you want to grow?

Either way, strawberries can go in outdoors from about March onwards; tomatoes must be kept frost free so really you are talking April unless you are unlucky; herbs vary hugely.

The RHS website is (imho) the best for guidance but there are lots of fab websites to lust over.

For tomatoes you need good sized containers: grobags say they can handle 3 plants but you will need to water and feed them incessantly. Strawberries also need a reasonable amount of space and depth and consistent watering. Herbs vary hugely: woody ones are near-indestructable in poorest conditions (sage, thyme); mint will take over your garden if you let it loose; basil and coriander need warmth and sunshine to do really well.

Thanks oldenough. No greenhouse unfortunately. I tried strawberry plants a few years ago but they didn't flower never mind produce fruit. I would like rosemary, thyme, basil & coriander as these are the herbs I use the most. Love the idea of going out to garden & snipping off what I need!

Clara - are you me? Seriously, two years ago, I was looking at growing exactly what you are now.

Strawberries - after doing some research, I realised it is better to buy good quality plants rather than attempting seeds. I got mine online from greenfingers.com and planted them in early May. They have done very well and I got a good crop both years they've been in. This year I also was able to propogate more and now have some in pots which I plan to give away if they make it through the winter.

Tomatoes - I agree that rather buy plants. Again, wait perhaps until April otherwise it will be too cold. I planted mine in growbags but think that two per bag in future is the most I'd go for. My father recommends planting one plant in a large pot rather than a grow bag. They DO need feeding however and once it gets warm and hot they need to be watered pretty much daily otherwise they don't do so well. I also planted marigolds near mine in an attempt to protect them. I don't know if it worked or if it's just a coincidence but I didn't get any bugs.

Herbs I've been growing for years. Categorically, I have better luck when I buy quality plants - go to a proper garden centre rather than the supermarket or even B&Q. Rosemary is very easy and hardy - just pop it in a pot and away you go. Thyme likes it fairly dry so plant it in a dry spot or use a pot that is well drained. Also, I recommend getting a few plants as it doesn't take much cooking to very quickly decimate your thyme. I grow mine in one of those ceramic planters will multiple spots for herbs - very mediterranean and I find it's a good way to get the thyme to stay thick. Basil is an annual so it will die every year. That's normal. They key to keeping it alive during the season is to water it regularly. It needs a small amount of water daily. Coriander I'm afraid I've had no luck with, but then, I've only ever tried to plant my supermarket coriander. This year I'll buy some properly.

Parsley and mint are great to have in the garden too. But plant mint in pots as it will spread otherwise. It also needs lots of water. Parsley also needs a generous amount as it only takes one meal to find yourself all out of parsley.

Hope this helps. Hope it's not too long.

Oh, and I agree re RHS website.

Thanks bling very helpful! I'm looking forward to giving it a go. Will have to let you know if I have any success!

I grow coriander in the garden from seed, planting a half dozen seeds every few weeks. Once it bolts, the garden insects go mad for it!. Can grow up to a meter tall! Its worth leaving to flower then you can havest the seeds to either reuse next year or put in your curries. It is my absolute favorite thing to grow each year :-)

I always wait to around Easter or once your pretty sure youv'e seen the last of the frost before attempting to grow from seed.