So I'm a bit late with vegetable gardening for this year I know but talk to me about growing veg in pots

[robino]

I had all sorts of plans for this year, sowed various seeds and then we moved, the removal men dropped my seedlings and it was chaos and didn't happen!

We're back in our first ever house for the time being, it's an end terrace with a yard. We have prettifed it and it has small beds but I have loads of pots (mainly terracotta) from when I had the misguided belief that I would create a wonderful garden when we first moved in.

I would like to start growing veg and to maximise growing space I'll use the pots. What sort of success have you had container gardening?

Lots of the pots are quite small (maybe 30cm diameter?) - will they work?

Any books or websites you can recommend? And anything I can plant now?

[quoteTHISyafuckers]

I have an allotment but also like to grow stuff in small patio at home. I have runner beans and french beans in pots (growing up bamboo wogwams), sweet peas, many tomatoes, spring onions,courgettes, and salad leaves. I also grew potatoes in pots and broad beans and a couple of cabbages And many many herbs.

Just make sure the pots don't dry out

[inVlanderen]

Is there sanything the OP / I can plant now?

Something like carrots/parsnips/pots?

[mollyroger]

You will probably get some carrots still, but it is quite hard to buy seed on the high street at the moment, because the 'season' is over. I have bought some plugs (baby plants) of cauli, brocolli and leeks to plant now for over winter.
There are potatoes you can plant now (2 or 3 in a bucket with hols poked in bottom). Cover well. Earth up sides as foliage emerges. Crop december and beyond)

Salad leaves can be sown now and will grow and can be cropped up to oct/nov depending on weather.

[TheDMshouldbeRivened]

rocket and most leafy salads can be planted in pots now. Courgettes seem to grow almost any time but are like triffids!

[robino]

Thanks all. So carrots and rocket it is for the moment. mollyroger - can you grow leeks and brocolli in pots do you think? I'd have thought leeks might be ok but not so sure about brocolli or cauli? And [cheek of the devil emoticon] - where did you buy your plug plants from?

[sis]

Chillis grow well in pots.

[mollyroger]

well, leeks would grow in pots, as long as you have enough soil to bank up the 'white' bit with earth...an average plant pot would probably take 2 leeks?

Brocolli, probably only one per average pot...
I'd say stick anything in a pot and see how it goes, personally

I get my plug plants from a local market but Marshalls is good for plugs too, though quite pricey. good quality though

[jay11]

I'm doing lambs lettuce at the mo - should see me through all winter. Got a great book The Edible Container Garden by Michael Guerra which tells you pot size, which varieties best for pots. Had small-scale success with courgettes and peas and manage to be self sufficient in is lettuces, tomatoes and herbs.

[purplepeony]

you could grow winter cabbages in pots and they would look quite decorative too. you might also get away with beetroot. Most other vegs should have been planted much sooner though- inc. parsnips etc.
Broccoli is too big for a pot I'd say, to make it worthwhile. I grew purple sprouting in my raised bed- approx 12feet by 6 feet, and a few plants took up so much space and only provided enough for a couple of meals.
Carol Kleins RHS growing your own veg is a good boo k- you might find it on ebay?