Good vegetables for containers/tubs

[bebejones]

I am not a brilliant gardner...I try but didn't inherit my Grandmas green thumbs!

Last year DD & I successfully grew sunflowers, & I have managed to keep my strawberry plants alive in their container over the Winter. (I read somewhere that frost can actually be good for strawberries? ) But this year I'd like to try & grow some vegetables. DD likes helping my PIL in their vegetable garden (they live on a farm, lots of room) & she is a fussy eater so thought that she might try more if we grew them?

I have about 3 largish containers (pots) & one slightly smaller one that I can use for planting veggies. What would be good to plant? When do I need to plant them? I think my back garden is West facing...gets Sun only in the afternoons?! (Clueless!) Any advice/pointers would be brilliant!

You can grow tomatoes in gro-bags (I think they're better than pots) and potatoes, aubergines (although they need sun) and peppers in pots. And all sorts of lettuce/rocket etc

I only have pots (in a flat with a patio) and have so far successfully grown:
Peas
Sweetcorn (not to an edible standard, though!)
Carrots
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Strawberries
Herbs - thyme, mint, parsley, coriander, basil

This year, I'm adding:
Parsnips
Raspberries
Lemons
Onions

I also have lots of bright colourful flowers like lobelia, buddleia, lavender, marigolds, sweetpeas (be aware then pods are poisonous) etc to attract insects. My spring bulbs come up every year too, despite disturbing them to plant other stuff over the top - tulips, narcissi, anenomes, pansies...

Cut and come again lettuce is lovely, my mum does it on a window sill

You can grow courgettes easily in gro-bags and you'll get loads of them for your trouble. They do take up quite a lot of space though, so if you have a teeny-tiny garden they might start to take over...

Peppers and chilli's are quite easy. We also grew courgette in pots a few years ago. Tumbler cherry tomatoes are brilliant in pots

Potatoes, peppers and chillis sound good. I don't eat tomatoes so don't know if that would be a good thing to grow! Herbs is a good idea too! I have neglected my herb pot, I shall re-invest in that! I was always under the impression that peas needed alot of 'work', ie. trellis/support and tending alot. Am I wrong? Coz peas would be great, DD actually eats peas!

Quite excited now! When is the best time to start planting seeds?

All you need to grow peas is three bamboo canes tied in at the top to make a wigwam shape. Easy peasy :) Planting times vary - check the packets. You can sow soonish under glass or on a window sill. Peas are very easy because the seeds are peas so big. Get a couple of seed trays and you're away.

what veg do you like eating? grow them.

I've got my peas mixed with sweet peas under cover already - or, seed trays, water well, cover in clingfilm and leave on a sunny window sill. Once most of them have sprouted, uncover and keep damp until they're big and strong enough to handle. Then you can pop them into bigger pots outside. As they grow, just loosely tie the tops to a bamboo cane stuck in the pot

I think a trip to the garden centre is in order! Thank you all for your suggestions!

Carrots v good in pots & much nicer than shop ones

Does anyone have Dobbies near them? (it may be a scottish thing)
its a fab garden centre and has membership for £12 per year for which you get 2 cups of tea or coffee a month, 10% off all plants, bulbs and seeds and a card to collect points which convert to money off (like nectar card)

MAKES BUYING PLANTS ADDICTIVE!
sorry, didnt realise caps was on!

Took DD to the garden centre, after initially saying she wanted to grow chips (she is 2.6) she picked carrots, peppers & peas! Fingers crossed I don't kill 'em off! :o