Help~ Veggie patch/pots for kids - Start from the basic...

[Return2thebasic]

Calling green-fingers for help.

We've just cleaned up the garden and made it usable the 1st time in so many years. DS became increasingly interested in growing his own plants. So we agreed to hand him the sunniest part of the garden for a veggie patch.

I've never done any gardening before and so we just started looking at the kids books for ideas. DS chose the following veggies:

• Pumpkins
• Potatoes
• Peppers
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Lettuce
• Tomatos
• Sunflowers

I do wonder if these are too many types to start with. But then I expect maybe half of them may not work out. So good to start with a wider selection.

Then according to this book , everything grows in pots/containers. I do realise this helps drainage and water level. Maybe easier for pet control too. But wonder if it's necessary and a better way than growing on ground.

Next question is how easy to start by sowing seeds for these plants? Obviously, I would love to encourage him to see the process of life sprouting out from the little seeds. However, if they all become disappointing experiences with little coming out, I'd rather try to get the baby plants as the starting point.

On top of the above, I'm also utterly confused with all kinds of compost. There seem to be lots different types. Do we need to get all of them?

• Seed compost
• General-purpose compost
• Grow-bag compost (for peppers)
• Peat-based compost

Thank you.

Has anyone used Haxnicks bag planters? They look offering a decent size better than pots. I just don't know how good they are in practice (other than in ads.)

Thanks everyone. I have read the thread from beginning to end, just wanted to confirm that there was no certain "best" way to do any of it. I think I'll also be starting with some grow bags this year before committing to something more permanent

I’ve done container veg growing and in ground growing. I think there are pros and cons to both. But in ground is easier for potatoes and pumpkins definitely. It’s the watering, they both need a lot of room and a lot of water.

You don’t need a raised bed, Though they can look nice.

Thanks @BeechTreeView

@Return2thebasic I did use some bag planters once but found they went out of shape with the weight of soil so had to bolster with bricks and they ripped after one season. Might be worth a try if very cheap though.

I've never used the grow bags as I don't fancy the idea of them - I think they're rammed with growth aids & you can't control what you put into them so it seems a bit like cheating! They don't look great either but I concede they're quick & easy. You can get all sorts of accessories for them, like containers for them to go in, plant protective collars, etc - not really neccessary.

I had potatoes in those bag planters for a couple of seasons - due to no alternative.

I got very few potatoes, it was hard to get at the potatoes and hard to water them and feed them properly and they collapsed. But - as an experiment it was OK.

I grew climbing beans very successfully in a huge container and courgettes.

This may or may not be helpful...best things I grew in containers.

Big pots - about 2 foot across each - so they don't dry out.

climbing beans and courgettes.
Strawberries.
lettuce, radish, cut and come again salad leaves.
raspberries (really big pot - dig brilliantly for 3 years then got too big for the pots)
dwarf beans - but you don't get many to a plant.
herbs - buy a basil from a supermarket and separate out to about 8 different plants and put in compost - you'll get loads of basil.
Parsley the same.
Mint - the same in a pot.
Rosemary.

French Tarragon.
Lemongrass.

@HauntedDishcloth, @BeechTreeView, thank you for the warning about grow bags and alike. I didn't think about the issue with decay and shape retaining. Will now look for alternative.

I'm a bit reluctant to buy lots of pots. The basic ones don't look good and would make the garden appear messy. The nicer ones are too expensive to invest when I'm not even sure if we are any good at growing things. (if DS and my passion would last...)

I started looking into wooden crates. But after having gone through a few articles, I do realise lots of work need to be done to make them usable too. But I do like the look of them and the sturdiness (especially with a 2 year old toddler toddling around...

Research continues...

If you have any plastic storage crates around they can be used as planters, ones that you store stuff in around the home, like toys. Just drill holes in the bottom for drainage. They don't last though as they'll eventually go brittle with the UV outside. Again check on your local Facebook marketplace if you use it, or even Poundland, Home Bargains, etc for basic stuff to try.

In your situation I would dig up some turf for create a small bed. And if you decide it’s not for you, return next year. It’ll look nicer and be easier than pots.

[quote Return2thebasic]**@HauntedDishcloth, @BeechTreeView, thank you for the warning about grow bags and alike. I didn't think about the issue with decay and shape retaining. Will now look for alternative.

I'm a bit reluctant to buy lots of pots. The basic ones don't look good and would make the garden appear messy. The nicer ones are too expensive to invest when I'm not even sure if we are any good at growing things. (if DS and my passion would last...)

I started looking into wooden crates. But after having gone through a few articles, I do realise lots of work need to be done to make them usable too. But I do like the look of them and the sturdiness (especially with a 2 year old toddler toddling around...

Research continues...[/quote]
www.wilko.com/en-uk/search/?text=pots

If you are looking for big pots, I do recommend Wilko's clever pots. As long as you buy the same colour then they don't appear messy and the quality is decent. They are pretty much as cheap as you can get (cheapest of the 'bargin' shops) plus they have a number of accessories that you can add to them (water reserves, pot feet, cane holders etc).

I have a bunch of these and a bunch of more expensive terracota pots (also Wilko but from last year - they didn't do similar this year).

They look really smart and neat because I could afford to get everything looking the same.

As for being sturdy, they aren't going to be killed by a 2 year old, and vice versa, they aren't going to kill a 2 year old!

I didn't want to spend a small fortune and I didn't want a random collection of pots. These certainly did the job.

I bought my first batch last year and they are definitely holding up to use/wear this year. And this year the sstock has matched last years so it seems its an ongoing product line.

Realistically you are looking at a 30cm pots as a minimum for tomatoes (I did mine in a 30cm last year and that was absoluetelt fine) but 40cm is perhaps better. For chilli pepper plants a 19cm pot. I like the troughs too - they were great for basil last year.

thank you for the warning about grow bags and alike. I didn't think about the issue with decay and shape retaining. Will now look for alternative.

Just to clarify, grow bags and bag planters aren't the same thing. Grow bags are plastic sacks of compost with growth enhancer, plant food etc that you cut a hole in and plant directly in them. They are usually only good for one season. Bag planters are bags that you fill with your own compost and are reusable.