cheryl33 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Helloooooo Do any fugees grow their own veg? Any ideas what I can grow this time of year, that will survive in my small concrete yard? thanks xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 you can grow spuds, I keep meaning to do those but need to get my arse in gear, my uncle uses 3 old tyres screwed together to form a stack, puts a lining in and soil then plants the spuds to be harvested. Tyres are free from the local tyre specialist, just soil, liner and the spuds you have to buy. If you get some decent sized pots you could do carrots, beans, radish etc, get down to your local garden centre to see what advice they can give you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 If the yard is concrete, then it's probably going to cost you a fair few quid to get set up if you don't have a source of free pots and compost. It's a bit early for planting most things outside yet, but you could do salad indoors in a tray on a windowsill. Radishes are really easy and tolerant, if you like radishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 I sit a sun trap and protected from the wind. Grow something that is expensive or luxurious .. Start getting ready now for strawberries and thing about grapes and various squashes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murtle Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 strawberries, tomatoes and potatoes....try freecycle for old pots. I use tyres for my potatoes and they work well. I have a strawberry planter for my strawberries, but again you can use tyres, I've heard of them being stacked in a house brick building pattern to get the overflow for them. I grow cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket. Things like rocket are very easy to grow, herbs are another one...what kind of things might you like to eat? Mxxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboae Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 I grow potatoes in black rubble sacks, or empty compost bags turned inside out. I find them easier to manage then solid things like tyres (it's easy to roll the sides up when you are earthing up) and you can just fold the bags up out of season. Courgettes grow well in big pots, they aren't the prettiest plants, but if you water them enough you usually get tons of courgettes. Tomatoes also do well, and if you are short on space the cherry tumblers are great in hanging baskets (they are VERY thirsty though). I also mix things in pots, so carrots and lettuce are great, because they don't squash each other, and lettuce can cope with the sandy soil. With this weather, there's no point chancing things yet. Even covered in a pot these hard frosts will kill them most things off, but it'll only be another month or two before you can get started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnS Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Our local council offers free compost from local recycling place, just need to bag it and take what you can load into car. Morrisons, supermarket, sell large black empty flower buckets 99p for approx 10.These are large enough for baby carrots, lettuce, leeks, peas, just drill holes in bottom of them. I got a lot of seeds in local £1 shop last year, look for the mixed packs of veg.They also have stuff like seed potatoes and shallots so well worth a look. AnnS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufus the wonderdog Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 I'm hoping to get started on growing veg this year. I bought some potato growing bags in wilkinsons very cheaply and have got myself a variety of pots from car boots etc. I know houndzrus and abi both grew veggies on patios etc last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 oh wow thanks for all this guys, its fantastic. The pound shop near me have got a section on growing veg, the only thing they stock is the compost. I'm nipping to the garden centre later anyway so I'll get some advice from. I already have two random tyres in the garden anyway so I'll clean them up and start with some spuds thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 (edited) One thing about growing food crops in tyres, you probably do want to line them ( ? binbag maybe?) . They are designed for driving on, not eating off, and you don't want evils leaching out of the tyres into the veg you are going to eat. Oh, here's a thought - if you like rhubarb and can find someone with a muck heap that's had a chance to rot down a bit, rhubarb is dead easy to grow as long as you feed it well. Actually, it would probably enjoy guineapig plops, now I think of it. I used to give ours the rabbit droppings. Edited February 25, 2010 by cycas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheryl33 Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 thanks I've just bought a lettuce starter kit thing that you can grow on your windowsill. Not quite the same I know but I'll give it a whirl. Being the complete thicko I am, I've just remembered that at the back of my flat there are allotments. I'm wondering if its worth asking any of the people that own them if I could have a tiny plot? Might be easier than my little yard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil_angel Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 We accidently grew tomatoes I used to empty Rudy's tray into the compost bin. Made lovely compost which my Dad spread around the borders and then we had lots of cherry tomato plants pop up everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 I know houndzrus and abi both grew veggies on patios etc last year. The thread is HERE The potatoes were successful, the salad veg were easy too. I am thinking of growing a dwarf variety of Courgette this year. There is something called speedy seeds,(Suttons, I think)I bought the Italian leaf mix which grew from seed to eating in three weeks, very tasty! I only gre things in the summer though I bought all sorts of containers and still have them for this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 I read on another forum that from 1st March the BBC Dig In (bbc.co.uk/digin) website is giving away free veggie seeds again this year. They are: Blue Lake French bean A super-productive climbing bean that will give a heavy crop of long tender green pods with just a bit of care. Black Beauty courgette Heavy cropping and quick to grow, just a couple of plants will keep you in courgettes all summer long. Royal Chantenay Red carrot Short and sweet, these conical carrots are ready in just a few months and are perfect for growing in containers. Mixed Leaf salad A tangy, tasty mix of salad leaves made up of crunchy lettuce, delicate chard, tender spinach and spicy mizuna. Sweet Genovese basil A versatile herb with a lovely fragrance, this plant is perfect for growing on a warm windowsill - and for making pesto. at Amy's method of growing tomato plants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 Also, Wilkinsons have a large range of veggie growing stuff, seeds, pots, compost etc. I bought a mushroom growing kit for about £7 and a small pot to grow rocket on your windowsill for £1 amongst other things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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