Bizzie Lizzies, Peppers & Squashes

[bunn]

The second batch of peppers has finally started to germinate.

The Bizzie Lizzies (OK, impatiens) are now quite big, and are suffering from the direct sunlight on the utility room windowsill: they need more shade. Maybe I can move them into the living room: it's far too cold for them to go out in the garden or even the greenhouse yet. Or the porch maybe?

I've decided that I shall pop one of each squash and pumpkin into the heated propagator as soon as the peppers are big enough to come out: that is a bit earlier than last year, but last year I didn't use the propagator and germination was very slow as a result. This year I shall try kickstarting them.

Comments

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

You seem to know a lot about gardening ...

What foodstuffs would be easy for us to grow in pots, and that we could sensibly start off in late April (ie after we get back from foradan's wedding)? We've got a shaded conservatory, but no other "artifical aids".

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Hmmm - pots do need more maintenance than plants in the ground, but on the other hand they usually get fewer pests.

You could buy some strawberry plants and they would last for several years, if you have somewhere sunny to put your pots. In theory the very bestest time to buy them is mail order in winter, but frankly I've always found that garden centre potted ones are perfectly OK.

Actually - I just had a look at the Ken Muir website (http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/), and they now do frozen plants available till July, so that is worth a go.

There are lots of things you can grow in pots, but a lot of them involve more effort - minarette apples or pears might be worth a go, but you will need really big pots and to be careful with watering.

Herbs, obviously, but you probably have those? Basil is something I always try to grow from seed in the summer because it's so quick and easy.

Cherry tomatoes do well in pots or hanging baskets - again, they do need sun. Personally I can't stand the things, but if you like them, this is a good place to get seed: http://www.vidaverde.co.uk/. You could start them off in your conservatory, but they will need sun.

The pepper I had most luck with to date is Baby Belle -growing that in pots in a half-sunny conservatory I grew more peppers than I could eat and ended up not wanting to eat the things for several years...

Gooseberries & currants can be grown in pots, as long as they are a decent size: never tried it myself though I must say.

You can grow potatoes in a dustbin, if you fancy that: that's dead easy. (they do sell special potato barrels if you want to be posh ;-) )

And lettuce and salads can be grown in pots too, but I am too lazy to keep up with the watering to do that...